GemKrishna India · Kirti Nagar, New Delhi
Rudraksha is one of the few things people buy where they have almost no way of checking what they got. A bead looks like a bead. The lines are there or they are not. And the difference between a genuine 14 mukhi and a 5 mukhi with extra lines carved into it can be forty thousand rupees.
So this guide does two things. It shows you how to actually verify a bead — including why the tests you have been told about do not work — and it shows you what we stock, from a ₹599 5 mukhi to a ₹1,10,999 20 mukhi, with real prices you can check.
First order gets 10% off.
If you just want to buy something
- First rudraksha, or a gift → a 5 mukhi at ₹599 or a rudraksha bracelet from ₹699
- For jaap and daily practice → jaap malas, or build your own with the Custom Jaap Mala Builder
- A specific mukhi your guru or astrologer named → the certified bead collection
- A bracelet combining rudraksha with a gemstone → Custom Bracelet Builder
The short answer on authenticity
There is one reliable way to know a rudraksha is real and that its mukhi count is genuine: an X-ray of the bead, read alongside a lab report. The X-ray shows the internal seed compartments, and the number of compartments should match the mukhi lines on the outside.
Every rudraksha we ship carries both, issued by the GJSPC laboratory, on every bead regardless of price. You can ask to see either before you buy — and you can check the report online yourself, which we wrote a guide for. We would rather you verified than trusted us.
Why the popular home tests do not work
These circulate endlessly, in shops and online. Here is what is wrong with each.
- The water test (real ones sink). Sinking depends on density, moisture content and whether the bead has been oiled — not authenticity. A dry genuine bead can float. A dense fake, or one weighted with lead, sinks perfectly.
- The copper coin test (real ones spin). Movement between two coins depends on the bead's shape and surface, not its nature. Plenty of genuine beads do not move at all, and a carved fake with the right profile will.
- The boiling or milk test. Does nothing except risk damaging a genuine bead.
- Counting the mukhi lines by eye. This is the one that costs people real money. A skilled carver adds lines to a low-mukhi bead, and a 5 mukhi turned into a fake 14 mukhi convinces almost anyone. Lines are exactly what a forger controls.
We would rather lose a sale than have you rely on any of these.
What actually verifies a bead
The X-ray
Each mukhi line on the outside corresponds to an internal seed compartment. An X-ray reveals those compartments: a carved bead shows the wrong number — the surface says fourteen, the interior says five. This is the one test a forger cannot defeat, because it ignores the surface entirely.
It matters most on high-mukhi beads, where the money is, which is why GJSPC X-rays every bead we sell rather than only the expensive ones.
The lab report
Identification, mukhi count, size in millimetres, origin — and a report number that belongs to that one bead and no other. The number appears in the product title, for example Report No. RDQ0044323, so you can check it before you pay.
GJSPC is one of six independent laboratories we work with across gemstones and rudraksha, alongside IGI, GRS Swisslab, IIGJ, GSI and GIA.
Origin, stated plainly
Our high-mukhi beads are Indonesian (Java), and we say so in the title rather than letting you assume Nepali. The two are not interchangeable and Nepali commands a higher price.
Indonesian or Nepali: which you actually need
Both are genuine Elaeocarpus beads. They differ in appearance and price, not in legitimacy.
| Indonesian (Java) | Nepali | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Smaller, typically 10–27 mm | Larger, heavier |
| Surface | Smoother, finer mukhi lines | Deeper, more pronounced lines |
| Price | Lower for the same mukhi | Higher |
| High mukhi | Where most 15–22 mukhi beads come from | Rare above 14 mukhi |
For a mala or bracelet worn daily, Indonesian beads are lighter and more comfortable. For a single large statement bead, Nepali has presence. Neither is more “real” than the other, whatever a seller tells you.
