Silver Bee Jewelry—Spiral Bee Pendant Necklace with Fossilized Mammoth Ivory

The Zealandia silver bee jewelry collection began when we first heard reports that our beloved honey bees were disappearing. Jenny Byrne, Zealandia's lead designer, recognized the importance of what was happening and found inspiration in honoring these precious insects.

The bee plays an absolutely essential role in pollination and plant life, and so supports every member of the food chain. The ancient Egyptians considered the honeybee a symbol of the soul. Bees are also associated with symbols of fertility, diligence, and community. We've combined this bee symbolism with another powerful symbol, the spiral, in this favorite design.

Spirals are an ancient motif originating with patterns in nature from the stars' paths to what we term Fibonacci patterns. They are also as old as man himself - some of the first cave painting were spirals. The spiral is associated with depth, the mystical feminine, and as a symbol of natural change as the old gives way to the new in life's constant flow. Our spiral setting features alternating circular, hatched, and miniature spiral details that lend mystery and contrast to the bees' circular path.

The two bees are carved from fossilized mammoth ivory, an ancient material that dates back over 15,000 years when the last of the great mammoths roamed the earth. The earth colors this ancient ivory soft cream to rich honey and caramel hues. Touching a piece of fossilized mammoth ivory reminds us that, like the honeybees' current plight, our animal friends can disappear forever from the earth. Mammoth ivory is prized across the world as a rich and earthy accent to unique silver jewelry such as this bee pendant necklace.

It is our hope that our bee spiral necklace raises awareness and spurs activism to help preserve and replenish our declining bee population.