Green Sandalwood Black Obsidian Double Bracelet

Materials

Green sandalwood (Bulnesia arborea) — a hardwood native to South America known for its distinctive color shift. Paired with three genuine black obsidian accent beads and brass spacer beads. Black obsidian is natural volcanic glass, polished to a smooth deep-black finish.

How It Wears In

Fresh from finishing, the wood has a warm honey-yellow tone. Over weeks of daily wear and exposure to air, the surface oxidizes gradually: first to a soft olive-green, then settling into a deeper moss-green that is unique to each wearer. No two bracelets age the same way. The obsidian beads hold their finish without change.

This is a lightweight wood. If it feels surprisingly light when you first pick it up — that is the nature of this material, not a sign of quality.

Where You'll Reach For It

A quiet, grounding piece — dark against green, present without being loud.

• Morning: slipped on with your first coffee, before the day asks anything of you.
• At your desk: the matte black stones catch the light as you type, a small visual pause between tasks.
• Weekend: layered alongside a watch or a plain metal band for a stacked look that reads intentional, not loud.
• Travel: it packs flat, weighs almost nothing, and asks for none of the fuss of fine jewelry.
• Evening: the easiest thing to put on when you want a finished look without thinking about it.

Details

• Bead diameter: 8 mm
• Style: double-wrap bracelet
• Accent stones: 3 black obsidian beads, spaced evenly along the wrap
• Spacers: brass
• Finish: hand-finished, hand-polished
• Natural variation: each bead differs slightly in shade, tone, and size — this is characteristic of solid wood, not a flaw

In Chinese Tradition

In Chinese material culture, certain woods and stones carry symbolic meaning passed down through craft and folklore. Within the traditional five-element (wuxing) framework, green sandalwood is associated with wood and obsidian — a volcanic glass — with water. In that system, water is read as nourishing wood, a pairing historically seen as harmonious and growth-oriented, not as any physical effect on the wearer.

• Black obsidian has appeared in Chinese ornament for centuries and is traditionally associated with protection and a calm, settled feeling.
• Green sandalwood has long been valued in Chinese woodcraft for its slow-grown density and its color that deepens with age — informally linked with endurance and quiet continuity.

These are cultural associations carried by the materials themselves — not claims we make about the person wearing them. We offer this bracelet for how it looks, feels, and ages.

Care Instructions

Green sandalwood is a natural material that responds to how you treat it. A little attention keeps it looking its best for years.

Keep it dry. Remove the bracelet before washing hands, showering, swimming, or doing dishes. The wood does not handle soaking or prolonged moisture — no baths, no submerging.

Skip the sweat. Take it off during intense workouts or on very humid, hot days. Heavy perspiration changes the surface finish faster than normal wear. If your hands run sweaty, you can handle the beads with a soft cotton cloth instead of bare skin to keep the surface clean.

Watch the heat. When the temperature climbs above 39°C (102°F), set the bracelet aside in a cool, dry spot and put it back on when it cools down. Direct sunlight causes uneven color change — store it away from windows.

Avoid chemicals. Perfume, lotion, sunscreen, and cleaning products can stain or dull the wood. Apply those first, let them dry, then put on your bracelet.

Go easy on impact. Wood can knock and scuff — avoid rough handling, and don't wear it where it'll get battered against hard surfaces. Obsidian is glass and can chip if struck hard.

Storage: keep it in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place out of direct sun. A sealed pouch or box helps hold steady humidity and keeps the surface from drying out too fast.

One note on nature: each bead varies slightly in shade and size, and the color deepens at its own pace. That variation is the material, not a defect.

Disclaimer

The cultural notes above are drawn from Chinese tradition and shared for context only. They are not medical or health claims. Lumala does not claim that wearing this bracelet affects physical or mental well-being. For our full position, see the Disclaimer page.