Swarovski Bicone Beads

Swarovski bicone beads are precision-cut, double-cone profile crystal beads manufactured in Austria, available in a full range of sizes and colours for professional jewellery making, bridal design and fashion embellishment. The Xilion bicone (article 5328) is available from 2.5mm, the smallest bicone bead in the world, through to larger statement sizes, with every bead delivering the consistent sizing, colour accuracy and brilliance that jewellers and designers specify Swarovski for. Bluestreak Crystals stocks the complete bicone range across all sizes and colours, with same or next working day dispatch on the majority of orders.

Bluestreak Crystals: Authorised Swarovski Distribution Partner

Bluestreak Crystals is an official Authorised Swarovski Distribution Partner, one of a very small number of approved suppliers worldwide permitted to sell the complete genuine Swarovski range. Every bead is directly sourced from Swarovski Wattens, Austria, and quality-assured.

Alongside the Swarovski range, we also stock two further premium crystal brands: Serinity crystal beads, our own Austrian-made brand, and Preciosa crystal beads, premium Czech-cut crystals with excellent brilliance across the full range.

What Are Swarovski Bicone Beads?

Swarovski bicone beads are the most popular bead shape in the Swarovski crystal range, featuring a distinctive double-cone profile with tapered ends and precision-cut facets on every surface. The symmetrical form creates exceptional light refraction from every angle, producing the intense, consistent sparkle that makes bicone beads the standard choice for professional jewellery making worldwide.

The Xilion bicone (article 5328) is Swarovski's flagship bicone bead, engineered with an enhanced facet geometry specifically optimised to maximise brilliance in smaller bead sizes where light capture is technically more demanding. Available from 2.5mm, it is the smallest bicone bead in the world, through to larger statement sizes. The consistent double-cone profile means bicones stack and thread predictably, making them equally suited to hand-stringing, bead weaving and machine production.

What Sizes Do Swarovski Bicone Beads Come In?

Swarovski Xilion bicone beads are available from 2.5mm through to 8mm and above, covering the full spectrum from ultra-fine micro beads for detailed work and delicate jewellery through to larger statement sizes for focal designs. Common sizes used in professional jewellery making include:

2.5mm — the smallest bicone bead in the world; ideal for micro-detail work and the finest beaded jewellery
3mm — the most widely used size for bracelets, necklaces and earrings in professional jewellery making
4mm — a versatile mid-size suitable for virtually every jewellery application
6mm — a popular choice for statement bracelets and necklaces where individual beads need to make an impact
8mm — a larger statement size for bold focal designs and chunky jewellery

What Colours and Finishes Are Available?

Swarovski bicone beads are available across 70+ colours and 30+ effects, including classic clear Crystal, Crystal AB (Aurora Borealis) iridescent coating, shimmer effects, metallic finishes and Swarovski's ReCreated range produced using recycled crystal components. Every bead is drilled to consistent hole alignment for smooth, reliable threading across all sizes.

Why Choose Swarovski Bicone Beads?

Swarovski bicone beads are engineered to exact specifications using advanced Austrian manufacturing, delivering a standard of precision, consistency and brilliance that generic glass bicones cannot match. The Xilion facet geometry is specifically optimised to maximise light refraction in smaller bead sizes, producing brilliance and depth of colour throughout the finished piece. Consistent sizing, colour and hole alignment across every batch means designers can replicate pieces exactly and make repairs without visible colour variation, essential for production jewellery collections and professional commissions. Every bead is lead-free and REACH-compliant since 2012.

What Are Swarovski Bicone Beads Used For?

Professionals across jewellery making, bridal design, fashion and craft rely on Swarovski bicone beads for their consistency, precision and unmatched brilliance. Primary uses include bracelets, necklaces, earrings and bespoke handmade pieces, with additional applications across bridal and occasion accessories, bead weaving, fashion embellishment and decorative projects. The predictable double-cone profile makes bicone beads particularly well suited to bead weaving techniques such as peyote stitch and right angle weave, where consistent bead dimensions are essential for even tension and pattern accuracy.

Complete Your Designs

Swarovski bicone beads pair naturally with Swarovski round beads, Swarovski briolette beads and Swarovski cube beads for mixed-format jewellery designs. For elegant layered jewellery, combine with Swarovski crystal pearls, or with Swarovski flatback crystals to combine beaded and embellished elements in a single piece. For pendant and focal elements, explore Swarovski crystal pendants. Browse the full Swarovski crystal beads range for all bead formats. Browse our full range of jewellery making tools and adhesives to support every stage of your project.