Certified beads, by mukhi
Our Indonesian rudraksha collection runs to 137 individually certified beads. Each is a single bead with its own report number, size and price — not a bulk lot, and not interchangeable with the photo of another.
| Mukhi | Price range |
|---|---|
| 9 Mukhi Gauri Shankar | ₹2,999 |
| 10 Mukhi Gauri Shankar | ₹2,799 |
| 11 Mukhi Gauri Shankar | ₹2,999 |
| 12 Mukhi Gauri Shankar | ₹3,999 – ₹4,499 |
| 14 Mukhi | ₹4,999 – ₹6,999 |
| 15 Mukhi | ₹3,999 – ₹13,999 |
| 16 Mukhi | ₹7,999 – ₹40,999 |
| 17 Mukhi | ₹9,999 – ₹1,00,999 |
| 18 Mukhi | ₹10,999 – ₹50,999 |
| 19 Mukhi | ₹40,999 – ₹1,00,999 |
| 20 Mukhi | ₹10,999 – ₹1,10,999 |
| 21 Mukhi | ₹29,999 – ₹90,999 |
| 22 Mukhi | ₹49,999 |
Within a single mukhi, price tracks size. A 20 mukhi at 12.80 mm is ₹10,999; the same mukhi at 22.14 mm is ₹1,10,999. Large beads of a high mukhi are simply far rarer. If a seller quotes one flat price for “20 mukhi” regardless of size, ask why.
Gauri Shankar
Two rudraksha beads naturally fused together. We carry them from 9 to 14 mukhi, from ₹2,799. Because a fusion can be faked by joining two separate beads, the X-ray matters here more than anywhere else.
Everyday rudraksha under ₹2,000
Not everyone is buying a collector bead. These are the ones people actually wear:
- 5 Mukhi Pathri Rudraksha — ₹599
- 5 Mukhi Bracelet with magnetic lock — ₹699
- Rudraksha Keychain, 4/5/6 Mukhi — ₹699
- Gold Polish Double-Row Bracelet — ₹899
- 5 Mukhi & Tiger Eye Bracelet — ₹999
- 7 Mukhi Nepali with German Silver Capping and 15-inch chain — ₹999
- Rudraksha Tree — ₹999
- 5 Mukhi & Karungali Bracelet — ₹1,200
- Rudraksha with Evil Eye 925 Silver Bracelet — ₹1,300
- Navratan and Rudraksha Bracelet — ₹1,999
More in rudraksha bracelets, or build your own combination with the Custom Bracelet Builder.
Malas and jaap malas
- 2 Mukhi & 6 mm Pearl Jaap Mala — ₹3,999
- 5 Mukhi & 8 mm Garnet Jaap Mala — ₹3,999
- 2 Mukhi & 6 mm Lapis Lazuli Jaap Mala — ₹4,999
- 2 Mukhi & 7 mm Taiwan Red Coral Jaap Mala — ₹6,999
- Rudraksha and Clear Quartz Mala, 925 silver capping — ₹9,999
- 1–14 Mukhi Indonesian Kantha with Gauri Shankar — ₹10,999
- Gold-Plated 925 Silver Rudraksha Mala with Om Pendant — ₹12,999
- Rudraksha Kundan Mala with Ganesha Pendant — ₹49,999
- Double-Strand Gauri Shankar and 5 Mukhi Ganesh Mala — ₹99,999
More in rudraksha malas and jaap malas. Any bead we stock can be made into a custom mala or bracelet — the Jaap Mala Builder lets you do it yourself.
Rudraksha set in silver
- Shivling Trishul Rudraksha 925 Silver Pendant — ₹1,999
- Hanuman Ji with Rudraksha Locket, 9 g silver — ₹3,599
- Navratna Sun Locket with Original Rudraksha, 5.50 g — ₹3,999
- 925 Silver Openable Rudraksha & Gemstone Cap Pendant, 8.24 g — ₹4,999
More devotional silver in our god pendants guide.
How every bead is handled
- The bead is sourced and sent to the lab. Nothing is listed on a supplier's word.
