Silver Bee Jewelry—Fossilized Mammoth Ivory and Garnet Bee Pendant Necklace

In addition to the important part bees play in biodiversity and ecological balance, the bee has long been revered as a symbol of the soul. The precious bee is a disciplined, diligent worker—sometimes seen alone and at times with other members of the hive. A single peaceable bee is depicted here in our bee solitaire necklace, a beautiful and poignant reminder of the worldwide decline we are seeing in our bee populations.

Jenny Byrne, Zealandia's lead designer, began her silver bee jewelry collection when we first heard reports that the honeybee populations were dying out. It is her hope that her silver bee jewelry pieces bring their owner pleasure but that they also help raise awareness for this global problem. Honeybees play an absolutely essential role in pollination and so support every subsequent member of the food chain.

Our honeybee's body is carved from fossilized mammoth ivory, which has lain in the earth for over 15,000 years. There minerals color it rich and variegated shades of cream to honey or deep cocoa brown. This ancient material reminds us how, like the honeybee, our animal species can become threatened or even eventually extinct. Fossilized mammoth ivory is valued across the world for its age-old story and for the touch of irreplaceable quality it brings to art work and fine jewelry.

Garnet, the stone of the heart, finishes this bee pendant necklace with a hint of added fire.