Philosophy & Craft

What goes into one piece.

The Material

Every piece begins with a material decision. Stainless steel for pieces meant to be worn every day without thought — through sea, sweat, seasons. Copper for warmth and age. Gemstones sourced in Aswan, Khan el-Khalili, and Istanbul — chosen by hand, held to the light, rejected more often than selected.

We do not use gold-plated finishes over cheap base metals. Where we say gold, we mean 18K gold-filled at minimum, or stainless steel with a PVD coating that will not fade in two months. This is not a luxury detail. It is the minimum.

The Making

Most pieces are made in a small workshop in Cairo — one bench, good light, tools that are older than the business. The work is slow. A sibha takes four hours. A collar piece takes two days. We do not operate at scale, and we do not intend to.

Made-to-order pieces are made after you place your order. This is not a delay — it is the point. Something made for you, after you asked for it, is a different object than something made speculatively and stored in a warehouse.

The Standard

The only question asked of every piece before it leaves the workroom is: is it exactly right? Not good enough, not acceptable — exactly right. The clasp that catches slightly, the bead that sits a half-millimetre off-centre, the stone that is beautiful but not quite the right weight for this piece: these are reasons to start again.

Pieces that do not pass are not sold at discount. They are disassembled and the materials are used again.

The Delivery

Every piece ships in a cotton pouch within a rigid box. An authenticity card notes the piece number, the materials, and the date of completion. There is a brief care guide on acid-free paper — not laminated, not synthetic.

The packaging is designed to be kept. Not as waste that needs to be managed but as something that belongs with the piece.

Materials We Use

316L Stainless Steel: Hypoallergenic, corrosion-resistant, holds its finish indefinitely. The workhorse of the collection.
Copper: Warm, organic, develops a patina with time. Every scratch is the piece becoming yours.
18K Gold Fill: 100x more gold than plating. Will not flake or fade with normal wear.
Natural Gemstones: Obsidian, jade, turquoise, rose quartz, labradorite — sourced from verified suppliers in Egypt and Turkey.
Freshwater Pearl: Used in sibhas and pendant pieces. No two are identical.
Silk Thread: For sibha stringing only. Sourced from a single supplier in Cairo.