Above: The round dig or weathering on this side reveals the original colour

of the stone (greyish white). This was the colour of the agate/chalcedony
before it was treated to turn it to a more desirable black.

Ancient decorated agate bead
w/ 'railtrack' and mountain peak motif.
21 mm x 12.5 mm

A 'new' dZi bead from China (less than 5 years old) that has been purposely broken in half and polished smooth. It is clearly an attempt to look like an ancient damaged bead. What is interesting about this bead is that the decorated lines have also been framed and inlaid with silver or a silver coloured metal. It is quite an attractive effect, however, this was not a technique used to decorate dZi beads in ancient times.