In the interest of consumer protection and public education Rudra Center presents these pictures of Counterfeit One mukhi round Rudraksha beads that have been purchased in the past and kept.   These beads are sold in large quantities in India and outside by unscrupulous people taking advantage of the craze of the customers to procure them The typical price at which they are sold ranges from $100 to $50,000 .  Rudra Centre does not trade in round one mukhis as they are not available at all . Even if you buy them for several 1000 dollars or from any ashrams or any reliable person ,  it would not be genuine as it has never been produced till date by any Tree in Nepal or Indonesia. It advices the people to not go in search for this Rudraksha , just because it is rare. Half moon 1 mukhi is genuine and available easily . Hence it is sold at low price from Rudra Centre although there are people who sell this same bead for price as much as $1100 . Rudra Center offers a free Authentication Service where their might be reasonable doubt regarding authenticity for any Rudraksha Beads purchased anywhere in the world. For this service the client pays shipping both ways to Rudra Center. Another method of Authentication can take place by scanning Beads at high resolution and sending scanned pictures to Rudra Centre , India by email at navedb@streamyx.com Fake beads carved out of Lotus Seeds Purchased in 1999, Haridwar India         In addition to those shown below , there are several other varieties of 1 mukhi round which are sold and made from different seeds of trees.     Most commonly sold variety. This is actually a 3 faced Oval bead of Indian origin  and not Nepalese .  Other lines are skillfully obliterated leaving only one line. Purchased from Haridwar for RM925.00- RM2500.00.  Can be identified by sight .    This is a seed with a skillfully carved line sold as a Rudraksha species bead . Can be detected by sight due to the presence of smooth scales on the bead which is unlike the thorny protrusions on rudraksha beads .  Usually sold capped in gold or silver to avoid seeing the drilled hole of the seed. Studies are going on to determine the species of this bead . Purchased from a reputed ashram for RM9500.00.     A commonly sold variety from Indonesia.  In this small pieces of Rudraksha are glued on four of the lines of a five mukhi bead thus leaving  only one deep line.  Can be detected by dipping in hot water for 2-3 hours . The other hidden lines would show up in a different color as the glue softens.  Pieces chip off on regular wearing .  Purchased from Indonesia for $100.   Another very commonly sold variety . This is a giant ball like piece usually given a strong odour. Small pieces of Rudraksha are glued on a seed and a line is carved externally . Can be detected by placing in warm water overnight  and all the other lines will show up . Pieces chip off on regular wearing .  Purchased from Indonesia for Indonesian Rupiah 1,000,000.  Fake mala of 108 + 1, 2  mukhi beads. Purchased in 1999, Indonesia, Now widely sold all over India Fake mala of 108 + 1 mukhiless beads Purchased in 1988, Nepal.         Fake beads carved out of betel nut.  Method commonly used to make high mukhi beads upto 21 mukhi ,  Purchased in 1998, Varanasi, India Fake Trijuti made from three Rudraksha beads ground and glued together . Purchased from Mumbai , India 1999 . Fake Gauri Shankars made from two Rudraksha beads ground and glued together . Purchased from Mumbai , India 1999 and Nasik in 2001.  Seeds of Ber tree which are coloured and sold as rudraksha beads mala . Can be detected by sight as no mukhis are visible .                       This is a synthetically manufactured bead sold as 1 mukhi in religious places of India by roadside hawkers.  Pictures show top view and side view .  Purchased for RM10.00 after bargaining . Can be detected by sight only.              This has   Om , Trishul and Snake head  carved and glued on two mukhi Bhadraksha beads  . Sold commonly as 1 mukhi  all over India and abroad . Purchased from Shop outside Trayambekhwar Shrine in India for   RM16.00 . Pictures show two different designs.          Giant Ball made from a cork like substance that  has a natural  stem implanted on top to give the "look" .  Sold very widely in India and abroad by unscrupulous people . Pictures shows the outside view and  the inner section after opening it . Filled with edible gum .  Purchased by a Client from seller in Singapore for $500 .