How to Tell a Genuine Dzi Bead from a Fake

Dzi beads are among the most mysterious artifacts of the Himalayas. Today, genuine Dzi beads are valued just as highly as they were in ancient times, yet the market is flooded with imitations. While an experienced collector can often spot the difference at a glance, there are signs that even a beginner can recognize.

1. The Pattern Must Be Etched, Not Painted

On genuine Dzi beads, the design is created through etching — the stone is treated with a special process that “burns” the pattern into its surface, penetrating deep into the structure. The outer surface can be perfectly smooth, yet if the bead were broken, the design would still be visible inside the stone.
Fakes are often simply painted, printed, or lightly laser-marked on the surface — the pattern exists only on the outside.

2. Material — Always Natural Stone

Authentic Dzi beads are made from agate, chalcedony, or carnelian. These stones have a natural texture and may contain mineral inclusions and veins.
Wood, plastic, or glass (including decorative glass beads with laser engraving) are purely ornamental copies, unrelated to traditional Himalayan artifacts.

3. Every Bead Is Unique

Even within a single Himalayan region, Dzi beads differ. In Shigatse, Ngari, and Lhasa, craftsmen used distinct techniques and materials.
The same motif — for example, the “9 eyes” — could look completely different in separate areas, varying in line thickness, proportions, stone color, and etching style.
There is no mass-produced “stamp” in genuine Dzi beads — each one is unique, and that uniqueness is part of its value.

4. Signs of Age: Sides and Ends

Old Dzi beads almost never look “brand new.” Signs of age most often appear on the sides: tiny chips, light wear, shallow marks, and a slightly uneven surface.
The ends, on the other hand, are often smooth, as if polished — this comes from decades or centuries of being strung together with other beads, rubbing against each other and naturally buffing the surface. This is not a sign of a modern bead, but normal aging.
A popular belief that “real” Dzi beads always have round dimples on their sides or ends is a myth. Yes, such features occur in some authentic beads, but their shapes and surface details vary widely.
A perfectly smooth “old” bead without a trace of wear is extremely rare — in most cases, it’s simply a modern piece.

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3 Main Myths About the Authenticity of Dzi Beads

Myth 1. A genuine bead always has perfectly round dimples on its sides.
In reality, such dimples appear only on some authentic beads. Others may lack them entirely or have them in a different form — it depends on the craftsman, region, and age of the artifact.

Myth 2. All beads of the same type should have identical patterns.
In fact, the same symbol — for example, the “9 eyes” — was drawn differently in various Himalayan regions. Proportions, line thickness, shapes, and even etching techniques could vary, so there is no single “ideal” version.

Myth 3. The smoothness or roughness of the drill hole proves authenticity.
Ancient craftsmen drilled beads using abrasives, which often created a double-cone profile with uneven edges. Many holes were later re-drilled to make the bead wearable again, so the shape and neatness of the hole alone prove nothing.

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5. Drill Holes: How They Were Made Thousands of Years Ago

On many old Dzi beads, the drill hole is more than just a functional detail — it is the mark of a craftsman who lived thousands of years ago.
In the Himalayas, holes were made using an abrasive-drilling method: a simple rotating tool with a thin shaft was used along with quartz sand or powdered hard minerals. The abrasive slowly and patiently wore away the stone until a hole was formed.

Most often, the bead was drilled from both ends, meeting in the middle to create a slight double-cone shape. The process could take many hours or even days, but for a craftsman creating an artifact meant to last for centuries, time was no concern.

A bead one centimeter thick and four centimeters long — the classic Dzi proportion — was no obstacle, only a test of patience and precision. In some cases, holes were added later so that a relic could be worn on a string.

Smooth or uneven hole edges in old beads are less a sign of authenticity than of history: edges may have been slightly reworked or naturally rounded after years of rubbing against other beads in a necklace.

6. Energy and Feel in the Hand

Although this is subjective, many collectors say that a genuine Dzi bead simply feels different: in its weight, the temperature of the stone, and the way it “responds” to touch. With experience, this difference becomes unmistakable.

Determining the authenticity of a Dzi bead is not just about its appearance — it’s about understanding the whole story behind it: the craftsmanship, the pattern, the material, the signs of time, and the traditions of the region where it was made. No single feature can guarantee authenticity, but together they form a complete picture.
If you are holding a genuine Dzi bead, it is more than an ornament. It is an artifact with a thousand-year tradition, a personal symbol of strength, protection, and harmony — and perhaps, it could change your life.