Why Buy Swarovski Bicone Beads from Bluestreak?

Authorised distributor — guaranteed genuine Swarovski bicone beads sourced directly from Wattens, Austria
Complete range in stock — all sizes from 2.5mm to 8mm and above, across 70+ colours and 30+ effects
Fast dispatch — majority of orders shipped same or next working day, with express options to the USA in 2 to 5 days
Worldwide shipping — reliable international delivery with tracked options
Colour support — Swarovski colour charts and a sample service for confident colour matching
Trade pricing available — apply for a trade discount for tiered pricing on bulk and repeat orders
Alternatives available — we also stock Serinity bicone beads (Austrian-made, our own brand) and Preciosa bicone beads (Czech-made) as alternative options

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Swarovski bicone beads? ▾

Swarovski bicone beads are precision-cut Austrian-made crystal beads with a distinctive double-cone profile, featuring two pointed ends meeting at a central widest point. The faceted body concentrates light refraction through the bead from multiple angles simultaneously, creating intense directional sparkle that flatter bead shapes cannot achieve. Swarovski bicones are the most widely used bead format in professional crystal jewellery making, sold worldwide as the established premium standard across bridal, fashion, fine jewellery and dance jewellery.

What is the Swarovski 5328 bicone? ▾

The 5328 is Swarovski's classic bicone bead, the most established crystal bead article in the precision-cut crystal category. The 5328 features Swarovski's Xilion cutting with a precision-engineered facet pattern designed to maximise light refraction through the bicone's double-cone profile. Available in sizes from 2.5mm to 8mm and across the full Swarovski colour palette including Crystal AB, metallic, opal and shimmer effects, the 5328 is the workhorse Swarovski bicone for the majority of professional crystal jewellery applications.

What size Swarovski bicones should I use for a bracelet? ▾

4mm and 6mm are the most popular Swarovski bicone sizes for bracelets, balancing visual impact with comfortable wear. 4mm bicones suit delicate bracelets, layered designs and bridal pieces where subtle sparkle is preferred. 6mm bicones create classic single-strand bracelets with strong sparkle and good visual presence. 8mm bicones are used for bold statement bracelets and chunky designs. For multi-strand or graduated designs, mixing 4mm, 6mm and 8mm bicones within a single piece creates a layered visual effect.

What size Swarovski bicones should I use for a necklace? ▾

6mm and 8mm Swarovski bicones are the most popular sizes for necklaces, suiting both single-strand and multi-strand designs. 4mm bicones work well for delicate or fine pieces, layered designs and where bicones support a larger focal bead or pendant. 5mm bicones are popular for bridal and occasion necklaces where a slightly subtler presence is preferred. For statement necklaces and bolder designs, 8mm bicones provide maximum visual impact.

What's the difference between bicones and round beads? ▾

Bicones have a double-cone profile with two pointed ends meeting at a central widest point, concentrating light through the faceted body for intense directional sparkle. Round beads have facets distributed evenly across a spherical surface for softer, omni-directional shimmer. Bicones suit statement pieces, earring drops and designs where focused sparkle is the priority. Round beads suit layered necklaces, multi-strand designs and patterns where visual uniformity matters. Many designs combine both formats for visual interest.

How do I string Swarovski bicones? ▾

Swarovski bicones are designed to be strung onto wire, beading thread, elastic cord or memory wire, depending on the design. For threaded designs, use a strong, fine beading thread such as Nymo or FireLine, with appropriate beading needles. For wire-strung designs (wire-wrapped earrings and necklaces), use 0.5mm to 0.8mm beading wire matched to the bead size. The pointed ends of bicones can wear thread over time at flex points; for high-wear designs, consider crimping or knotting at intervals to prevent thread abrasion.

Are Swarovski bicone beads lead-free? ▾

Yes. All Swarovski bicone beads across the current Advanced Crystal range are fully lead-free and compliant with EU REACH regulations. They are safe for use across jewellery making, bridal work, fashion accessories, dancewear, beaded embellishment and any application requiring lead-free certification, including tooth gem and intraoral-adjacent uses where appropriate.

How quickly can I receive Swarovski bicone beads? ▾

The majority of orders dispatch same or next working day from our warehouse. UK orders typically arrive within 1-2 working days; USA orders within 2 to 5 days via express shipping. For tight bridal, production or wholesale deadlines, contact us directly at hello@bluestreakcrystals.com to confirm stock and dispatch timing before placing the order.