Teal Tagua Nugget Necklace with Gold Pod

• Organic, one-of-a-kind tagua nugget shapes
• Single 24K gold-plated pod accent
• Two-tone teal dye finish
• Adjustable slide-knot closure
• Black suede cord

Each tagua nut is shaped and dyed by hand, so size, color depth and surface texture vary slightly from one piece to the next.

Tagua is the seed of the ivory palm, a tree native to the coastal rainforests of Colombia and Ecuador. Once dried, the nut hardens to a dense, bone-like consistency and takes dye and polish like a fine wood — a plant-based alternative to animal ivory that has long been worked along Colombia's Pacific coast.

Here the nuts are cracked, sanded and shaped by hand, but not into matching forms — each keeps its own curves and dips. Small-batch dye baths account for the range from deep to pale teal, and hand-polishing brings out the warm sheen on the surface.

One nut is set aside for 24K gold plating before the pieces are drilled and strung on black suede with an adjustable knot. The gold pod is a deliberate contrast — one smooth, reflective note against the matte, hand-shaped nuggets. In Colombia, the work is done by women's artisan cooperatives on a fair-trade basis.

• Technique: Tagua nut carving (vegetable ivory)

Wipe clean with a soft dry cloth. Keep away from water, perfume and lotion, and store flat or hanging away from other jewelry to protect the dye and gold plating.