If we look at a Dzi, there are many sizes, shapes and totems/symbols
In a Dzi, we can see totems(s) which includes the following:

• Dots, Lines, Circles, Triangles, Squares, Polygons, Oblongs and Irregular ones
• Symbols and figures of animals and special abstract ones.

So what’s are  the purposes of these symbols? The totems and the symbols represented are closely tied to the Tibetan cultures and religious beliefs.
They are broadly classified into:
1.  AVOIDING from Disaster or CEASING from disaster
- avoiding the disaster, transmuting the misfortune, eliminating the hindrance, etc.
Type of Symbol used: CIRCULAR
By wearing Dzi with circular totems this may help people to avoid disaster.
Interestingly, there are varying opinion on what should be the correct number of eyes in relation to the avoiding or ceasing from disaster.
 

2.  ENHANCING One’s Benefit
- the meaning of career in good condition, luck in making money, gaining both the good fortune and wisdom, etc
Type of Symbol used: SQUARE
By wearing the Dzi with square totems this may help to enhance one’s benefit.
( Dzi with only a  single square totem are very few. The totems of one square generally appear with one circular symbol. Such totemic combination of Dzi are called Earth-sky-door Dzi  which can assist us to avoid/cease  from disaster and enhance one’s benefit )
 

3. Carrying Out PERFECTLY
-carrying out perfectly and being in good health, establishing a good relation, the most authoritative,etc.
Type of Symbol used: MOON
By wearing the Dzi with the symbols of moon figures help us to be healthy and establish a good human interrelation.
(The single symbol of moon figure commonly appear on the surface of Board-like Dzi . Generally the moon symbols appear with other totemic symbols on the surface of Long Dzi )
 

4. SUBMITTING/GETTING RID OF EVIL SPIRITS
- getting rid of the evil, submitting the evil spirits, eliminating the hindrance of the evil spirits,etc
Type of Symbol used:Triangular
By wearing the Dzi with the triangular symbols help to submit the evil spirits and get rid of the evil.
(The single triangular symbol commonly appears on the surface of Board-like Dzi. The single triangular symbols generally appear with other totemic symbols on the surface of Long Dzi )
The abovementioned four symbols-circular, square, moon and triangular may appear singly or in groups on the surface of the Tibetan Dzi.

Dzi Bead can be applied as medicine and for good health by the following ways:
1. By wearing the Dzi bead:

• Wearing the Dzi bead supposedly able to protect its wearer from strokes and other sicknesses as well as from evil influences.
• It can strengthen our physical constitution.
• Medical research had proven that you’ll start to feel thirsty when you start to wear Dzi bead initially, which means that our metabolism and blood circulation are speeding up. Or it may be detecting something negative that it is helping you to put burn away. But after three days, anyone would have adapted to it.

For well being, the Dzi bead can keep

• a person healthy and even help to lose weight.
• helps relieve tiredness, improve blood circulation and nourishes the root chakra.
• stimulate analytical capabilities and enhance our inherent talents.
• for those who are familiar with crystals, agate the materials used for producing Dzi bead is able to expel off negative energies and nourishes our good fortune luck.
• promote prosperity by making us more energetic and sociable and can greatly benefit business and personal matters too.

Generally, if, while it is being worn, the bead is in any way damaged or broken, it is taken as a sign that the bead has performed its task and absorbed the shock of the super-natural attack As they are consider “useless” for any further protection, they are then buried under the ground.

2. By taking it Orally as a powder mixed with other preparations.

• Organic and mineral materials are detoxified and then ground into a very fine powder & Dzi is also included. Rinchen Ratna Samphel, (the Precious Wish Fulfilling Jewel) contains over 100 different ingredients including Ngochu Tsothel, (a preparation of purified mercury, sulphur and sixteen different metals and minerals developed by the thirteenth century Tibetan scholar. Khedup Ugen Rinchen Pal), as well as seventy other ingredients such as purified gold, silver, copper, iron, lead and lode-stone. More notably the pill contains such gems as coral, turquoise, pearls, lapis lazuli and Dzi. ( pearl is considered the most effective of all the organic and metallic drugs - said to cure brain diseases and extract poison; cool nature of turquoise is believed to help liver ailments and blood pressure and is said to possess a detoxifying quality; Gold is believed to prevent poison from affecting the organs of the body by causing it to slide down like water poured on a flower petal; Silver is supposed to dry and stop the flow of blood and pus, and coral is used for fevers, sapphire for leprosy and extracting poison from the system. Coral is said to help migraine, brain disorders, fainting spells and seizures.)

