JEWELRY INSPIRED BY NATURE: CUSTOM WENTELTRAP SHELL PENDANT

A natural Wenteltrap shell. Photo by Sara Caruso.

I’ve always loved creating pieces inspired by nature, especially when there’s a meaningful story behind them.

A few years ago, a customer reached out with a special idea. His wife was an avid beachcomber and shell collector, and she’d always been drawn to the delicate spiral shape of the Wenteltrap shell, a rare little treasure you can sometimes find along the shores of South Florida. For her birthday, he wanted to surprise her with a pendant that captured the beauty of that shell. To make it even more personal, we discussed incorporating her birthstone, Aquamarine, the perfect gem for a sea-inspired piece.

THE MEANING BEHIND THE SHELL

The Wenteltrap, also known as the “Staircase Shell,” gets its name from the Dutch word wenteltrap, meaning spiral staircase, which is exactly what it looks like, with its elegant, winding shape. These shells have been seen as symbols of beauty, rarity, and life’s journey, each spiral marking growth, change, and new discoveries.

A GEMSTONE OF THE SEA

Aquamarine has always been known as the "gem of the sea." With its beautiful clear blue color, it’s long been a symbol of protection for sailors and travelers. It’s also thought to bring calm, clarity, and a connection to the ocean. And of course, as the March birthstone, it added an extra layer of meaning to this design.

DESIGNING THE PENDANT

At first, my client inquired about a simple shell pendant with a separate Aquamarine charm to go with it. But I suggested we do something a little more unique, why not set the stone right inside the shell, like a little hidden treasure? It felt like the perfect way to tie everything together, and make it even more personal.

I sketched out the design so he could see how it would look, stone included. Once we had the details finalized, I prepared a wax model of the shell, paying close attention to every little curve and ridge. From there, the piece was cast in solid precious metal and set with the Aquamarine tucked inside the opening, just as we envisioned.

Scroll down to see the process from start to finish:

Sketch of the design with the bail and gemstone.

The wax model ready for casting, with the gemstone alignment set.

Rough castings.  One shell came out perfectly, the other . . . not so much.

The finished pendant, polished, refined, and ready for the customer.

Pendant on a chain, designed to hang in perfect balance, even with the added gemstone.

Pendant displayed next to a dime for scale (it's actually smaller than a dime!)

JEWELRY WITH A STORY

This pendant wasn’t just a piece of jewelry, it was a tribute to her love of the ocean, a reminder of their time spent at the beach together, and a one-of-a-kind piece with personal meaning built right in. That’s always the goal with custom jewelry, turning inspiration and memories into something lasting and beautiful.

Have an idea for a custom piece with a natural twist? I’d love to hear your story.