We do our best to be transparent about our products. If you ever find a product that does not align with the statements below, please let us know so we can address the issue and update the listing.
Strand Length
Gemstone beads are sold by the strand.
- Standard strandsapprox. 15 inches
- Large Hole Beadshalf strands, 7.5 to 8 inches
Strands are approximately 15 inches unless stated otherwise. Every product listing states the strand length, so be sure to check the product description before adding the item to your cart.
Gemstone Bead Hole Sizes
- 2mm to 4mm beads0.3mm to 0.6mm
- 4mm to 8mm beads0.6mm to 1.0mm
- 10mm and larger beads1.0mm and larger
- Large Hole Beads2mm and larger
- Pearls0.3mm to 0.5mm
Bead hole sizes that differ from those listed above will be clearly labeled at the start of the product description.
Round Beads per 15 Inch Strand
Values account for bead size variability of +/- 0.3mm.
- 2mm171 to 232 beads
- 4mm85 to 102 beads
- 6mm58 to 68 beads
- 8mm45 to 51 beads
- 10mm37 to 40 beads
- 12mm31 to 33 beads
- 14mm27 to 29 beads
- 16mm24 to 26 beads
How We Measure Bead Sizes
When making jewelry, your bead sizes need to match closely enough that any differences are barely noticeable. It may seem that we carry several odd sizes, but our beads are the same sizes as the rest of the industry. We are just more precise about our measurements.
Industry standard
Sizes round down to the nearest 1mm, which leaves a lot of room for error.
For example, 8.8mm and 8.2mm beads both get labeled as 8mm. A size difference of that magnitude is very noticeable and will not work well in your jewelry.
At Tejas Beads
We round down to the nearest 0.5mm or nominal measurement to close the gap on size differences.
This is why you might see sizes like 4.5mm, 6.5mm, 7.8mm, and 8.5mm instead of just the standard 4mm, 6mm, and 8mm.
No sizing system is perfect, but we've found that this method works well for keeping sizes consistent.
Color Variability in Photos and Monitors
We do our best to ensure that our photographs are as accurate as possible. Colors can vary between screens, especially with lustrous, deep, and brightly colored stones. This is simply one of the challenges of online shopping.
Rest assured, our return policy allows time to return an item if it is not what you were expecting. Please see our Returns page for details.
Findings
When a findings count is shown as "approx." it means the findings are measured by weight. The stated quantity will be close but may not be exact. We slightly over-weigh our findings so that the stated number is a minimum. Larger findings sold in lower quantities are individually counted.
Abbreviations
To increase gemstone material transparency, the following abbreviations appear in product titles where applicable.
- synSynthetic or man-made stone.
- dZiTibetan word describing decoratively patterned stones. These are natural stones with dyes, engravings, and/or surface alterations to enhance appearance.
- altNatural stones that have been altered with dyes or coatings.
This labeling applies to gemstones only. Natural materials such as wood, bone, and seeds are often finished with stains, dyes, or lacquers as part of their normal preparation, so those materials do not follow the same labeling convention as stone beads.
Gemstone Quality Grading
With so many types of gemstones, grading is extremely subjective, and designations of A, AA, and AAA have become grossly overused in the industry. At Tejas Beads we are extremely conservative with our grading, and many of our non-graded stones would be labeled A, AA, or even AAA by our competitors.
We grade conservatively for three reasons:
- To uphold the integrity of the grading system.
- To maintain an honest portrayal of product quality.
- To better manage expectations.
We would rather have you be pleasantly surprised by higher than expected quality than make a sale on overly optimistic grading and have a disappointed customer when the items arrive.
We QC every batch and update photos when quality changes. Gemstones that don't meet our quality standards go to our Clearance section with honest descriptions of any defects, irregularities, or material quality issues.