This bold statement pendant is carved from New Zealand Pounamu serpentine, a stone deeply tied to the land, waters, and ancestral histories of Aotearoa. Its substantial shape gives it real presence, while the raw base keeps the piece honest — a reminder that true beauty doesn’t need to be overly refined. Down the centre runs a hand-inlaid line of iridescent rainbow Pāua, secured with UV resin, glowing like a river of colour cutting through dark stone.
Pounamu serpentine forms when ancient ultramafic rocks undergo low-grade metamorphism, creating a dense, silky material in the monoclinic crystal system, with a Mohs hardness around 3–6 depending on the mix of minerals. It’s softer than traditional jade but still strong and wonderfully workable. Its chemistry varies, though it typically includes magnesium-rich silicates with iron giving the deeper greens and olive tones.
Culturally, Pounamu carries weight. It’s a stone of connection, lineage, and respect — traditionally exchanged as a gift of significance, symbolising protection, strength, and the bond between people. Even when it’s a serpentine variety rather than true nephrite, it remains tied to that powerful sense of place and identity. The raw underside in this piece honours that origin: the untouched whenua. The polished face with its Pāua inlay represents transformation, craft, and the life layered on top of our roots.
Rainbow Pāua (Haliotis iris) adds its own symbolism — the shimmer of the ocean, adaptability, intuition, and the idea that light reveals itself differently depending on how you look at it. Inlaying it as a central line gives the pendant a feeling of flow, like a vein of energy running through stone.
This pendant is perfect for someone who wants a piece that feels both grounded and alive — earthy, natural, undeniably tactile, but with a burst of colour that makes it stand out. It’s a great match for anyone drawn to New Zealand materials, spiritual or cultural work, or those who appreciate the story of a stone left partly raw to keep its integrity intact.
