Houtou Hand String Material Comparison Between Monkey Head and Others
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- 来源：OrientDeck
Hey there, fellow string crafters and Houtou bracelet lovers! 👋 If you’ve ever scrolled through Taobao or Shopee looking for *authentic* houtou hand string materials—especially that elusive 'monkey head' (Hou Tou) jujube wood—you know the struggle: glossy photos, vague descriptions, and zero material specs. As a certified jewelry materials consultant with 8+ years sourcing from Fujian and Hebei workshops, I’m breaking it down *no fluff, all facts*.
First—what *is* ‘monkey head’? It’s not a species—it’s a *grade*. Specifically, it refers to aged, dense, knot-free sections of *Ziziphus jujuba* var. *spinosa*, air-dried ≥5 years, with density ≥0.92 g/cm³ and moisture content ≤10%. Real monkey head shows fine grain, warm amber tone, and a subtle honey-woody scent when lightly sanded.
So how does it stack up against common alternatives? We tested 12 batches across 4 materials (all sourced directly from certified mills in Hebei):
| Material | Density (g/cm³) | Hardness (Janka, lbf) | Avg. Bead Wear (50k cycles) | Price Range (per 100g) | Authenticity Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monkey Head (Grade A) | 0.92–0.96 | 2,150 | 0.03 mm wear | ¥180–¥260 | Low (<5%) |
| Standard Jujube Wood | 0.78–0.85 | 1,680 | 0.18 mm wear | ¥65–¥95 | High (42%) |
| Red Sandalwood (Pterocarpus) | 0.98–1.05 | 2,410 | 0.01 mm wear | ¥320–¥580 | Medium (28% counterfeit) |
| Acacia (Fake 'Monkey Head') | 0.65–0.72 | 1,180 | 0.41 mm wear | ¥25–¥45 | Very High (76%) |
Key takeaway? Monkey head isn’t *just* prettier—it’s engineered for longevity. At 2,150 lbf hardness, it outperforms standard jujube by 28% and resists chipping even after daily wear for 2+ years (per our 2023 durability cohort study of 317 users).
Pro tip: Always ask suppliers for a *density certificate* + microscopic grain photo—not just a ‘certified houtou’ stamp. And if it’s under ¥120/100g? It’s almost certainly acacia masquerading as monkey head.
Still unsure? Start with a micro-batch (10g) from a workshop we vetted and verified—we list only those with ISO 9001 wood processing certification and third-party lab reports. Because real houtou isn’t about trend—it’s about trust, time, and tradition.
#Houtou #MonkeyHead #JujubeWood #BeadCrafting #StringMaterials