First of all the bowl is definitely handmade, it came with a small dent inside but that doesn’t bother me, nor does it change the sound in anyway. The key is also different, the audio sample on the website is in C3 and mine is in D3 so another proof it is handmade. Now, the most important aspect, the sound is clear and it vibrates for a long time after being struck. On the down side, the pillow is pretty small, and the bowl tens to slip off. To sum it up, a good singing bowl for starters.