- It is tested and measured as a single bead. Mukhi count, size in millimetres, origin — recorded for that one bead, never sampled from a batch.
- It is X-rayed so the internal compartments can be checked against the lines on the surface.
- It receives its own report number, unique to that bead, printed on the listing so you can verify it before paying.
- Then it is strung, capped or set — individually, to your specification.
There is no bulk lot anywhere in this. It is slower and it costs more to run, and it is the only way we know to sell rudraksha honestly.
On what a rudraksha is said to do
Each mukhi carries a traditional association — a ruling planet or deity, and qualities attributed to it in scripture and astrological practice. We describe these on our product pages because they are why people choose a particular mukhi.
They are traditional attributions, not medical or guaranteed outcomes, and we will not pretend otherwise to close a sale. If you are choosing a mukhi for a specific purpose, that is a question for an astrologer who has seen your chart. What we can prove is what the bead physically is.
Wearing and caring for rudraksha
- Keep beads away from soap, shampoo and chemicals. Remove before bathing where you can.
- Oil occasionally with a light natural oil to stop drying and cracking, then wipe off the excess.
- Do not boil, bleach or scrub them.
- Cracks along a mukhi line reduce value but are common in older beads and are not a sign of a fake.
- Store dry, in cloth rather than plastic.
Ordering
- Every rudraksha ships with its GJSPC lab report and X-ray report. Ask to see either before you buy.
- 10% off your first order
- Free delivery across India, shipped from Delhi via Delhivery One
- ₹150 off on prepaid orders; partial COD — 20% online at checkout, 80% on delivery
- 30-day return on standard products; you pay return shipping unless the mistake was ours
- Custom malas and bracelets are outside the standard return. Wrong wrist size is remade free and you pay only shipping; a damaged strand or lost beads are repaired free on the same terms
- WhatsApp +91 76782 75972, 11 am – 9 pm, or contact@gemkrishna.com
We ship within India only at present. More on our FAQs page.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a rudraksha is real?
By X-ray and a lab report. The X-ray shows the bead's internal seed compartments, which should match the mukhi lines on the surface. Home tests using water, copper coins or milk do not prove authenticity. GemKrishna supplies a GJSPC lab report and X-ray report with every bead.
Does a real rudraksha sink in water?
Not reliably. Sinking depends on density, moisture and whether the bead has been oiled. Genuine dry beads can float and fakes can sink, so the test proves nothing either way.
Can the mukhi count be faked?
Yes. Extra lines can be carved onto a low-mukhi bead to pass it off as high-mukhi, which is where the largest price differences are. Only an X-ray of the internal compartments settles it.
Which lab certifies GemKrishna's rudraksha?
GJSPC issues both the lab report and the X-ray report for every rudraksha, regardless of price. The report number appears in each product title so it can be checked independently.
Is Indonesian rudraksha genuine?
Yes. Indonesian (Java) beads are genuine rudraksha, smaller and smoother than Nepali beads and lower in price for the same mukhi. Most beads above 14 mukhi come from Indonesia.
Why do two beads of the same mukhi have very different prices?
Size. Larger beads in a high mukhi are far rarer. A 20 mukhi at 12.80 mm is ₹10,999 while a 20 mukhi at 22.14 mm is ₹1,10,999.
What is a Gauri Shankar rudraksha?
Two beads naturally fused together. GemKrishna carries them from 9 to 14 mukhi, starting at ₹2,799. Because a fusion can be faked by joining two separate beads, X-ray verification matters particularly here.
Which rudraksha should a beginner buy?
A 5 mukhi is the usual starting point — the most common, the most affordable and the one most often worn daily. GemKrishna's 5 Mukhi Pathri is ₹599 and 5 mukhi bracelets start at ₹699.
Browse certified Indonesian rudraksha · Rudraksha malas · Rudraksha bracelets · Jaap Mala Builder · About GemKrishna
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