This is the bead I was talking about, during our quest to detect the truth from "Indochine".

I would also like to explain what I meant with one, two (or max. five non-Indonesian beads among your strand). When saying so, I left all monochrome blue specimen aside. Though I cannot say if they are Indonesian too (possibly not), I can say with certainty that they are not Venetian. In other words: All such (monochrome blue) beads were left unconsidered in my evaluation what is Asian and what is (not) European. This blue beads might be Chinese indeed and they could even be FM-beads from Bavaria (though it's not likely) or any other furnace-winding industry, ex Görece - an industry I have visited, and industry this beads are definitely not from. No idea what kind of wound beads Cairo and Herat made - certainly monochrome blue ones - but I an not pointing in that direction anyway. I think China might be a likely candidate - though for not much more than the geographical proximity.

Though I do not have the photo in front of me, I would like to state that not all monochrome blue beads on the strand are from the same maker. Two of them, those in a somewhat darker middle-blue laying next to each other, are most likely from another industry than those pieces a few centimeters higher on the photo, in the same area of the strand towards the right side on the scan.

I spoke with longtime collector today - one without ties to the forum. Like me, he pointed immedeately towards Indonesia, though I had not (not!) given him the option to choose between Europe and Asia. Only when I added the hypothetical question: "...not Venice?" he said without the slightest doubt in his voice, quote: "NO WAY!" (Niemals...).

Regarding age he wasn't sure, due to the make good fakes coming out of Asia these days. Pressing him for a guess, he said exactly the same I wrote and still think: "Between 1900 and 1950".

The person I am refering to is not a hobbyist, but a longtime collector of beads and related artefacts - one of the first hour!

Whatever..., just sayin'!

The bead - copied from our sales-site (with many other beads of interest), assuming your silent agreement to do so - is the only Venetian bead I see on your strand from Borneo!

PS
I would very much welcome, if you could maybe say a few more words about the guarantee (should you have any additional information). Did you get the strand directly from that person or his family or was it boought recently from a dealer?