Dzi bracelet with three banded agate beads

A striking bracelet made of three olive-shaped agate beads, deep dark brown with cream-white bands that wrap all the way around. The center bead features a single wide strand, while the two flanking beads each have two narrower strands; the highly polished stone contrasts with the matte-finished black macramé cord.

Strung agate beads have been worn as dzi in the Himalayas for centuries, passed down through families and treasured as heirlooms for generations. They are interpreted based on their markings: a closed, light-colored ring is considered an “eye,” and the number of eyes gives the bead its name—ranging from single-eye dzi to beads with nine or more eyes. The beads featured here do not have eyes, but rather bands running around their circumference. Such striped beads are usually classified as“tiger’s tooth Dzi” in the Tibetan trade and are traditionally associated with courage and determination—an association rooted in commercial practice that varies by region.

The bracelet fastens with an adjustable sliding knot, the ends of which are each weighted with a small black bead—it can be slipped over the hand without a clasp and adjusted to fit the wrist.

Made at Atelier Tibet in Zurich.

Bead length: approx. 14 mm · Circumference: 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 cm · Agate, macramé cord · Sliding knots · Made in the Tibet Studio