Ancient Dzi Bead Necklace

• This exquisite ancient Dzi bead was hand picked by DharmaShop founder, Sander Cohen, in Nepal.  It was unearthed from a dig in Bhutan many many years ago.
• It features what appears to be a partial Longevity Dzi  design with gorgeous coloring.  As you can see from the photos, it is full of incredible detail and history.  The bead has a mostly smooth texture with some small chips and dents that reflect its age and authenticity.
• The age of this Dzi is estimated to be approximately 2,000 years old.  Locating Dzi of this age and authenticity is incredibly rare.

Over the last 20 years, DharmaShop founder Sander Cohen has been collecting Dzi beads of all ages and designs from both Nepal and Taiwan.  This particular ancient Dzi was part of an antique necklace that featured over a dozen rare and special beads.  Sander has kept this necklace in his personal collection for almost a decade and only recently decided to remove a few of his favorite, high quality ancient Dzi to offer the DharmaShop community.

This is a one-of-a-kind, exceptional antiquity.  As it is only a partial Dzi, the Longevity design is visible but not entirely complete.  It features some chips and dents where pieces of the bead were removed during the traditional process of making healing medicines.  These "imperfections" are what make this bead so incredibly special.  These markings are what modern Dzi beads strive to emulate, and here it is in its original ancient form.

Dzi beads are believed to offer protection for the wearer.  The Longevity Dzi features a dark tortoise shell pattern and is also referred to as a "turtle back" Dzi.  This design represents a long and happy life.  It is known to improve health and healing while protecting from sickness and negativity.

Bead measures about 11mm long and 10mm wide.  Adjustable chain measures approximately 22 inches and can be tightened as desired.