Why 108 Beads

Traditional bead strands are counted, not estimated. 108 is the customary number, and it is a religious count rather than a design choice — which is why a strand of 108 beads costs materially more than a strand of 54 at the same bead size.

Matching is the hard part. A strand is only as good as its worst bead — one bead a shade off, or noticeably more opaque, breaks the line when worn. This is why strands are graded as a set.