Sterling silver Kerala Pave amulet necklace, closed, on a warm bone-white background, chain exiting the top of frame.

Kerala Pave Necklace, Sterling Silver

Kavacha Designs

Kerala Pave Necklace, Sterling SilverKerala Pave Necklace

Opens to hold a prayer, hair or ashes.Sterling silver (925) · 18 in · 13.65 g

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

$770.00 USD

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

Also made in14K or 18K goldFrom $7,040.00 USDMade to order, 4 to 6 weeks

Kerala Pave is the small Kerala octagon, set with pavé lab-grown diamonds, and it was made for remembrance: to keep a loved one's ashes close to your heart. Its form comes from the antique tawiz belt of South India, worn as a protective talisman. The chamber can also hold a written prayer or a lock of hair. Each piece begins as Jayashri's pen-and-ink drawing and is cast from its own single 3D print: one print, one cast.

Kerala Pave 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.

The Kerala octagon, set with pave

The story

Kerala Pave is a small octagonal amulet inspired by the antique South Indian Tawiz belt and set with pave stones. It is made to keep a loved one's ashes close to the heart.

Kerala Pave 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

Tawiz belt of Kerala

Tawiz belt, Kerala, South India, early 20th century

The tawiz belt worn by Muslim women in Kerala, South India, in the early 20th century, believed to offer divine protection. The tawiz took many forms: pendants, engraved metal pieces, carvings and framed prayers.

How it is made

Jayashri draws each design by hand: a pen-and-ink storyboard, inspired by pieces she has collected for over forty years from all over the world.
A 3D model is built from her drawing, and she reviews it for scale and for fidelity to the drawing before anything is cast.
A single 3D print is made for each piece.
One cast is taken from that one print: the metal is poured, not bent from sheet metal. This is not the traditional method where one mold yields hundreds of pieces: every piece is one print, one cast.
The stones are set, and the piece is finished, polished or antiqued, and hallmarked.

Sterling silver Kerala Pave amulet with its measurements: 37.1 mm long, 6.8 mm across the body, 10.6 mm tall including the bails.

The piece

Metal: Sterling silver (925)
Weight: 13.65 g, nominal
Stones: Lab-grown diamond
Chain: Rolo, 2.5 mm, 18 in
Clasp: Medium 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. To restore its shine, gently wipe the exterior with a soft silver polishing cloth. 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, which can damage the finish and should never be used on a piece with a hollow chamber.

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 end caps are set with stones; twist them gently with your fingertips.

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.

Shipping policy

Returns and refunds

What will you hold in your Kavacha?

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

— Jayashri

Kerala Pave Necklace, Sterling SilverKerala Pave Necklace

What it holds