Naturally Banded Agate, 63.3×17.4mm, Pitch-Black & White Multi-Band (At-N-071426-NBA)

🪨 Genuine agate. Unretouched photos. What you see is what ships.

The banding on this bead runs in sequence from end to end — and at both ends, it resolves into something else entirely: a dense field of concentric micro-rings, the stone's layering compressed so finely that the individual bands become almost too small to count.

This is a naturally-formed antique agate dzi bead — no acid etching, no applied motif, no deliberate patterning of any kind. What you see is entirely the work of the stone itself, laid down in mineral layers over geological time and then shaped, drilled, and polished by hand at some point in the last two to four centuries.

The body banding is bold and high-contrast. A deep pitch-black zone occupies the central body, confirmed from the flat-lit white-background photographs. On both sides of this dark core, wide cool-white bands extend toward the ends — the whitest zones in the piece, reading as true white rather than cream under flat lighting. Within these white bands, finer grey micro-lines are visible at the inner boundaries, marking the transition between the white layer and the dark centre. The overall composition from the side reads as a strong horizontal three-band structure: white, black, white.

The end caps tell a different story. Both drill ends show the characteristic concentric micro-banding of natural agate — tight, densely layered rings of white, grey, and pale brown circling the drill opening. The two ends are not identical: one end is wider and fuller, with a broad rounded cap; the other tapers to a narrower, more pointed form. This asymmetry is entirely natural, reflecting the original shape of the stone before it was worked. Brown mineral patina is visible in both drill channels, consistent with two to four centuries of accumulation.

At 63.3×17.4mm this is the longest antique naturally-formed barrel piece in the collection. The high-gloss polish across the body remains strong, with fine age-consistent surface marks present but no chips or cracks observed from available photos.

Spec Block

Motif: None — naturally banded agate, no applied or symbolic motif.
Length: 63.3mm
Diameter: 17.4mm
Form: Barrel (asymmetric taper — one end wider, one end narrower)
Material: Agate
Age Estimate: Antique — 200–400 years
Condition: Good — fine age-consistent surface marks; brown mineral patina in drill channels; no chips or cracks observed from available photos
Bloodspots: None
Product ID: At-N-071426-NBA
Collection: Antique Dzi | Natural Agate Dzi

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Other naturally-formed pieces in the collection:

• At-N-013126-1E — Antique naturally-formed one eye, 51.4×14.5mm
• At-N-071126-BOW — Antique bow-shaped naturally-formed, 107.1×19.0mm, pitch-black

Further reading:

• Where Do Dzi Beads Come From? Origin, History & Mystery
• What Gives Dzi Beads Value — and What to Be Careful Of

All photos are unretouched. Colour and surface detail are as photographed.

🪨 Genuine agate. Unretouched photos. What you see is what ships.

📷 5 unretouched product photos included.

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