Hello Wyley,

I have collected these since the early '70s myself. They are from India, though styled as Himalayan. The metal may be brass or silver. The stones may be real turquoise or dyed to look like turquoise. The stone pieces are placed into a base that is something like pitch (such as is used in metal-working for repousee, and put inside thin-walled silver beads to give them some body).

Currently, somewhat similar beads are now being made in China for the Tibetan market.

You don't see the old beads around much anymore. I'd go to second-hand stores, garage sales, the Goodwill, and check eBay.

Good luck.

Jamey

Hello, welcome to the forum. I love these beads and have several in my collection. I will be listing some in various shapes tomorrow on Ebay. My Ebay I.D is Adjichristine!!Just do a search on loose beads, Turqouise/Silver beads!

Hi,

Just wanted to know if you'd posted those beads on eBay (I checked but didn't seem them). Could you let me know if they are there and where to search for them?
Thanks!

Sorry, I did not get the chance to post them but, I will do it tomorrow evening. Look for them on thursday. I will even let you know through the forum!

My husband's family lived in India for a year in the early 60's. My mother-in-law gave me a strand of beads similar to these that she purchased at that time. I don't know if they are much older than that....? From time to time, I see odd strands or loose beads that look similar, but newer-looking.

I really like them. My understanding is they are made of bits and pieces of turquoise and aren't really "valuable". But I like the worn look to them, and wear them a lot. I like the older ones more than the newer ones.

In the 70's these were often called "Kashmiri turquoise" implying that they were from Kashmir. I've also seen them described as "paper mache' turquoise," probably trying to describe the method of embedding stone chips in some pitch or resin. Round and teardrop shapes were common.

They are probably still available from Indian suppliers as an order. They are still seen used in assembled jewellery from India in Import shops.

Russ (www.rings-things.com - Spokane, WA - USA)

I have posted two different shapes of this type of bead. The first is item no' 300144030911 under the name Silver/Brass Turqouise Inlaid Trade Beads. The second no' is 230164562793. Hope this is what you are looking for.

Christine,

The first number you posted takes one to an auction for NEW "Kiffa" beads. These are mistakenly called "trade beads."

The second number goes to the Indian turquoise mosaic beads, also mistakenly called "trade beads."

JDA.

As they are more rightly considered in Kashmir: "tourist beads".

I mistakingly put the wrong number. The first one should be 230164560204, the second one is 230164562793. I posted them under the same name as the person that is looking for them so he can find them. Put them under "Trade Beads" because i was told early on that I should use the category "Trade Beads' if, I wish for people to find my auctions on ebay. I do indeed know that we are not sure which beads were for sure used as "Trade Beads"! The new Kiffa beads that you saw No'300144030911 are of course, not mine. I had noted that number to put it on the forum because the beads are being sold as old hen, they are not old. They have been put in a solution to give the impression that they are old.

These are awesome beads! Do you have any idea about how old they are? Thanks for posting them on ebay!!

It is mentioned above twice that these beads are from the 1960s and '70s. Whether they were made much earlier than that, and/or if they have continued to be made is anyone's guess.

Mosaic turquoise is a very old art form. I am reasonably sure these particular beads are basically '60's beads.

JDA.

Thank you all for the information about these beads. Your information and comments have been extremely helpful in searching for these!

Cheers!

-Wyley