what are dzi beads?

You might have heard of them...d Z i beads (pronounced "zee")...but what are they? The exact origin of dzi bead is unclear, as well as why, when and how it was manufactured.

dZi beads are bead stones worn as part of a necklace or a bracelet, common in Asian cultures.

dZi stones may have made their first appearance between 2000 BC to 1000 BC, in ancient Tibet. In Tibet, the bead is believed to impart positive spiritual benefits. These are used as protective amulets. They are found primarily in Tibet, but also in neighbouring Bhutan, Ladakh and Sikkim.

Original dZi beads are made from agate and may have symbols in the form of circles, ovals, square, waves, stripes, lines, diamonds and various other patterns. The original ones that only a few Tibetan families may have are priced over $3000 each. In Chinese culture, a necklace is believed to be genuine if it was obtained without monetary exchange.

The number of "eyes" on the dZi bead is considered significant. The "eyes" are the circular dots found on the surface and depending on their number, they represent different meanings.

Because of the high demand and high cost of original dZi beads, there are modern copies manufactured usually in China and Taiwan with certain techniques applied to them to "age" them.

A real dZi must be made from genuine agate. In modern times, there are fake dzis made from acrylic, glass, resin, metal and wood are not considered authentic dZis.