How it's made

A jade chain looks simple from a distance: a row of links, a clasp, a polish. Up close, every link has been cut and carved out of solid stone. Here's how a Luzari piece goes from a raw block of jade to the chain in your gift box.

1. It starts as raw jade

Every piece begins as a block of natural jade. Our pieces use Guatemalan (Mayan) jade, Burmese jade and nephrite. Colour and pattern change from block to block, even within the same stone, which is why every finished piece is slightly different from the photos and from the next one.

2. Cutting it down

The block is cut down into pieces sized for the links. Jade is hard and tough, so this takes patience. That toughness is exactly what lets it be carved so fine later.

3. Carving the links by hand

Each link is carved by hand. There are two ways a jade chain comes together.

Assembled Cuban links. On our classic Cuban pieces, each curb link is carved individually and the links are assembled into the chain. This is how our classic Cuban bracelets are built, and it allows a choice of widths and lengths.

Single-piece carving. Our single-piece designs are carved from one solid block of jade. The links are never separate pieces: they are cut free from the same stone, so they interlock with no glued joints anywhere in the chain. It takes a lot more work, which is why these are the top pieces in the range.

On a single-piece carving, the links were never separate. They interlock because they were cut from the same block.

4. Polishing

Every link is polished. Polishing is where jade comes alive: it brings out the colour, the translucency and, in some stones, the fine natural veining. Hold a polished piece up to the light and you'll see how far the light travels into the stone.

5. The clasp

Each piece is finished with a stainless steel clasp, and many can be upgraded to a sterling silver clasp in one of several styles when you order. The clasp is the only metal in the chain. Everything else is stone.

6. Into the gift box

Finally, every piece is packed in a gift box. If you need a different size, message us before or after you order and we'll help with resizing.

Why it's worth it

A plated chain can look new for a while. A carved jade chain is the same all the way through, so there's nothing to wear off. That's the whole idea behind Luzari: the classic Cuban shape, made from a stone that's built to last.

See the craft for yourself in the full collection.