Rondelles
A flattened round bead, wider than it is tall. The workhorse shape for strung necklaces and bracelets.
- Measured as
- Diameter by height, e.g. 4x3mm
- Usually drilled
- Through the center, along the short axis
- Used for
- Strung necklaces, bracelets, spacers between larger beads
Rondelles in stock
All 40Representative photo
Other shapes
From the blog
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Making with beadsHow many 6 mm beads do you need for a 7 inch bracelet
About 23 of 6 mm with a clasp, or about 29 for a 7 inch stretch bracelet with no clasp. For the same length, expect about 17 of 8 mm or 35 of 4 mm with a clasp, and about 22 of 8 mm on stretch. Use beads per inch to fine tune.
Stone guidesWhat is labradorite and why does it flash
Labradorite is a plagioclase feldspar whose blue to gold flash, called labradorescence, comes from light bouncing between thin internal layers. To judge a strand, tilt it under one point light and count how many beads show face-up color. More even, face-filling flashes across more beads signals a stronger strand for stringing.
Buying guidesWhat size gemstone beads should I buy for a necklace or bracelet
Bead size is the bead's diameter measured in millimeters. A 4 mm bead is about the width of a grain of rice, and there are 25.4 mm in an inch. Choose 2 to 3 mm for dainty layering, 4 to 6 mm for everyday necklaces, and 8 mm for classic bracelets. These sizes string cleanly and wear comfortably.