This Tibetan focal bead was made from faceted green chalcedony and Tibetan silver. It measures inches tall and inches wide. I have paired it with 8mm jade beads, chalcedony beads with Tibetan silver end caps, silver spacers and rectangular Tibetan silver beads. The necklace is strung on a strong, flexible jewelers wire and finished with a silver clasp.
The beautiful focal bead was handmade in Kathmandu, Nepal by Tibetan artists. This area has been home to Tibetan refugees for decades. They fled Tibet, walking through the Himalayas, to Nepal when Tibet was first occupied by China. Although Tibet has been thought of as an isolated country, it has been known as a great trading nation by the 7th century when it was first documented in written history. It has long been known for its highly skilled craftsmen and jewelers and its incredible jewelry.
I am fortunate to have several wonderful and generous Tibetan suppliers who live in the United States. They each have hotsell several artists in Kathmandu who they work with to create these incredible little works of art. They pay their artists a living wage in a country that is one of the most impoverished in the world. I'm so happy that I am able to support their businesses for many reasons, not the least of which is that I have been besotted with these incredible beads since I first started working with them in 2004.
If you'd like more information, there are some good books available including Jewelry of Tibet and the Himalayas by John Clarke. He has traveled extensively in the area and his book is gorgeous. Also, Across Many Mountains: A Tibetan Family's Journey From Oppression to Freedom by Yangzom Brauer is an interesting read.
Product code: Handmade Chalcedony hotsell and Jade Necklace