Dzi beads are beads made from agate and these contain certain symbols on the body of the bead and the term ‘Dzi’ when pronounced is ‘Zee’. It is also important to note that dzi beads are believed to have originated from Tibet and more importantly, dzi beads are widely used in Buddhism as talismans in the religion. Dzi beads which made form agate that are associated with the Tibetan culture and other pigment regions of the Himalayas like Pakistan( Gilgit Baltistan) , Nepal and India. . They are mainly cylindrical/tubular and their body patterned could be stripes, circles, square and many other body patterns. These beads are thought to be amulets and have energy qualities and are used in prayers and meditations.
There are several patterns of Dzi beads that are quite popular some of which include the eye of wisdom, eternal knot, swastika, lotus flower among others. These patterns are intended to be associated with some virtues such as courage, health, prosperity, protection and the likes. Tibetan Buddhists utilize dzis as ornaments and symbols or hang them in their homes or in their meditation exercises. Some are thought to have shielding influences, others are said to confer blessings on one’s home, still others are said to be enlightening. This is a natural and an original Dzi bead that has been etched and handed over from generations, and it is a rare thing. They come in disc shapes as well as tubes, and may be of irregular shapes with nugget like appearances. Presently, there are even commercially-made agate Dzi beads that mimic the designs found in Tibetan beads but these are synthetic and bear no religious importance to the Tibetans.
Here are the features which define the dZi beads;
Material:
Commonly carved out of seeds belonging to the agate group of chalcedony, although other semi precious stones are also used.
Patterns and Designs:
The motifs sculptured on the dZi beads are usually made from natural mineral inclusions and etching or any other procedures. There are many typical patterns which are usually depicted as eyes, stripes, squares, waves and geometric patterns.
Symbolism:
Symbolism is also found on designs on dZi beads. For example, beads of the eye design are thought to help to shield the folks from evil forces and adversity. Though the number of eyes depicted on bead can also have certain meaning for example, there is nine eye dZi bead and according to it this bead is believed to have nine types of power such as power, upper hand, defense etc.
Cultural and Spiritual Significance:
In the Tibetan culture and especially in Nepalese culture dZi beads are considered lucky and are normally inherited from one generation to the other. They adorn religious people, are worn as shields from evil spirit and are believed to foster luck, health and long life to the wearer.
Rarity and Value:
The real ancient dZi beads are few and far between as such the prices are tend to be high and may reach thousands of dollars. The price of dZi bead also depend on age, condition, and design of the bead and number of eyes and other symbolisms it has.
Modern Imitations:
Since dZi beads are highly valued and possess great demand, there are numerous copies and fakes in today’s society. Currently, it is quite difficult to verify a genuine dZi bead on your own and one has to consult an experienced dealer or a specialist.
Types of dZi Beads
Nine-Eyed dZi Bea
Of all the dZi beads, Nine-Eyed dZi bead is one of the most popular and highly demanded pieces. The appearance is often nine circles or ovals positioned on the bead surface and with eye-like shapes.
Two-Eyed dZi Bead
A Two-Eyed dZi bead according to tradition is one which has two eye-like designs on the bead.
Tiger Tooth dZi Bead:
Tiger Tooth dZi bead is one that contains designs bearing some resemblance of sharp teeth of tiger; in a set of lines that are more or less triangular.
Lotus dZi Bead:
The primary carving of a Lotus dZi bead is commonly in the shape of a lotus, which is can have petals or is floral in nature.
C-shaped Mark dZi Bead:
Holder of a lovely pattern, which is believed to bring fortune.
Thus, collecting and identifying real dZi beads is a rather intricate activity which implies a lot of expertise because of the numerous checkpoints and various degrees of authenticity and price.
Where is Dzi Beads Found:
Although people are unclear about the origin of dzi beads, today they are calles ‘Tibetan beads’ in the same way as ‘Tibetan coral’ which, in fact, comes from different places. Dzi beads are mainly identified in the region of Tibet but also in part of Bhutan, Nepal, Ladakh, Pakistan (Gilgit Baltistan ) and Sikkim.
Although agate beads similar to dzi were manufactured in the Indus valley during the Harappan civilization and other parts of India,the earliest dzi bead with straight and curved lines and circular eye maker was discovered in Kazakhstan. This bead belongs to the 7th – 5th century BCE and was probably imported from India and reflects the commercial contacts between India and the nomadic Saka or Scythian people.
How to Tell the Difference Between Real and Fake Dzi Beads
How can I determine that the Dzi beads that I buy are not fake beads?
One of the biggest problems in buying Dzi beads is that it is quite difficult to tell the difference between the real beads and a fake one as the counterfeiters have perfected their work. However, it is possible to highlight several principles that can define the authenticity of a Dzi bead. Here are some tips to help you: Here are some tips to help you:
Price: Cave Dzi is real Dzi beads, which cannot be easily found and is very costly. It is advisable that any bead being sold at a very cheap price than the others is counterfeit.
Material: They themselves are cut from agate, which is one of the varieties of chalcedony. It has a peculiar smooth and waxy shine and the preferred color varies from milky white to deep brown and black. Imitation Dzi beads are generally made of glass or plastic, and this has different luster compared to the real agate.
Surface: The genuine Dzi beads have more refined appearance and rather rough and dull looking due to the fact that they are ancient beads that were exposed to harsh weather conditions. Again, replicas may feel smoother or shinier than the original piece, because they have been newly made.
Patterns: The counterfeit Dzi beads have a conventional flow of several patterns or what is referred to as the ‘eyes’ which are made by human effort. On fake beads there are most likely to be paints or engravings and the patterns on them look unnatural and are too symmetrical.
Drilling Holes: An authentic Real Dzi bead will have some small imperfections in the holes specifically, since they are hand-drilled. Machine drilled holes are characteristically round and smooth, One would never get such a perfect round and smooth hole by hand.
Age: Traditional Dzi beads are not even younger than several thousand years. A bead’s age can be accurately identified by consulting an expert who is specialized in bead valuation or through scientific analysis such as TL or C-14 dating.
Provenance: That is why genuine Dzi beads are accompanied sometimes by the certificate of origin like a certificate provided by an experienced dealer.
Inclusions: Lustre of real Dzi beads may also have small pimpled natural inclusions like little cracks, may contain small air bubbles or may have some mineral deposit. These imperfections are missing in fake Dzi beads, again because they are artificially produced with no originality of raw materials.
Color Consistency: Real Dzi beads will have slight variations of color on the face of the beads while a fake one will be consistent with colors that appear too bright.
Pattern Depth: The patterns on real Dzi beads are made during the aging process, and has a depth that can actually be touched and seen. As to fake beads, those patterns are generally not as deep and involve painting or etching to explain it briefly.
Reputable Sources: Consuming from reputable dealers or from well known and reputable auctions may help in minimizing the chances of getting counterfeit Dzi beads. Do your homework on the seller; check for complaint history before you invest your money.
We are Showing a original Dzi Beads that get from Gilgit Baltistan Region. Carefully look this original Dzi Beads
Now we sharing you Fake Dzi Beads in above videos so compire these videos you can easy distinguish between these .