Some people new to gemstones have never come across the metric measuring system often used in jewelry making. Even some of us who have been at it for a long time need help figuring out just how big 11mm is.
Dr Karen Meador made this chart for us and you to help us with these conversions. Feel free to use this chart on your site as long as you link to Karen and Magpie Gemstones.
Conversion of Units
25.4 millimeters (mm) = 1 inch
1 millimeter is less than 1/16 inch
To Convert Inches to Millimeters: Multiply Inches x 25.4
To Convert to Millimeters to Inches: Multiply millimeters x .03937
Conversion Chart: Millimeters to Inches
|
Mm
|
Inches in Decimals
|
*Inches in Fractions
|
|
1mm
|
0.04 inches
|
Less than 1/16 inch
|
|
2mm
|
0.08 inches
|
Greater than 1/16 inch & less than 1/8 inch
|
|
3mm
|
0.12 inches
|
Greater than 1/16 inch & less than 1/8 inch
|
|
4mm
|
0.16 inches
|
Greater than 1/8 and less than 3/16
|
|
5mm
|
0.2 inches
|
Greater than 3/16 and less than 1/4
|
|
6mm
|
0.24 inches
|
Greater than 3/16 and less than 1/4
|
|
7mm
|
0.28 inches
|
Greater than ¼ and less than 5/16
|
|
8mm
|
0.32 inches
|
Greater than ¼ and less than 5/16
|
|
9mm
|
0.35inches
|
Greater than 5/16 and less than 3/8
|
|
10mm
|
0.40 inches
|
Greater than 3/8 and less than 7/16
|
|
12mm
|
0.47 inches
|
Greater than 7/16 and less than 8/16
|
|
14mm
|
0.55 inches
|
Greater than ½ and less than 9/16
|
|
16mm
|
0.63 inches
|
Greater than 5/8 & less than 11/16
|
|
18mm
|
0.71 inches
|
Greater than 11/16 and less than 3/4
|
*The third column of this conversion chart is offered to help anyone who thinks more clearly using fractions than using decimals.
Approximate Number of Round Beads on a 16” Strand
|
2mm
|
3mm
|
4mm
|
6mm
|
8mm
|
10mm
|
12mm
|
|
203
|
136
|
100
|
67
|
50
|
41
|
34
|
Every inch is 25mm so times the number of inches by 25mm and you have how long the strand is in millimeters. Then divide by the width of the bead.
Karen Meador
Dream Catcher Designs
Madeline Hoffman also offered up her chart that she uses for number of beads on a strand.
Number of beads in 14, 15, and 16 inch strands for 2-25mm beads:
|
Bead size
|
# of beads in 14" strand
|
# of beads in 15" strand
|
# of beads in 16" strand
|
|
mm
|
355
|
381
|
406
|
|
2
|
177
|
190
|
203
|
|
3
|
118
|
127
|
135
|
|
4
|
88
|
95
|
101
|
|
5
|
71
|
76
|
81
|
|
6
|
59
|
63
|
67
|
|
7
|
50
|
54
|
58
|
|
8
|
44
|
47
|
50
|
|
9
|
39
|
42
|
45
|
|
10
|
35
|
38
|
40
|
|
11
|
32
|
34
|
36
|
|
12
|
29
|
31
|
33
|
|
13
|
27
|
29
|
31
|
|
14
|
25
|
27
|
29
|
|
15
|
23
|
25
|
27
|
|
16
|
22
|
23
|
25
|
|
17
|
20
|
22
|
23
|
|
18
|
19
|
21
|
22
|
|
19
|
18
|
20
|
21
|
|
20
|
17
|
19
|
20
|
|
21
|
16
|
18
|
19
|
|
22
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
|
23
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
|
24
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
|
25
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
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