Zealandia Design's Turtle Jewelry

[caption id="attachment_227" align="alignright" width="218"] Fossilized Walrus Tusk and Blue Topaz - "Ocean Dreams"[/caption] Zealandia’s turtle jewelry collection has been a highlight of the line for many years. Collectors connect with this totemic animal for its very special symbolism. The turtle has come to represent grounding, emotional balance, age-old wisdom, and persistence. Turtles carve a peaceful and graceful path through life. They cross the barrier between land and water with ease, and they epitomize a kind of knowing that we can sense in their serene, wizened faces. We have long been enchanted with the sea turtle's ancient wisdom and gracious, gentle soul. We adore sea turtles here at Zealandia Designs; our turtle jewelry is inspired by the beautiful patterns of turtle shells, by their peaceful determination, and their patient, easy-going nature.

Sea Turtle Reminders

Our hand carved turtle jewelry is created with natural materials, which makes each piece truly one-of-a-kind. Turtles remind us to be deliberate with our decisions and to be patient as we work toward our long-term goals. Turtle jewelry can be a helpful reminder to ease your pace and enjoy the journey. Turtles inhabit nearly all the earth’s ocean basins which give them a rich history and presence in many cultures. Turtles are an emblem of longevity (they can live 100+ years) and they symbolize good health, determination and are often depicted as wise and laid back. With so many desirable attributes, it’s easy to see why they have played such a prominent role in so many cultures across the globe, from sacred folk lore to fairy tales to cartoons.

Fascinating Facts about Sea Turtles:

*Sea turtles are one of Earth’s most ancient animals. The seven extant species alive today have been around for 110 million years. *The shell of a turtle is made up of smaller plates called “scutes” (there’s a good NYT crossword puzzle answer for you!), which shed thin scales as the shell grows. *Leatherback sea turtles can travel more than 10,000 miles per year. *Sea turtles have temperature-dependant sex determination, which means the temperature of the nest environment determines the developing turtles sex. *Males never leave the water; females come ashore only to lay eggs and most will return to the same nesting site from which they were born. *Sea turtles lay around 100 eggs at a time and on average only one of these will survive into adulthood. Of the seven species of sea turtles, five are classified as endangered. They are threatened by commercial fishing, ocean pollution, climate change, coastal development and are avidly hunted by humans for their shells, meat, skin and eggs. Zealandia Designs regularly donates to many conservation groups who are committed to stop the decline of sea turtles, including World Wildlife Fund, Environmental Defense Fund, Ocean Conservancy, and Defenders of Wildlife.

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jane Goodall