These pigment lockets represent samples of various pigments:

• Gofun - White - Japanese, made of powdered oyster shells

• Australian Red Ochre - Red - Australian, harvested and prepared in the Aboriginal tradition dating back over 40,000 years

• Cochineal Insects - Red - Mexican, real dried insects which can be powdered and used as pigment or fabric dye

• Indian Yellow - Yellow - Synthetic, replicating the tradition of feeding cows mango leaves and then dehydrating the animals to cause thick yellow urine which was used to make a sunny yellow pigment

• Malachite - Green - The first green pigment, made of ground malachite (a green mineral) and used by ancient Egyptians for makeup and wall paint

• Egyptian Blue - Blue - The first synthetic pigment, created by the ancient Egyptians and lost to time through the 19th century

• Han Purple - Purple - Another ancient synthetic pigment made in China, though no evidence exists to suggest that the Egyptians traded their secrets which indicates that the synthesizing processes were developed separately

• Ultramarine - Blue - Originally made using lapis lazuli, this color has famously been used by the likes of Yves Klein and the Blue Man Group. The pigment in this locket is synthesized (making it much less costly than natural lapis pigment) and UV resistant.

Choose your pigment and metal from the drop-down.

I can make these lockets with any material inside, also available in solid gold. Please contact me for custom orders.

Each locket measures 12mm in diameter and the bail is another centimeter or so tall.

You can add chains or earring findings here if desired. Make sure to get two if you plan to have a pair of earrings made!

Please allow up to 8 weeks for completion — if giving as a gift before then, let me know and I can make you a cute video or write a nice note to pass along to your gift recipient.