In earlier article, the Dzi bead is able to emit cosmic energy. According to experts, the energy or chi or “qi” emitted by Dzi can only come from ancient Dzi-bead and not from faked one.

The following simple steps without equipment to help feel the “Dzi energy” has been suggested:

(1)  Breathe in deeply and exhale slowly for 3 -5 times. Relax your whole body slowly…

(2)  Place your Dzi bead on your palm (can be on the left palm or right palm).

(3)  Put your other palm on top of your Dzi (you cannot touch the dzi, allow space of about 2-3cm distance in between your palms).

(4)  Slowly close your eyes. Relax and do not think of any other thing, no other thoughts in your mind but relax!

(5)  Start concentrating on your palm above your Dzi. Concentrate for a few minutes (It may take slightly long, this will all depend on how sensitive you can feel the “Qi” “Energy”.

(6)  After a few minutes of concentration or less, you will be able to start to have a feeling of a gentle warmth, then there is a feeling of a pressure slowly start moving around your palm and around the Dzi in clockwise or up and down.

(7)  This “Energy” or so Called “Qi” is transpired from the Dzi. Different Type of Dzi may have different level of “Energy”. Some Dzi will have a stronger heat or pressure while others may be lesser “Energy”.

(8)  You can also use this method each time you want to do meditation and this Dzi’s Energy or “Qi” can have healing purpose and make you feel calm if you are stress or having anxiety

In earlier articles, the Dzi beads are viewed as sacred item for devout worship.

Also, it’s believe that you need to have enough good merit to own an ancient Dzi.

Therefore, it’s important that when we wear a Dzi bead, it important to at least observe the dos and don’t:

• The Dzi should always be worn on the body, because when it is in contact with our body, the Dzi Bead can sense and blend in with our natural energy field.
• If there are many Dzi Beads, they should be placed on the altar for worship and viewing. Constant contact with the Beads can maintain its smoothness and lustre.
• When stringing the Dzi Beads together, it is best to put softer beads in between the Dzi Beads to prevent abrasion that might cause cracks.
• The Dzi Beads should preferably be placed on the altar when bathing to prevent frequent contact with water as the string might break easily.
• When changing and washing clothes, take precaution as the Dzi Beads might break once dropped on the floor.
• In the event of committing acts that might be disrespectful to the Dzi, do take off the Dzi Bead temporarily.
• When attending any religious ceremony, do remember to request the Rinpoche master to bless the Dzi Bead.
• If accidents happened which caused the Dzi Bead to break, do replace it with another suitable piece.
• Sincere worshipping of the Dzi Beads will reward one with good fortune and wisdom.

Append below is tabulated the various design and meaning and benefits

Append below is tabulated the various types of faces/eyes and the benefits that we can derive from them:

There are many factors used to determine the value of  Dzi-Beads. The main factors are as follow:

• by age,
• scarcity,
• number of the eyes (odd numbered, eight-eyed and twelve-eyed Dzis are more expensive),
• degree of chippings,
• cinnabar dots (will grow from inner to the surface with age)
• special designs like Buddha’s eye, Heaven-and-Earth Motif, Dorje design, Lotus and Bottle Motif, and
• unique patterns to determine the price.

How expensive/the pricing of  Dzi-bead  should depend mainly on:

• Availablity. Very few pure ancient dzi actually come into the marketplace. Therefore,Dzi beads carry a high premium as they so scarce and the demand for them is so high.

• Rarity of Design.

• Certain types of dZi are more desirable in different regions of Tibet and Asia in general. So for example you may pay a high price for a Tiger Dzi in China but a relatively low price in Nepal. So demand in different regions will affect the price of Dzi.

Append below is the classification of Dzi Beads in terms of its value

The main and most sought after pure Dzi family (in order of desirability) are as follows:

(1) Eyed Dzi (which include long bodied, oval Dzi and short Dzi).

(2) Unusual Design Dzi (which can include eyes and other symbols and patterns).

