Sterling silver Hirz amulet necklace, closed, with its three hanging stones, on a warm bone-white background, chain exiting the top of frame.

Kavacha Designs

Hirz Necklace, Sterling SilverHirz Necklace

Opens to hold a prayer, hair or ashes.Sterling silver (925) · 18 in · 12.2 g

Opens to hold a written prayer, a lock of hair, or a small amount of ashes.

$310.00 USD

Ready to ship. Ships within 2 business days. Free US shipping takes 3 to 5 business days.
Free returns within 30 days, unused.

Hirz is the Bedouin amulet vessel, reimagined. The traditional hirz was worn for protection, and some held tiny bells or seeds in silver whose sound was believed to protect. Jayashri kept the capsule and gave it a sleek, contemporary shape. What goes inside is yours to choose: a written prayer, a lock of hair or a small amount of ashes. Each design begins as Jayashri's pen-and-ink drawing before it is modeled and cast.

Also made in14K or 18K goldMade to order, 4 to 6 weeks

Hirz amulet necklace in sterling silver, shown open with the chamber visible.

What it holds

Prayer
A written prayer.
Ashes
A small amount of ashes.
Hair
A lock of hair.

A secure twist-lock closure. The precisely fitted male and female parts align and twist together, and a silicone seal makes the fit snug. The end cap is held on the chain by its bail, so even when the amulet is open, the cap stays attached and cannot slip past the clasp.

After the Bedouin amulet vessel

The story

Hirz reimagines the traditional Bedouin amulet vessel, which was worn for protection; some once held tiny bells or seeds in silver whose sound was believed to protect. This Kavacha keeps the vessel form in a sleek, contemporary shape.

Hirz is built to be handed down because of what it is made from, the ritual and love poured into it, and because it is worn. A Kavacha is not only a beautiful piece of jewelry; it is an altarpiece for your body, your temple.

Where the design comes from

Bedouin hirz (amulet vessel)

Bedouin amulet vessel (hirz)

The traditional Bedouin hirz, a silver amulet vessel or capsule worn for protection. Historically some held tiny bells or seeds whose sound was believed to protect.

Sterling silver Hirz amulet with its length measured: 29.8 mm.

The piece

Metal: Sterling silver (925)
Weight: 12.2 g, nominal
Stones: Cubic zirconia
Chain: Rolo, 2 mm, 18 in
Clasp: Small clasp

What's in the box

Velvet pouch
Authentication card

Reviews

Sterling silver naturally develops a patina and may tarnish over time. This is normal. The darkened details in the recesses are intentional and part of the piece. To restore its shine, gently wipe the exterior with a soft silver polishing cloth, keeping to the raised surfaces. For additional cleaning, use a soft cloth dampened with lukewarm water and a small amount of mild dish soap. Wipe clean and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. Please do not use silver dips or polishing pastes, which remove the darkened finish.

Everyday oils and lotions can dull the stones. Clean around them with the soapy cloth or an extra-soft brush, using light strokes, and have a jeweler check the settings once a year.

The hanging drops can catch on knits and lace, so take care when dressing.

Remove your Kavacha before swimming, bathing, hot tubs or saunas, or using strong chemicals, and put on perfume, lotion and sunscreen first. Water resistance has not been tested, so do not treat the piece as watertight. Keep the chamber and anything inside it completely dry, and twist the cap closed by hand until the silicone seal fits snug. Once ashes or another irreplaceable trace are inside, the piece is not meant to be opened and closed casually or repeatedly, although it can be reopened when necessary. Contact Kavacha Designs | Sacred Armor™ before filling it for guidance. Full care guide: Caring for Your Kavacha.

About the hirz amulet

Is a hirz the same as a taweez?

Both are words for an amulet, often one that holds a written prayer. Taweez comes from the Arabic for seeking refuge and is the common word in South Asia. Hirz means protection. Our guide What is a taweez? explains both.

Does it come with a prayer inside?

No. It comes empty, and what you place inside is your choice. Nothing on the outside shows what it holds.

What else can it hold?

Some people keep a note in the handwriting of a parent, a partner or a child. Others keep sand from a beach that matters, or dust from a holy place.

Shipping policy

Returns and refunds

What will you hold in your Kavacha?

Now and then I write about what people carry, and why.

— Jayashri

Hirz Necklace, Sterling SilverHirz Necklace

What it holds