Ivory and Rose Wood Bead Stack Bracelet

• Three-strand stacking construction
• Two-tone beadwork
• Stretch cord pull-on
• Cylindrical wood accent bead

Each bead is cut and finished from natural wood, so grain and tone vary slightly from bracelet to bracelet.

Wood beadwork is an established Philippine craft, working local hardwoods that are cut, sanded and strung for daily wear rather than display. The multi-strand silhouette is common to the tradition — several rows of same-size beads layered together, so the bracelet reads as a small collection worn at once rather than a single object.

The two-tone palette comes from the wood itself, shifting with the grain and with how each batch of beads is finished. No two strands look quite identical, which is part of what wood does as a material that uniform glass or plastic cannot.

Production starts with raw wood cut into small rounds, then sanded and sorted by tone before stringing. Each strand is hand-threaded onto stretch cord bead by bead, with color balance checked across the three rows as the maker works. The cylindrical accent bead goes on last, and the cord is knotted and trimmed rather than fitted with a metal clasp.

• Technique: Hand-strung wood beadwork

Wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Keep away from water, lotions and perfume to preserve the wood's natural finish.