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CAIRN — Handmade Tagua Earrings — 'Only One'

Where Scottish cairns meet Ecuadorian craft.

Regular price £30.00
Regular price Sale price £30.00
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Details

  • Made of tagua nut - 100% natural, vegan and sustainable
  • Handmade in Ecuador by Indigenous artisans
  • Hypoallergenic, nickel and lead free hooks
  • Dyed using colourfast specialist dyes made for natural materials such as tagua, wool and linen. Sun-dried and tumbled to bring out the tagua's natural shine.
  • Approx 4 cm total length, measured from top of the hook
  • Colours and shapes may vary slightly from the photo. That's the beauty of handmade, natural pieces!

Need Silver Hooks or Clip-ons?

All the earrings include hypoallergenic hook wires.

If you prefer Sterling Silver 925 you can click here to add them to the basket and I'll professionally modify your earrings to Sterling Silver 925.

Need clip-on earrings? No problem! These earrings can be converted to clip-ons by clicking here to add to the basket and I'll do the rest.

Made from a wonder of nature

Tagua (pronounced ‘TAG-wah’) is the seed of the tagua palm native to Ecuador.

Often referred to as "vegetable ivory," it resembles elephant ivory but is entirely plant-based. As an ivory substitute, the tagua nut can truly be called an elephant’s friend!

Does tagua have special properties?

Our experience is that many give an audible gasp when they first hold a tagua nut! Touching tagua is unlike anything you’ve ever touched before!

Tagua has a smooth, soothing tactile feel that is calming and stress relieving. The touch of tagua comforts the senses.

Just as being in nature gives us a sense of calm and well-being, tagua does just the same! What an incredible material!

Gifting made easy

At checkout simply add your giftee’s address and any personal note and we’ll do the rest!

The gift comes beautifully wrapped and includes an information leaflet that not only tells the story of tagua, but also about our artisans who make the jewellery.

Featured

PLANT BASED JEWELLERY HANDCRAFTED FROM VEGETABLE IVORY

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Meet The Founder

Hi! I’m Alison and I often get asked how a ‘wee Scottish lass’ like me ended up living in Ecuador, starting a jewellery business with artisans in the Andes, and falling in love with one of the most of amazing natural wonders in the plant kingdom. It’s a crazy story but true! And I haven’t even told you yet how the jewellery helps save elephants and how I made my husband my business partner and we ended up as “The Happy Elephant”!

Meet The Artisans

When living in Ecuador, we were fortunate enough to meet two of Ecuador’s finest tagua artisans, Cesar and his wife Teresa. For five years we have worked hand-in-hand with this talented Indigenous Quichua artisan family who bring to life beautiful handcrafted jewellery from nature.

What we love is the connections we have made over the years and how we have come to rely on one another. We felt so moved that our very first order with Cesar meant he was able buy his family their very first washing machine!

Find Out More

Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes the jewellery & how?

For over five years we have worked with Cesar, one of Ecuador’s finest Indigenous tagua artisans. He, his wife and his brothers carefully craft The Happy Elephant jewellery.

Tagua seeds are first dried in the sun for three months. They are then carved into pieces, tumbled to produce a high polish, and dyed using colourfast specialist dyes made for natural materials such as tagua, wool and linen.

How sustainable is tagua?

Tagua is incredibly sustainable, offering multiple environmental benefits that make it a true eco-friendly material. When you choose tagua, you're supporting rainforest conservation, providing fair wages to local communities, and helping protect endangered elephants by offering a renewable alternative to ivory.

 How durable is it?

Tagua jewellery is very durable. Crafted from a naturally hard material tagua jewellery can be worn every day while maintaining its beauty.

Is it heavy to wear?

No - tagua jewellery is ultra lightweight. This is one of the unique benefits of tagua that our customers comment on.

Can those with nut allergies wear tagua nut jewellery?

Yes! Tagua is actually a seed, not a nut, making it safe for those with nut allergies to wear. However, if you have severe allergies, it's always recommended to consult with your healthcare provider first.

Can you eat tagua?

Tagua begins as a sweet liquid that can be drunk, then sets into a jelly that’s edible, and finally hardens into a durable seed perfect for carving.

Can I send a gift directly?

Yes of course! Just add your product, and at checkout add your giftee’s address in the shipping info, and any personal note you’d like to send and we’ll do the rest!

It comes beautifully gift wrapped and includes an information leaflet that not only tells the story of tagua, but also about our artisans who make the jewellery.

  • 5 stars: 9 (90%)
  • 4 stars: 1 (10%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
Some of the reviews shown are from related products the merchant grouped with this one.
M
Mairwen H.

Lovely earrings, bought for my daughter's birthday.....she hasn't seem them yet but I know she'll love them.

Hi Mairwen, please tell us what she thinks!!

C
Carole G.

These are so lightweight, you forget you are wearing them and so pretty!

A big thank you Carole for taking the time to write your review. These Cairn earrings are so cute and gorgeous.

J
Julia
I bought these lovely earrings as a birthday present for my daughter

I bought these lovely earrings as a birthday present for my daughter. She hasn't had them yet, but I am sure she will love them. Beautifully packaged as always! julia

Please tell us what she thinks Julia

C
Colleen
Gorgeous style

Very pretty earrings- lovely polish with the welcome style of a cairn.

Cairns remind me of Scotland where I grew up, a reminder you are on the right path! Enjoy.

L
Linda S.
The Cairn ear rings are a pleasure to wear

The Cairn ear rings are a pleasure to wear. They are made from three different coloured seeds, and thus are able to be worn with a variety of outfits. They are light, and provide a nice pop of colour and interest to my outfits, without being overstated.

I love the Cairn earrings too! They remind me of Scottish Cairns and are a reminder you are on the right path!

L
Linda S.
I love these earrings

I love these earrings, and have just purchased another pair. They are light, not too long, and complement many different outfits. I live near the Lake District, so have seen a fair few cairns in my time. I hope this style continues to be available, as they are definitely my "go to" earrings.

Hi Linda we were inspired by our own love of the Lakes to make & name these earrings Cairn. You live in a beautiful part of the world. We briefly lived in Cumbria when we returned from Ecuador in 2020.

A
Anonymous
Bought as a gift but look beautiful

Bought as a gift but look beautiful so I think will be appreciated.

W
Wendy G.
Would’ve liked them to be a little bit bigger

Love them, love the colours, beautifully made and nice and light to wear. However, I would’ve liked them to be a little bit bigger to give more impact.

Thanks so much for your feedback Wendy. We have updated the product page to show the approx width now as being 1cm so it gives a better idea of size. Glad you love the colours and quality!

N
Nadya I.

Beautiful beautiful jewellery

R
Ruth M.

Fabulous earrings in such a beautiful colour - they really lift my mood and my sweater!