Aadhya Wooden Earrings – Boxwood Lattice Disc & Striped Teardrop Danglers

Aadhya Wooden Earrings – Lattice Disc & Striped Teardrop Dangle Earrings

Aadhya is two different crafts in one pair, and it is worth knowing which is which.

The disc at the lobe is inlaid. Fine lines of Ebony are set into a rounded Boxwood face, crossing to form a lattice, then levelled and polished until the surface is completely smooth. The black is cut into the wood.

The teardrop below is joined. Broad strips of Ebony and Boxwood are bonded edge to edge and the whole block is then shaped into its curve. The black is not on this piece — it is this piece, running all the way through.

Fine and cut above; broad and built below. Most makers would pick one method and repeat it.

The pair weighs 10 g.

What Aadhya is made from

• Upper element: Boxwood disc, inlaid with a crossed Ebony lattice
• Lower element: Ebony and Boxwood joined in broad bands, shaped as a teardrop
• Colour: natural Boxwood cream against natural Ebony black; no dye, stain or paint
• Findings: metal alloy hooks with a metal ring
• Weight: 10 g per pair
• Sold as: one pair
• Made in: India, from responsibly repurposed exotic hardwoods, handcrafted by skilled artisans

Two ways to put black into pale wood

Inlay cuts a channel into a solid piece and sets a strip of another wood into it. The base stays whole. The difficulty is the channel: cut to the exact width of the strip, or a pale seam shows alongside the black. On the lattice, every crossing is a junction between two inlaid lines that must meet at the same depth and angle — and on a curved face there is no straight edge to work against.

Joining takes separate pieces and bonds them edge to edge, then shapes the result as one object. The difficulty is the seam: each mating face must be worked dead flat and dead square, because a joint is only as invisible as the surfaces going into it. On a teardrop, the bands then have to run true through a curve that narrows to a point.

Neither is the easy option. Using both in one pair is why Aadhya carries more bench time than a single-technique piece.

The teardrop is the harder shape

A teardrop is wide at one end and comes to a point at the other, and the joined bands run the length of it. That means the bands narrow as the shape narrows, and any drift in the joins shows most exactly where the wood is thinnest and least forgiving. A straight panel hides small errors. A tapering one does not.

How to style Aadhya

• Sarees: outstanding with handloom, khadi and cotton drapes in cream, black, indigo and grey; plain or minimally worked blouses let the lattice read
• Festive and evening wear: Durga Puja, Navratri, Diwali, sangeet and reception dressing
• Kurtas and indo-western sets: solid colours — the stripe does the work
• Western wear: linen, white shirts, monochrome dressing, clean necklines
• Hair back or up: the lattice disc sits close to the lobe and is worth showing

One caution: avoid a heavily printed or striped outfit. Two patterns competing at close range flattens both, and Aadhya already carries two of its own.

Caring for your Aadhya earrings

• Put your earrings on after perfume, makeup and skincare have settled
• Take them off before bathing, swimming or exercising — moisture is what stresses both an inlay and a join over time
• Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth after each wear; a soft dry brush clears dust from the lattice if it settles
• Store in the box or pouch provided, away from moisture, direct sunlight and heat
• Lift and remove by the metal findings, not by the wooden body

Related designs

• Kavita — the same inlaid lattice disc, paired with a finely ruled Maple oval instead of joined bands
• Kairavi — the same two woods in a quieter, everyday register
• Mahek — Ebony inlay as diagonals across a Boxwood diamond
• Kalika — Ebony and Boxwood without surface work, if you prefer plain contrast

Shipping

Dispatched within 2–3 working days. Free shipping on prepaid orders within India; delivery is typically 2–3 days to metro cities and 5–7 days elsewhere in India. Cash on Delivery is available at selected locations with a ₹50 cash-handling charge. Aadhya ships worldwide, arriving within 5–10 days of your order — import duties and local taxes are payable by the recipient.

Frequently asked questions

Is the black inlaid or joined?
Both, in the same pair. The lattice on the disc is inlaid — fine Ebony lines set into channels cut in the Boxwood and polished flush. The stripes on the teardrop are joined — broad strips of Ebony and Boxwood bonded edge to edge, then shaped as one piece.

What is the difference between inlay and joining?
Inlay cuts a groove into a solid piece and sets another wood into it, so the base stays whole. Joining bonds separate pieces edge to edge and shapes the result as a single object. Both are skilled and they fail in different places — an inlay at the channel walls, a join at the seam.

Is anything painted?
No. Every black line and band is Ebony, and every pale one is Boxwood. Nothing is dyed, stained or painted anywhere on this pair.

Why is a striped teardrop harder than a striped rectangle?
Because the bands narrow as the shape narrows. Any drift in the joins shows most where the wood is thinnest and least forgiving. A straight panel hides small errors; a tapering one does not.

Will the lattice or the stripes wear off?
Neither. Both are solid wood rather than a surface finish — the inlay runs into the piece and the joined bands run all the way through it. Keeping the pair dry is what protects both over the long term.

How much do they weigh?
10 g the pair. That is a fraction of what a metal earring of the same size would weigh, which is why wood suits large designs — the size is visual, not physical.

Are wooden earrings strong enough for regular wear?
Ebony and Boxwood are among the denser hardwoods, and each pair is hand-finished and quality-checked before it leaves us. Aadhya handles daily wear. What it does not handle is being dropped onto tile or stone.

What if my Aadhya earrings get wet?
Dry them straight away with a soft cloth and leave them in open air before storing. Brief contact is survivable; soaking, swimming and showering are not. Take them off first.

Will the black and cream fade or bleed into each other?
No. Neither wood is dyed, so there is no colour to run. Both deepen slightly with age, which tends to sharpen the contrast rather than soften it. Keep them out of direct sunlight.

What are the hooks made of?
Metal alloy, with a metal ring joining the two elements. The wooden body — the part in contact with your ear — is bare Ebony and Boxwood with no plating or coating. If your ears react easily to metal, please write to us before ordering.

Do these work with sarees?
Very well, provided the saree is not itself striped or busily printed. Handloom, khadi and plain cottons are the natural match. Against a solid drape, Aadhya becomes the detail people notice.

Will my pair look exactly like the photographs?
The design will match. The exact band widths, the grain and the spacing of the lattice will not, because the wood differs pair to pair and every line is cut and fitted by hand.

Something arrived damaged — what do I do?
Write to us within 48 hours with photographs and your unboxing video. The video is required for damage, missing and wrong-item claims, so please film yourself opening the parcel — it is much easier than sorting it out afterwards.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, worldwide. Orders generally arrive within 5–10 days. Import duties, customs and local taxes are payable by the recipient, not included in what you pay us.