This necklace features multiple strands of black-brown wooden discs artfully twisted for a sophisticated and layered look.
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Design: Multiple strands of small black-brown wood discs are twisted, creating a dynamic, textured effect. The piece is completed with a polished horn eye and hook closure, adding an elegant finishing touch.
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Material: Natural wood discs with a horn closure.
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Size: Approximately 21 inches in length.
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Country of Origin: Handmade in the Philippines.
- Special Feature: Handcrafted design with natural materials; each necklace has unique variations that add to its artisanal appeal.
design: Multiple strands of small, disc-shaped wood beads are twisted together into a dense, textured collar, gathered at each shoulder by a tapered, polished horn tip that meets in a horn eye-and-hook closure at the back.
size: Approximately 21 inches in length.
material: Natural wood discs with a horn closure.
features: Multi-strand twisted construction, hand-cut disc beads, polished horn eye-and-hook closure, natural material variation
care: Wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth and store away from direct sun and moisture to keep the wood and horn from drying out or fading.
disclaimer: Because the discs are cut from natural wood and the closure from natural horn, grain, tone, and sheen vary slightly from piece to piece.
The Story
This necklace belongs to a long-running tradition of wood and horn accessory-making in the Philippines, where small workshops cut, sand, and string natural materials into bold, wearable forms. The flat disc is one of the most fundamental shapes in this craft: a cross-section of a branch or dowel, sliced thin, sanded smooth, and drilled through the center so it can be strung like a bead.
Rather than referencing a specific symbol or motif, the design leans on volume and repetition — dozens of identical discs multiplied across many strands until the necklace reads as a single, sculptural mass. This is a hallmark of Philippine wood-and-shell jewelry making broadly: pattern is built from the material itself, through the way ordinary units are cut, stacked, and layered, rather than through carving or imagery.
The horn tips at the shoulders serve a practical role, gathering the loose strands into a controlled shape before they reach the closure, but they're also finished and polished as a visible design element in their own right, a small nod to the value placed on using every part of the material with care.
Each disc is cut by hand or on a small lathe from lengths of wood, then sanded and finished to a matte, uniform surface before being drilled through the center. A single necklace like this can require hundreds of individual discs, sorted for size and color before an artisan strings them onto multiple cords and twists the strands together by hand so they fall in an even, layered mass. The horn tips are shaped and polished separately, then fitted to gather the strands at the shoulder and finished with a simple eye-and-hook clasp — a closure built to be functional first, decorative second.
Craft & Materials
- Made In: Philippines
- Craft Tradition: Handcrafted wood and horn beadwork
- Ideal For: Anyone who wants a bold, sculptural statement necklace made from natural materials
- Wear It With: Let it stand alone over a simple crewneck or button-down in black, cream, or camel, so the texture and volume of the strands take center stage
- Purpose: Statement jewelry, everyday wear, gifting
Questions & Answers
What is the necklace made from?
The strands are made of natural wood discs, and the shoulder pieces and closure are made of polished horn.
How long is the necklace?
It measures approximately 21 inches in length.
Will the color and pattern match the photo exactly?
Not exactly. Because the discs are cut from natural wood and the closure from natural horn, each piece has its own grain and tone, so slight variation from the photo is normal and expected.
How do I clean and store it?
Wipe it down with a soft, dry cloth after wear and store it away from direct sunlight and humidity, which can dry out or fade natural wood and horn over time.
How does it close?
It fastens with a polished horn eye-and-hook closure at the back.
