New Chinese Reproduction Zi Beads

In 1992 Chinese beadmakers began producing reproductions of ancient Tibetan zi beads, composed from agate, and reasonably technically similar. Since that time these beads have become "big business," in-part because they resemble their prototypes, but also because they are routinely misrepresented as "antique" or "ancient"—and as authentic valuable zi beads, commanding extremely high commercial prices. The photos I am showing here present beads I have bought online over the previous five months, and represent a typical cross section of what is currently available. However, I bought them knowing they are recent, and for very affordable prices, for the purpose of keeping-up with the marketplace, and to expose this rampant misrepresentation. JDA.