Left, necklace of antique, orange carnelian beads allegedly dating back to the Mexican Galleon Trade, with Chinese burial beads as connectors. The pendant is an antique, polished, Igorot brass holder for an heirloom gong, purchased from Greg Sabado of Baguio City many years ago.

Right, dzi beads stranded with yellow, Chinese burial beads as connectors. I have learned, over time, that there are two kinds of dzi beads: the less expensive ones made of shells etched from the inside, as in this photo, and the more expensive ones made of red and brown agate, usually from Tibet.

Photo by Neil de Leon