Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, shown closed on a warm bone-white background.

Kerala Small Necklace, 14K or 18K Gold

14K Gold
$7,100.00 USD
Skip to product information
Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, shown closed on a warm bone-white background.
  • Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, shown closed on a warm bone-white background.
  • Close-up of the Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, closed, front, on a warm bone-white background.
  • Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, shown open.
  • Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, beside a close view of the lobster clasp and oval K tag on its chain.
  • Kerala Small openable amulet in 14K or 18K yellow gold, with its measurement: 37.5 mm long.
  • Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, worn by a model.
  • Kerala Small amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, worn at the collarbone (illustrative scene).
  • Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, shown closed on a warm bone-white background.
  • Close-up of the Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, closed, front, on a warm bone-white background.
  • Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, shown open.
  • Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, beside a close view of the lobster clasp and oval K tag on its chain.
  • Kerala Small openable amulet in 14K or 18K yellow gold, with its measurement: 37.5 mm long.
  • Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, worn by a model.
  • Kerala Small amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, worn at the collarbone (illustrative scene).
Kerala Small Necklace, 14K or 18K Gold

Kavacha Designs

Kerala Small Necklace, 14K or 18K Gold

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

Material
$7,100.00 USD
  • Made to order. Each piece takes 4 to 6 weeks to make. Free US shipping takes 3 to 5 business days.
  • The chain in some photos may differ from the one your piece ships on.
Also made inSterling silver $320.00 USDReady to ship within 2 business days

Kerala Small comes from the tawiz belt worn by Muslim women in Kerala, South India, in the early twentieth century. The tawiz took many forms, pendants, engraved metal and framed prayers, each worn for protection. This one was made to hold a small amount of a loved one's ashes and carry them wherever you go; it can also keep a written prayer or a lock of hair. Each design begins as Jayashri's pen-and-ink drawing before it is modeled and cast.
Kerala Small openable amulet necklace in 14K or 18K yellow gold, shown open.

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 Tawiz belt of Kerala

The story

Kerala Small is drawn from the early 20th-century Tawiz belt worn by Muslim women in Kerala, South India. The tawiz took many forms, pendants, engraved metal pieces and framed prayers, each worn for protection. This one is made to hold a small amount of a loved one's ashes, carried wherever you go.

I start with a storyboard, a pen-and-ink drawing of my own design, inspired by pieces I have collected for over forty years from all over the world.

Jayashri Triolo, maker

Kerala Small 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.

Kerala Small openable amulet in 14K or 18K yellow gold, with its measurement: 37.5 mm long.

The piece

Metal
14K yellow gold
Weight
21.81 g, nominal
Stones
None
Chain
Trace, 2.28 mm, 16 + 2 + 2 in
Clasp
Medium clasp

What's in the box

  • Velvet pouch
  • Authentication card
  • Branded luxury box

Reviews

Care

14K and 18K yellow gold can collect natural oils, lotions and residue from everyday wear. Gently clean the exterior with a soft cloth dampened with lukewarm water and a small amount of mild dish soap, then wipe with clean water and dry thoroughly. A soft jewelry polishing cloth can be used to restore its luster.

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.
Questions
Shipping and returns

14K and 18K gold pieces are made to order and are non-refundable and non-returnable.

Shipping policy

Returns and refunds

What will you hold in your Kavacha?

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

— Jayashri

An occasional email from Jayashri at Kavacha. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy policy

You may also like