(3) Tiger Dzi

(4) Tasso Dzi (Horse tooth Dzi)

(5)  Luk Mik Dzi (Goat’s Eye) - this includes both etched, heat treated and natural varieties that are likely to have originated from areas of Western Asia and not the Himalayan regions where they are most prized.

Next in terms of “lesser pure” Dzi family are:

(1) Chung Dzi with Unusual Design and Eyes

(2) Chung Dzi with Stripes

(3) Phum Dzi

(4) Natural banded Agates or heat treated agate beads

(5) Natural Round Agate Beads (Bhaisajyaguru Beads)

(6)  Etched Agates and Carnelian (which include the Pyu Beads of Burma and etched beads found in Southern India and Western Asia). These beads can display stripes and unusual designs and can come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

It is interesting to note that there many innumerous designs of Dzi beads which includes the following:

• dotted,
• lines,
• squarish,
• circular,
• triangular,
• rhombus,
• polygonal,
• seed shape,
• irregular shapes,
• animal motifs,
• abstract motifs and
• symbol combinations.

Different designs represent different meanings and function. The Dzi’s value is very much dependent on the uniqueness of the lustre and designs.

Dzi Bead contains elements of jade and agate, belonging to the nine-eyed cavenous rocks. The colors can generally be categorized into dark and light brown, its patterns are generally milky white lines etched to its inner core. Some Dzi researchers regard the inner color of the Dzi’s string hole as an important criterion for judging the quality of the Dzi. Milky white color is more superior in quality, and thus more precious.Due to weathering, Dzi Bead’s surface appears scaly with cinnabar dots and chippings. As it is passed down and worn by different collectors, and given blessings from monks, it will appear naturally smooth and lustrous from the interior to the exterior.

Basically, its authenticity can be determined based on the smoothness, lustre, weathering marks on the surface, chippings, curves and the technique of making the string hole of the bead’s opening as well as from the line designs.Criteria to Identify Dzi Beads               

1. Weathering Marks                          

Weathering marks are signs of aging and represent the age of a dzi bead. They are the tine lines of different thickness running irregularly on the surface of the dzi bead. However, not every old dzi bead will have the weathering marks.

2.  Cinnabar Dots                        

Cinnabar Dots are the red or black speckles that grow from within the body of Dzi to its surface. It is possible that these cinnabar dots are the effects of the magnetic interaction between the Dzi and the human body after a very long time. However, dzi beads with cinnabar dots are extremely difficult to find and the price usually very high.

3. Diaphaneity

Diaphaneity is the transparency of the dzi body, which is the ability to allow light to pass through. It was once used as the method to identify the authentication of dzi beads. This should not be the ONLY criteria to determine the value of Dzi.   

4. Circular Dragon Marks               

Circular dragon marks are the natural streaks that circulate the body of dzi. These marks are propitious signs resulted from the meditative practice of the gurus. 

Besides the above, there are many other criteria to identify dzi beads such as :-

the body color, surface pattern, degree of perfection etc.

With the value of authentic dzi beads at the increasing trend, the  market is now flooded with imitation dzi beads by using glass or   poly. These has confused many buyers.               

Dzi possess strong nature’s cosmic magnetic energy. According to a scientific study, Japanese researchers discovered that Dzi Beads contain 14 elements from Mars.The hardness of Dzi is 7 to 8.5 on the Moh’s hardness index, slightly below the African diamond, which has an index of 10. Crystal’s magnetic wave is 4 volts whereas Tibetan’s Dzi Bead gives off 13 volts, 3 times more than crystal.

The magnetic energy emitted by Dzi Bead is very gentle and is suitable to be placed at any human parts. It is perceived to be able to regulate blood circulation and reduce illnesses.

Benefits for the Wearer Besides wearing it for protection purposes, the magnetic energy from the Dzi can regulate the body’s blood and ‘qi/chi’ circulation, balance the body’s yin yang and five elements, improves the body’s immunity system and henceforth, achieve overall improvement in one’s health.

The effects are similar to acupuncture. It can improve the health of those suffering from heart diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes as well as reduce various symptoms like poor blood circulation, blocked nose, sprains, insomnia and aching bones.In fact, people have used Dzi ( by strapping from the body of the  Dzi) as one part of the important ingredient to be added to the other medicines to cure epilepsy diseases