These Tibetan beads, known as the Dzi variety, are a beautiful type that is archaic and look amazing. In Tibetan, Dzi means purity, dignity, and perfection, matching up with these choices. They look great with jewelry crafts, and are highly sought after to a variety of collectors. The most highly sought after type of Dzi bead, is the pure variety. These pieces are also found in the neighboring countries of India and Nepal. Many of them are still held in the Boston historical museum, and have been dated from 1959 and earlier.

Chung

While not as desirable as the pure pieces, these Tibetan artworks are a fantastic example of the areas style. These are made from the agate stone, which is what makes them not recognized as the pure variety. Some common styles of the Chung Dzi beads are the “Eye” design, known as dzi mig inga pa, or a series of stripes down the entirety of the bead. Like all Dzi beads, Chungs come in two general shapes, the tube and the circular dot. Colors include black, white, and varying colors of brown, from tan to dark.

Pure

Pure beads are difficult to come by, and are no longer made. This means that any found today are likely to be dirty and slightly faded. There are a few ways you can identify a pure dzi over an imitation or chung. The cinnabar lines around the outside edge is the most important mark to look for. The size of the Dzi also changes the value, the larger the more expensive. The “Dragon Marks” on the dzi run all the way around the bead, and are signs of personal craftsmanship on the piece. As the Tibetan beads age, the white areas are become a deeper brown with dust and grime. This is often how the pure bead is aged, and the older the piece, the more collectable and desirable.

Imitation

While they may be used to trick potential customers, there are many gorgeous beads sold as replicas. These are most often made with glass or plastic. The easiest way to check if the bead is an imitation, is if a light behind the bead shines through easily. You can also tell by the absence of dragon marks, that the bead is a replica. Replica pieces look great with jewelry pieces where you would not want to use a real pure dzi.

Turquoise

Turquoise has been commonly used in dzi jewelry since the beginning of their creation. This is not only because they accent the colors of the Tibetan beads, but because they are spiritual stones in the religious aspects of the area. Some beads are actually made from these stones, but they are uncommon and are not worth as much as the pure ones. They are more for aesthetic purposes than collectability.

Conclusion

These gorgeous Tibetan beads are still a mystery to modern collectors, as the beauty and majesty is unmatched in other crafts. If you are a crafter then these are a product you don’t want to miss out on.