The Guiding Star
A lapis lazuli necklace built around an antique “Croix du Sud”, or Southern Cross: not a religious emblem but a celestial compass, guiding Saharan nomads beneath the vast Moroccan sky. Forged in silver 100 to 200 years ago, it hangs among five rare vintage carved lapis, vintage silver beads from Afghanistan and vintage coral. Designed and handmade by me in Montréal.
$350.00
- Designed and handmade in Montréal
- Ships insured and tracked across Canada
- Returns within 14 days
An antique compass, set in vintage lapis
Each pendant is an exquisite example of ancestral craftsmanship. Once worn as a protective talisman and symbol of identity, its intricate geometric design embodies the harmony between faith, navigation and artistry. Here I have paired it with lapis and coral that recall the beautiful enamel.
Time has lent each piece a unique patina, with hand-etched details and soulful imperfections that tell stories of journeys across desert sands: a true antique treasure, rich in history and meaning.
It belongs to Our North Star, a collection inspired by the Southern Cross: when the path is unclear, integrity and courage remain our true moral compass.
See the Our North Star collection of north star necklaces
Antique silver and coral each need their own care. Read how to care for antique silver and coral
Details
- Antique silver “Croix du Sud” (Southern Cross) pendant, 100 to 200 years old
- Five vintage carved lapis lazuli, vintage silver beads from Afghanistan, vintage coral
- Length:17 inches (ask me about a change)
- Weight:101.7 grams
- Designed and handmade in Montréal, Québec
Environmental Impact Statement
At 101.7 grams, this necklace’s reuse of existing materials is estimated to avoid 19.3 kg of COâ‚‚e, roughly the tailpipe emissions of driving 78 kilometres in an average car, and 147 litres of freshwater.
Estimated environmental savings are based on the materials and weights in this piece and Asymmetric by Design’s proprietary environmental-impact model, commissioned by Asymmetric by Design and developed by Oxia Initiative. Results estimate the impact avoided by reusing existing materials instead of sourcing an equivalent quantity of newly produced, mined or sourced material. Figures are modelled estimates, not direct measurements.
Questions about this lapis lazuli necklace
What does lapis lazuli symbolize in jewelry?
Lapis lazuli was treasured for its deep blue by the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Greece and Rome, and GIA notes that scholars believe our link with it goes back more than 6,500 years; Renaissance painters ground it into ultramarine. In The Guiding Star it sits beside a celestial compass once worn as a protective talisman, so here it stands for finding your way. (source: GIA)
Is the Southern Cross pendant really antique?
Yes. It is an antique “Croix du Sud”, forged in silver and dating back 100 to 200 years, with the patina and hand-etched detail of its age.
