No20 Mother's Day 2022 Special Set

There is a good reason why Paua is called "Marine Opal". I brought back lots of Paua from my last two New Zealand trips, where it is rightly revered as one of the most beautiful and culturally significant materials. It feels almost like a privilege to be able to work with this iridescent raw material that can do no wrong. I have paired the Paua in these pieces purple Amethyst and tiny faceted Agates to pay homage to the stunning hues that define Paua.  

And as if the rainbow iridescent shell was not already enough to satisfy one's wonder, abalone is also amazing because of its shell chemistry. The shell is composed of microscopic calcium carbonate tiles stacked like bricks and the "mortar" is a sticky protein substance, making it exceptionally strong. When the shell gets struck, the individual tiles don't break, but slide along each other courtesy of the stretchy protein, thereby absorbing the energy. This makes the abalone a critter of serious interest for material scientists, which hope to transfer this knowledge into products such as body armor. Stunning looks and interesting chemistry – perfect!

Like all our pieces, it is handcrafted with love and care in our studio near Byron Bay. This eclectic limited-edition statement bracelet is made from the following semi-precious stones and findings:

• Amethyst from Uruguay
• Agates from BraziL
• Paua from New Zealand
• recycled Glass beads from Malta
• Jade from Malaysia
• Silver-plated findings from Istanbul and Bali

Statement Necklace: short, can be extended through the extender chain from 39-53cm

Statement Earrings: length: 6.5cm

Statement bracelets  are made to measure, so please make sure to email me your wrist size after you ordered(your wrist circumference at the widest point right over the wrist bone; see photo). 

If you have a particularly small frame or need your necklace to be larger, please drop me a line. (kirsten@luka.com.au)