Designing an Amethyst Necklace Rooted in African Heritage

Designing an Amethyst Necklace Rooted in African Heritage

 

I've always believed that the most meaningful jewelry doesn't start with a design. It starts with a story.

This amethyst necklace started with a stone, a vivid, deep purple amethyst ethically sourced from Nigeria by Minastone. The color stopped me. It was rich and alive in a way that felt personal, not just beautiful. And the fact that it came from Nigeria made it feel like it was already mine.

I've always dreamed of making jewelry using gemstones from Nigeria. This was the first time I actually did it and it unlocked something in me creatively that I hadn't expected.

It's also my birthstone, amethyst is the birthstone for February, so honestly, the universe was just doing its thing. I knew it was mine before I even made a decision.

I wanted to make it for my birthday, and I wanted it to be significant, the kind of jewelry I actually reach for, the kind that means something every time I put it on.

The stone had a deep pavilion. So initially, the only thing that made sense was a ring, something that could let it rise up high the way it wanted to. I was only able to get one stone so a ring felt like the obvious answer.


But then I changed my mind.

I'd been making rings back to back and I really wanted to do something different. So I started thinking, what if this became a necklace? A pendant? Something that would live close to my heart. Somehow I attach more sentimental value to my necklaces. Maybe it's just me. 

Once that idea landed, I couldn't let it go.

Letting the Stone Lead

The design came together quickly once I stopped overthinking it. I let the stone lead and that's advice I'd give anyone thinking about a custom piece. Start with what you have, not with what you think it should look like.

The amethyst would be surrounded by diamonds in a bezel setting, with the pendant shaped to match the stone, resulting in an oval design.

And then came the next decision, how do I want it to sit? North-south or east-west? I went east-west. There's something about that orientation that feels intentional, confident but rebellious in a calm way.

I chose a bezel setting, which is usually my preference for necklaces. There's something so refined about it. A finished, polished look that a prong setting doesn’t give you in the same way. For rings I'll go either way, but for a piece that sits on my neckline my preference is a bezel setting.


The Personalized Details

Then came the icing on the cake.

A couple of years ago my dad introduced me to the Nsibidi symbols, an ancient African system of communication developed independently, made up of symbolic images. It was traditionally used in southeastern Nigeria by groups such as the Efik, Igbo, and Ibibio.

I was most attracted to the love and unity symbol. Love is my word and one of my guiding principles in life, and it fits perfectly. I wanted it seamlessly integrated so I placed it at the very back. Just like my own little secret.

This is what I mean when I talk about jewelry rooted in African heritage. It's not decorative, neither is it a trend. Its identity, worn quietly, carried always.

Choosing the Metal

The last call was metal. White gold, rose gold or yellow gold? I chose white gold. There's something about that cool silver tone against deep purple that just makes the color pop in a way yellow gold doesn't. I wanted this piece to shine but still show restraint and elegance, and white gold gave me that. My go to is yellow gold but I wanted to try something new for myself.

The Process, Five Tries and a Lesson

Then I got to work and I tell you, it was the longest development process I'd had in a while.

The wax carving took me five tries to get right. The amethyst had to fit perfectly in the bezel setting. It was either too big or too small. Five times I started over. It was frustrating, honestly. But on the fifth try it clicked, the stone dropped into the setting like it had always belonged there. I just sat with it for a moment. That feeling of something finally being exactly right after all that work, there's nothing quite like it.

Sometimes you just have to put in the work, keep going and not quit on your idea.

What It Feels Like to Wear It

I wear this custom amethyst necklace almost every day. To work, to events, to the moments that deserve it, and to the ordinary ones, too. It dresses up whatever I'm wearing, and I connect with it in a way that's hard to explain. It just feels like me. All the things I love and where I come from, sitting right there on my neckline.
That's the kind of jewelry I love to make. Deeply intentional, thoughtful fine jewelry, pieces that remind you of home, of who you are, of what matters to you. Whether it's a custom necklace, a signet ring, or a bespoke piece built around a stone that already means something to you. The kind you hold onto and eventually pass down, an heirloom piece your children will wear and know, without question, that it was made with meaning.

If you've been thinking about a piece like this, I'd love to make it with you. Get in touch at info@itorookon.com

 

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