THE STONES
Every stone we work with has its own story — shaped by water, time, and the earth it came from. When we find them, they’re often quiet and unassuming — tucked among riverbeds or beaches, waiting for the right light to show what’s inside. We take time to listen. To see where each one might want to go.
Some hold soft greens, some deep smoke tones, others catch the light like glass after rain. Here, you can learn a little more about the stones that shape our work — their origins, their colours, and the quiet energy they carry.
SERPENTINE
Stone of Balance and Renewal.
Often found along Nelson rivers and West Coast beaches, Serpentine is one of the most familiar stones we work with.
Its colours shift from soft apple-green to deep olive, sometimes streaked with cream or black.
This stone carries a gentle, calming energy and a sense of renewal. Serpentine is soft and easily carvable — we let the stone depict what we carve, whether it becomes a heart, a drop, or something entirely its own.
Each Serpentine piece is slightly different: some with gentle yellow-green hues, others deep olive or almost black. We let the stone decide what it wants to be — a heart, a drop, or something entirely its own.
Did you know?
The name Serpentine comes from the Latin serpentinus, meaning “resembling a serpent.”
Those soft, flowing greens and subtle veined patterns are exactly what inspired the name.
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Origin: Nelson & West Coast, New Zealand
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Colour Range: Pale green, blue to deep olive with cream or black streaks
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Texture: Smooth, silky polish
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Associations: Balance, calm, renewal
DOUGLAS CREEK POUNAMU
Stone of Depth and Connection.
Douglas Creek Pounamu is a serpentine variety of pounamu, known for its deep, earthy greens and natural variation.
Darker and more grounded in appearance, this stone carries a quiet sense of presence — shaped slowly by water, time, and the surrounding landscape.
Collected from Douglas Creek in the South Island, this pounamu is revealed through seasonal change, when shifting riverbeds uncover stone long held beneath the surface. Each piece reflects its environment — layered, resilient, and shaped with patience.
Like all serpentine pounamu, Douglas Creek stone is exceptionally strong, making it well suited to carving. Once polished, it takes on a smooth, cool finish that feels grounding to wear.
Its character lies in depth rather than brightness. Darker tones, soft mottling, and natural inclusions ensure every carving is unique.
For us, Douglas Creek Pounamu represents connection — to place, to process, and to the quiet strength found in nature’s slower rhythms.
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Origin: Douglas Creek, South Island
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Colour Range: Deep green with natural tonal variation
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Texture: Dense, smooth polish
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Associations: Grounding, connection, endurance
JADE
(Pounamu / Greenstone)
Stone of Strength and Grace.
Known to many as Jade, Pounamu, or Greenstone, this beautiful stone is treasured throughout Aotearoa. Its rich green, yellow, blue, and white hues — sometimes soft and opaque, sometimes dark, glassy, and translucent — seem to hold light within the stone itself.
Jade can be found in the Nelson region and further south, where river systems and coastal tides uncover veins of the stone after heavy rain.
It’s incredibly strong — one of the toughest natural materials in the world — thanks to the way its fibres interlock like felt. This strength makes Jade ideal for carving, yet once polished it feels smooth, cool, and grounding to wear.
Some pieces even reveal rare blue tones, caused by trace amounts of iron and titanium — making Blue Jade one of the least common variations found in New Zealand.
For us, Nephrite Jade represents patience: the quiet work of bringing something beautiful out of what nature offers.
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Origin: Nelson riverbeds & South Island beaches
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Colour Range: White, green, yellow, blue and black hues
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Texture: Dense, silky polish
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Associations: Strength, patience, harmony
ARGILLITE
(Pakohe)
Stone of Grounding and Strength.
Argillite — known locally as Pakohe — is a sedimentary rock formed millions of years ago under immense pressure. It’s native to the Nelson region and often shows soft greys, charcoal tones, or subtle green streaks.
We love its simplicity — its matte texture, quiet weight, and the way it holds light in a calm, understated way. Each piece feels timeless, earthy, and strong — a reminder of where we come from.
Did you know?
Argillite begins life as ancient mudstone. Over millions of years, heat and pressure transform it into a dense, fine-grained stone that takes on beautiful greys, blues, and charcoal lines — making every slice slightly different.
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Origin: Nelson Region
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Colour Range: Grey to dark greenish-grey
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Texture: Dense, smooth, matte to satin finish
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Associations: Strength, stability, protection
GARNET (Grossular &
Rodingite)
Stone of Quiet Light
Our Garnets are found in Nelson — gentle, luminous stones that form within Rodingite, a pale, creamy host rock shaped by ancient heat and water.
Their colours range from soft green to golden honey, white, and light amber. Most are highly translucent, catching light from within.
Did you know?
Garnet isn’t just one mineral — it’s actually a family of stones. Its colour depends on the elements inside it: iron creates deep reds, calcium produces soft greens (like Grossular Garnet), and manganese can even create pink or orange tones. This is why no two Garnet pieces ever look the same.
Garnet is super tough and requires patience to carve, but the results are worth every moment. Each piece feels like captured sunlight — a quiet kind of beauty that doesn’t ask to be noticed, yet always draws the eye.
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Origin: Nelson & West Coast (within Rodingite)
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Colour Range: Soft green, golden honey, white, and pale amber
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Texture: Hard, smooth, highly translucent
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Associations: Clarity, quiet strength, patience
JASPER
Stone of Earth and Energy.
Jasper feels like the land itself — rich, layered, and full of character.
We often find it along Nelson and Tasman riverbeds, where time and water have softened its edges.
Its natural variations — from ochre and rust to soft pink or grey — make every piece a small landscape in itself.
Did you know?
Jasper gets its incredible variety of colours from tiny mineral impurities — iron gives reds and browns, while clay minerals add creams, pinks, and soft mossy tones.
For us, Jasper represents the grounding energy of
New Zealand— honest, steady, and beautifully imperfect.
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Origin: Nelson / Tasman Region
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Colour Range: Pink, grey, red, brown, patterned
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Texture: Smooth and opaque
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Associations: Stability, vitality, connection to the earth
CUSTOM CARVING & RESTRINGING
Every stone carries its own story — but sometimes, so do the people who wear them.
If you have a specific idea, a stone you’ve found yourself, or a pendant in need of restringing, we’re happy to help. Each piece is made or restored with patience and care — a way to keep your story connected to the land and the materials we work with.
