Currently Loving: Apostrophal Handmade Necklaces - Black Onyx, Moonstone & Azurite Malachite review

Pretty gemstone jewellery is a weakness of mine and I'm utterly smitten with these shiny new purchases from an indie online shop called Apostrophal.

I first came across Apostrophal on Instagram and they are a fairly new company, having started in 2020. They specialise in selling a quirky range of eco essentials and sustainable artisan handicrafts such as jewellery, plant pots, toiletries, bowls, candles, and kitchenalia. Through their online shop, they have created a community that helps to support independent makers and businesses, whilst offering ethical consumers a beautiful edit of handpicked products.

When I saw that they recently had a sale on, I couldn't help but have a good scroll through their site when I was shopping for a friend's birthday gift. As always though, a couple of additional items may have somehow made their way into my shopping basket (I honestly don't know how that happened...oops..),  and I'm now the proud owner of some new handmade necklaces.

Black Onyx Juliet Necklace

Onyx has been a favourite of mine for a very long time and I have a small collection of black Onyx pieces that I cherish in my jewellery box. Symbolising strength and perseverance, Onyx comes from the Greek word of the same name meaning 'claw', 'nail' and veined gem so you can see why it has an established history with the concept of strength in more ways than one. 

Handmade by one of Apostrophal's handpicked artisans Adeline, this necklace features a high-quality black Onyx gemstone in a square open bezel setting. With a multi-faceted surface, it captures the light beautifully. Looks stunning worn on its own or layered with other gold chained necklaces.

Moonstone Lunar Necklace

The moon has held great significance for many cultures and generations as human beings have looked up into the sky to question the meaning of life and what our place is in the universe. In turn, the Moonstone gem represents a connection to the divine feminine, linking the moon with cyclical changes, fertility, hope, and new beginnings. 

Composed of a lunar-shaped smooth white moonstone, if you look carefully, you'll see a protective Eye engraved into the stone itself. Also made by the artisan Adeline, this unique necklace is a sublime statement piece.

Azurite Malachite Necklace

My last pick is this captivating Azure Malachite. I'll have to admit that whilst I was already familiar with the meanings of the gemstones above, it was simply the beguiling colour of Azure Malachite that made me choose this piece of jewellery. 

I was pleased to discover that Azure Malachite is not just a pretty gem. It's linked to restoring Chakra balance, invoking calm feelings, and a reduction in anxiety, as well as being seen to drawing out negative energies from the body. For those interested in the concept of an 'ego death', it's believed that Malachite can help to dissolve egocentric personality traits such as arrogance. Interesting!

Shop at apostrophal.com

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Currently Loving: Zessoo Black Onyx and Snowflake Obsidian Bracelets review

Ever since I was a teenager, I've been mesmerised by gemstones and crystals, reading countless books about their meanings and cultural associations. Naturally, my jewellery collection reflects the beauty of these natural stones, and two of my latest additions come from the cruelty-free fashion brand, Zessoo.

You may remember my original post last month about Zessoo and their amazing vegan-friendly wallets which are made from leaves (yes, really - check out that feature here if you missed it!), and I was over the moon when the founder AJ Joshi asked me if I'd like to review some of their jewellery as they have a huge range of gemstone bracelets. 

Each bracelet is made from stones that are 100% natural (never tinted, dyed or made of recomposed material) which are sourced worldwide from areas such as South East Asia, Brazil and Africa. Once found, the stones are cut and polished in India, and then sent to Thailand to be hand-strung onto high-quality 4-ply elastic bands to ensure long-lasting durability. It's worth noting that Zessoo works only with suppliers that can guarantee traceability and high ethical standards along the whole production chain, from extraction to cutting, and then polishing and stringing, so you know that everyone who makes these has been treated humanely and fairly.

With such a wide range of bracelets to choose from, I decided to pick two that featured stones that I didn't already have in my jewellery collection; Black Onyx and Snowflake Obsidian.

Black Onyx is often seen as a strong protective stone, one that helps to shield a person's body and mind from negative energy, as well as helping to ground them in the here and now. It helps to prevent the draining of personal energy during times of emotional turmoil such as periods of stress, confusion or grief. 

I was immediately drawn to the beautiful and unique pattern of Snowflake Obsidian, which is a volcanic glass that's created when lava cools down. Revered as a stone of purity, many believe that it has healing properties which can help to balance the mind, body and spirit, calming the senses and clearing built up toxins that can prevent the flow of positive energy.  

A rudraksha seed (in Gold or Natural) is added to each bracelet, and these are harvested from trees growing in the foothills of the Himalayas. Like semi-precious gemstones, they're highly valued for their protective and healing virtues and have been traditionally used as prayer beads for centuries in Hinduism (the name translates as 'Lord Shiva's teardrops'). Rudraksha seeds are believed to increase concentration, clarity, memory and bring peace of mind and prosperity, as well as providing spiritual and mental guidance in meditation.

I was absolutely smitten when the bracelets arrived because they looked and felt more incredible in real life than I was expecting. The high-shine glossy finish on the stones is superb, and I've had so many compliments and questions about them from friends and family! If you're looking for some new gemstone bracelets, definitely check these out.

Zessoo Black Onyx and Snowflake Obsidian Bracelets* (£29 each) are available from zessoo.com

Do you like gemstone jewellery?

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Sunday Style: Moonstone Magic Jewellery - Dropping Wisdom Pendant review

When I was about seven or eight years old, my grandmother bought me a beautiful moonstone necklace for my birthday. It had a large oval shaped pendant and I remember being utterly mesmerised by this magical looking gemstone that would look different when it caught the light at various times of the day. 

Sadly, I lost the necklace when I was a teenager during a family house move, and despite being upset by it at the time, I haven't really thought about it in recent years, until an email popped up in my inbox from a company that specialises in moonstone jewellery. 

When I visited their website, I couldn't help but think about the necklace that I had lost, so when they asked me if I wanted to review one of their pieces I jumped at the chance. 

Moonstone Magic Jewellery are a jewellery company based in Florida, USA and they create beautiful pieces of jewellery using genuine Rainbow Moonstone Gemstones and 925 Sterling Silver, all of which are handmade. Their pieces are heavily inspired by a youthful, fun and creative bohemian lifestyle, and as I like to think of myself as a hippy at heart, they immediately appealed to me.

Their online shop is a cornucopia of rings, pendants, bracelets and earrings, and I was thrilled when Moonstone Magic let me choose a piece to review. I was spoilt for choice, but naturally, I checked out their pendants first and after some serious umming and ahhing, I decided to opt for their Dropping Wisdom Pendant.

When the pendant arrived, I was smitten. The Rainbow Moonstone is simply stunning - it almost looks like a piece of trapped ice and when it catches the light, it changes colour gradually, moving into grey, blue and even some pink tones depending on the direction that the light is coming from. 

This classic teardrop shape is wonderfully elegant and it really adds that finishing touch to any outfit. I'm so happy to have finally found a replacement for the moonstone necklace that I lost all of those years ago - thank you Moonstone Magic!

Moonstone Magic Jewellery Dropping Wisdom Pendant* ($65) is available from MoonstoneShop.com and is supplied without a chain.

Are you a fan of moonstone jewellery?

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