The Pixiu 916 gold bracelet: meaning and how to choose one
, 5 min read
The Pixiu (貔貅, pí xiū) is one of the best-known good-fortune symbols in Chinese tradition. As a small gold charm on the wrist, it has become a popular gift in Singapore for new beginnings: a new job, a new business, a new home or a milestone birthday.
Our Pixiu bracelets pair a 916 gold Pixiu with round gold beads, patterned with coin motifs, on a string of deep green beads. Some carry a single Pixiu; others carry a pair. Here is what the Pixiu stands for, how people like to wear it, and what to check before you buy one.
What is a Pixiu?
The Pixiu is a mythical creature from Chinese folklore, usually shown with a dragon-like head, a lion-like body and sometimes small wings. In traditional stories it is a guardian with a large appetite: it is said to feed on gold, silver and treasure, and to draw wealth in from every direction.
A popular story explains why it is linked with keeping wealth as well as attracting it. The Pixiu, the story goes, can take treasure in but cannot let it out. So it has come to stand for holding on to good fortune, not just finding it.
It is a protector, too. Its fierce face is meant to keep bad luck and misfortune away, which is why Pixiu figures also guard homes and businesses.
One horn or two?
You may hear the Pixiu called by other names. In one common telling, the one-horned form, tianlu, is associated with wealth, and the two-horned form, bixie, with warding off evil. Many people simply call both Pixiu, and jewellery designs vary.
How people wear a Pixiu bracelet
There is no single rule, and families and feng shui practitioners give different advice. These are the customs you will hear most often:
- On the left wrist. In feng shui the left is often described as the receiving side, so many people wear their Pixiu on the left hand to receive good fortune.
- Head facing outward. The Pixiu's head is usually turned away from the body, towards the little finger, so that it can go out and bring wealth back.
- Hands off. Some people prefer that others do not touch their Pixiu, especially its head.
- One or a pair. A pair is often said to balance yin and yang. A single Pixiu is just as common.
Some people follow every custom closely; others wear the bracelet simply because they like it. Both are fine. If you are giving one as a gift, mentioning the customs is a thoughtful touch.
A gift for new beginnings
Because of what it stands for, the Pixiu makes a meaningful gift when someone is starting something:
- a new job or a promotion
- opening a business
- moving into a new home
- a birthday, graduation or other milestone
- Chinese New Year
It suits people who value the meaning, and it works as everyday jewellery for anyone who loves the look of gold against green.
Why 916 gold for a Pixiu charm?
916 gold is 91.6% pure, the same as 22 karat. Pure 24K gold is very soft, and a small charm that knocks against a desk or a watch every day can pick up dents and scratches. The small share of other metals in 916 makes it harder, so fine details such as the Pixiu's mane and face, and the coin patterns on the beads, keep their shape for longer. The gold keeps its rich yellow colour.
For more on purity, read 916 or 999? Gold purity explained and 22K or 24K gold: which should you buy?.
What to check before you buy a Pixiu bracelet
A Pixiu bracelet combines gold with beads, so it is worth asking a few questions wherever you buy:
- Is the gold stamped? Ask to see the purity mark on the gold parts.
- How much does the gold weigh? Gold is priced by weight, and the weight of the gold should be written on your receipt.
- What are the beads? Ask what the beads are made of and how they are priced, since only the gold is priced by weight.
- How is the price made up? A fair quote shows the gold value (the day's rate times the weight), the making charge and GST as separate lines. See how to check a gold price quote.
- Will it fit? Bead bracelets come in different sizes. Try it on, or measure the wrist of the person you are buying for.
Caring for your Pixiu bracelet
- Take it off before swimming, showering, exercise or sleep. That also matches a common Pixiu custom.
- Keep perfume, lotion and household cleaners away from the beads.
- Wipe the gold with a soft, dry cloth. The Pixiu on our bracelets has a soft matte finish, and polishing cloths or abrasive cleaners can leave shiny patches on matte gold.
- Store it on its own, so harder jewellery cannot scratch the gold or the beads.
- If the cord starts to stretch or fray, have it restrung before it breaks.
Where to buy a Pixiu 916 gold bracelet in Singapore
Our Pixiu 916 gold bracelets are at Minora Jewels, 142 Dunlop Street, inside Haniffa in Little India. We are a few minutes' walk from Little India (NE7, DT12) and Rochor (DT13) MRT stations, and open every day from 10.30am to 9.30pm. Walk in any time; no appointment is needed. Designs change as new pieces arrive, so follow @minorajewels to see what is new.
We publish our 916 gold rate every day on today's gold rate, so you can check the price per gram before you visit, and we break every quote down into gold value, making charge and GST before you pay. Browse more 916 gold jewellery, or plan your visit.
The meanings and customs described here are traditional beliefs, shared for interest, not promises of any outcome.