Aparna Wooden Earrings – Gold Hand-Painted Ebony Bud Drops

A round Ebony disc at the ear, and below it a slender Ebony bud hand-painted with gold — a 3 cm drop, tapering to a point.

There are only two things happening on this piece: a very dark wood, and a small amount of gold. That restraint is the design. The bud is left almost entirely bare, and the gold sits high on it, so the eye goes straight to the mark and then follows the shape down to the tip.

Gold on Ebony

Ebony is the darkest wood we work — dense enough that its grain all but disappears, which is exactly why it makes a ground rather than a pattern. Nothing competes with what is painted on it.

That also makes it unforgiving. On a pale or figured wood a slightly uneven line has grain to disappear into; on a surface this dark and this even, every stroke is fully visible and cannot be softened. The motif is painted by hand, pair by pair, so no two are identical — but each one has to be right first time.

The black is Ebony's own, needing no stain or dye. The gold is applied by hand.

Carved in the round

The lower element is not a flat panel with a decorated front. It is a bud shape, shaped on every surface, tapering from a rounded crown to a fine point — so it turns as it hangs and never shows quite the same view twice. A form like that has to be worked in the hand and judged by eye from every angle, with no flat reference surface to true it against.

Details

• Wood: Ebony, responsibly repurposed
• Craft technique: hand-shaped and carved in the round, then hand-painted
• Design: a round disc above a tapering bud drop with a gold painted motif
• Drop length: approximately 3 cm
• Weight: 10 g per pair
• Findings: metal alloy hooks with a metal ring
• Unit: one pair
• Made in: India, carved and painted by hand by skilled artisans

How to style Aparna Wooden Earrings

With a saree. Black and gold is the most formal pairing in Indian dress and the easiest to place. Aparna suits silk, tussar, Banarasi and handloom drapes in maroon, wine, bottle green, black, cream and ivory — and sits naturally with a gold-bordered saree without competing with it.

With a kurta or Anarkali. Solid fabric shows the gold best. Black, wine, indigo and ivory all give it room.

For weddings and evening functions. Gold reads clearly under low light, which is where this pair does its best work. At 3 cm the drop is short enough to wear with the hair down.

Every day. Because the piece is small and dark, it also works with plain western dressing — a black dress, a white shirt, denim.

Gold accents suit this pair better than silver. Keep other jewellery fine rather than heavy.

Caring for your Aparna Wooden Earrings

• Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth after every wear. Never wash them.
• Take particular care around the painted gold — no solvents, no alcohol-based cleaner, nothing abrasive.
• Put them on last, once perfume, makeup and skincare have settled.
• Take them off before bathing, swimming or exercising.
• Store in the box or pouch they arrive in, somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight.
• Handle them by the metal findings rather than the painted surface.

Frequently asked questions

What wood are Aparna Wooden Earrings made from?

Ebony — a single responsibly repurposed hardwood, and the darkest and densest wood we work. Its grain is too dark to read, which is what makes it a clean ground for painted work.

Is the black colour painted or stained?

Neither. Ebony grows this dark on its own and needs no treatment at all. Only the gold is applied.

Is the gold painted by hand?

Yes, pair by pair. There is no print, transfer or decal. That is why the motif carries the slight variation of a brush rather than the uniformity of a machine — and why no two pairs are exactly alike.

Why is painting on Ebony harder than on a pale wood?

Because there is nowhere for a line to hide. On a pale or figured wood the grain absorbs small irregularities; on a surface this dark and this even, every stroke is fully visible and cannot be softened afterwards.

How long is the drop?

The hanging element is approximately 3 cm — short enough to wear with the hair down, and small enough not to catch on a collar or a scarf.

How much do they weigh?

10 g for the pair, which is a fraction of what the same design would weigh in metal.

Will the gold wear off?

Not with ordinary wear and sensible care. What damages hand-painted work is solvent and abrasion — so keep the pair away from perfume, sanitiser, alcohol-based cleaners and anything rough, and wipe only with a soft dry cloth.

What shape is the lower element?

A bud — rounded at the crown, tapering smoothly to a point. It is carved in the round, meaning it has no flat side and no back: the form continues all the way around, so it turns as it hangs.

What are the hooks made of?

Metal alloy, with a metal ring joining the two elements. If your ears react to particular metals, please write to us at reachchandrakalakriti@gmail.com before ordering and we will tell you exactly what we know rather than guess.

Does black and gold suit festive wear?

Particularly well. Gold reads clearly under low light, so this is a pair for evening functions, weddings and receptions — and it sits comfortably beside gold-bordered sarees and gold jewellery rather than competing with them.

Will my pair look exactly like the photographs?

The design will match, but the brushwork will be its own. Every motif is painted by hand, so its exact weight and placement shift slightly from pair to pair. That variation is the evidence a person made it.

Are wooden earrings durable enough for regular wear?

Ebony is among the hardest woods worked anywhere. Handled with ordinary care — not dropped onto tile, not left sitting in water — Aparna is made for repeated wear over years.

Can they get wet?

Please avoid it, and more strictly than with our unpainted pieces. Take them off before bathing, swimming or exercising. If they do get damp, dry them at once with a soft cloth and let them air fully before storing.

How should I clean and store them?

A soft, dry cloth after each wear — nothing wet, nothing abrasive, no solvent of any kind. Store the pair on its own in the box or pouch it arrived in, somewhere cool, dry and away from sunlight.

Are these a good keepsake, and how are they packed?

Yes. Black and gold suits almost any wardrobe, which makes this an easy pair to give. Every pair is quality-checked and packed in premium protective packaging.

How long does delivery take, and what if the parcel arrives damaged?

Orders are dispatched within 2–3 working days. Inside India, delivery takes 2–3 days to metro cities and 5–7 days elsewhere, and prepaid orders ship free; Cash on Delivery is available at selected locations with a ₹50 cash-handling charge. We ship worldwide, with import duties and local taxes payable by the recipient. Please film an unboxing video when your parcel arrives — if anything is damaged, defective or incorrect, write to us within 48 hours at reachchandrakalakriti@gmail.com with the video and photographs and we will put it right.

Related designs

• Malini — a bud carved in the round again, in painted Boxwood below an Ebony square
• Chhaya — hand-painted Boxwood in a bud form
• Varga — a plain bevelled Ebony square, for the same black with no colour at all