MKUltras - Zircuti Nano Edition
MKUltras - Zircuti Nano Edition
The elegant Zircuti material is forged from folded layers of titanium and zirconium, then precision machined, polished, and torched to create eye-popping colour patterns, reminiscent of wood grain. When machined to our specifications, the grains of the material become exposed in a way that accentuates the appearance of the curves, creating a beautiful topographic relief. These beads feature a slight etch, giving them a lightly textured feel that provides some grip as well as an interesting tactile feel you won't find in other sets.
The beads have been precision machined from this beautiful fine-grained zircuti material, polished, and torched to bring out their beautiful colour variations. The Long Form Editions were been designed primarily for the "raindrop" style of play, but have proven themselves highly playable for flipping and tricks. The extra beads of the long forms provide a satisfying sound and feel as they clack together. Because of the length of the sets, they take some getting used to for flipping around and doing technical tricks, but they still allow for some great manipulations. The sets are designed to be worn with a double loop around the wrist, but note that the beads themselves will probably fully cover the cord, meaning that exposed cord will complete the wrap. Click here to see the Ultras in action on our Instagram feed.
Details:
- Material: Fine grained zircuti, consisting of layered titanium and zirconium
-
Long Form
- 33(+2)x 7.7mm Nano Standard beads + 1x 15mm Lil' Boss
- Weight: ~60g
-
Short Form
- 23x 7.7mm Nano Standard beads + 1x 11.8mm Micro Boss
- Weight: ~38g
-
Strung on AO2's new custom 12-strand, high density, 2mm Kevlar cord
- All beads drilled with 3.5mm bore
General Information on the MKUltras
The MKUltras are a hybrid design, combining elements of traditional Mala and Komboloi beads. The MKUltra name gives a nod to this lineage, as well as their expedience as tools to help us focus our minds and still our thoughts. They can be used in a variety of ways, ranging from quiet bead counting, through to raucous flipping.
The unique setup of the MKUltras allows them to be worn like mala beads, or carried discretely in the pocket. They adjust by means of a simple friction fit through the larger "Micro Boss" bead closure. Although the design is exceedingly simple, we're fairly confident you won't find anything quite like them around. This is a knotless system, and does not require any special lock bead. The cord is simply compressed when threaded through the Micro Boss bead, providing a reliable, secure fastener, that is easy to adjust when needed.
In this way, the Ultras can be worn on the wrist, or loosened and slid up above the elbow to keep them out of the way when needed. Excess cordage can be knotted loosely around the Boss bead when they are worn on the wrist, or left dangling. This modifiable arrangement allows them to be used very quietly, for simple bead counting used in breath work and meditation, to "raindrop" methods marked by the satisfying, rhythmic clacking of the beads, as well as much more physical methods of manipulation which resemble short game begleri play. While they aren't intended as a highly technical skill toy, there are still a solid range of moves you can link together, and lots of ways of working with them.
New to the Ultras? You can wear em on your wrist, or check out the video below for some other examples of what these beads are capable of.
