The Idra Necklace celebrates the beauty of the Earth with three cascading strands of organic beads, artfully combining Tagua, bombona seeds, pambil, and acai berries. With its rich blues, creams, and greens, this necklace offers a striking balance of texture, color, and elegance.
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Design: Three-strand layered necklace with round blue Tagua beads, elongated green bombona seeds, cream acai berry beads, and bold polished accents.
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Material: Handcrafted from natural Tagua nut, bombona seeds, pambil, and acai berries. Adjustable cord closure.
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Size: Adjustable from approximately 28" to 36".
- Country of Origin: Handmade in Ecuador.
The Story Behind the Design
Crafted by Ecuadorian artisans, this necklace brings together four distinct natural elements, each symbolizing harmony with the earth. Tagua, known as “vegetable ivory,” reflects sustainability and renewal. Bombona and pambil seeds add texture and cultural depth, while acai berries lend a light organic touch. Together, they create a necklace that embodies balance—between bold statement and natural grace.
Care & Disclaimer
As with all natural seed and nut jewelry, variations in color, texture, and size are inherent and celebrated. To preserve the beauty of the beads, keep dry and avoid prolonged sunlight or chemical exposure. Clean gently with a soft cloth.
design: Three cascading strands layer round Tagua nut beads in mottled blue, elongated bombona seed ovals in deep teal, and small cream acai berry beads, anchored at the collar by two large oval Tagua beads in solid blue.
size: Adjustable from approximately 28" to 36" via a sliding cord closure.
material: Tagua nut, bombona seeds, pambil, and acai berries, strung on an adjustable cord with brass-tone spacer beads.
features: Three-strand cascading design, adjustable slide closure, mixed bead shapes and textures, natural seed and nut materials
care: Keep beads dry, avoid prolonged sun and chemical exposure, and clean gently with a soft cloth.
disclaimer: Because each bead is cut and polished from natural seeds and nuts, slight variations in color, texture, and size are normal and part of the piece's character.
The Story
Tagua nut, sometimes called vegetable ivory, comes from the seed of a palm native to Ecuador's coastal and Amazonian regions. Once dried and polished, it takes on a dense, bone-like finish that holds dye and pigment well, which is why it shows up so often in South American beadwork as a durable stand-in for carved ivory or bone.
Bombona and pambil are also palm seeds harvested in Ecuador, prized for the natural mottling and color variation that appears once they're cut, sanded, and buffed to a smooth finish. Pairing them with acai berry beads, which dry to a small, hard cream-colored bead, is a common way Ecuadorian jewelry makers build texture and depth into a single piece using only what the surrounding palm forest produces.
Layered, multi-strand necklaces built from these materials are a practical response to what the beads themselves offer: seeds and nuts come in a narrow size range, so stacking several strands of varying bead shapes is how makers achieve the fuller, statement-necklace scale that a single strand of small beads couldn't reach on its own.
Tagua nuts, bombona and pambil seeds, and acai berries are collected, dried, and then cut and shaped by hand or with small workshop tools before being sanded and polished to bring out each bead's natural color and grain. Artisans in Ecuador string the finished beads onto cord in a set sequence, building up the three graduated strands and finishing the piece with a hand-tied adjustable slide closure.
Craft & Materials
- Made In: Ecuador
- Craft Tradition: Ecuadorian tagua and seed beadwork
- Ideal For: Someone who wants a bold layered necklace made from natural, plant-based materials
- Wear It With: Wear over a simple crewneck or scoop-neck top to let the layered beads take center stage
- Purpose: Everyday statement wear, layering piece, gift for someone who favors natural materials
Questions & Answers
What is Tagua, or 'vegetable ivory'?
Tagua is the dried seed of a palm native to Ecuador. Once cut and polished, it has a dense, smooth finish similar to bone or ivory, which is why it's a popular sustainable material in South American jewelry.
How long is the necklace?
It adjusts from approximately 28" to 36" using a sliding cord closure, so you can wear it at the length you prefer.
Will the color and pattern match the photo exactly?
Not exactly. Each bead is cut from natural seeds and nuts, so color, mottling, and size vary slightly from piece to piece — that variation is part of working with natural materials rather than a flaw.
How do I care for the beads?
Keep the necklace dry, store it out of direct sunlight, and avoid contact with lotions or perfumes. Wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth.
Is this necklace heavy to wear?
Tagua, seed, and berry beads are naturally lightweight compared to stone or glass, so the three-strand design sits comfortably despite its layered, statement scale.
