Varmini Wooden Earrings – Ebony Inlaid Boxwood Shield Danglers

A Boxwood shield inlaid with chevrons of Ebony, hanging below a black Ebony finial.

Varmini takes its name from varman, the Sanskrit word for armour. The form earns it: a shield with a point at its base, crossed by chevrons that run edge to edge like plating. It is one of the few pieces in this range where the name, the shape and the pattern are all saying the same thing.

The chevrons are inlay, not lines

Each dark chevron across the Boxwood is a strip of Ebony set into a channel cut in the pale wood, seated, then sanded and polished back until both woods finish level. Run a finger across the face and you feel one continuous surface — no ridge, no groove, no seam.

Chevrons are the hardest form of inlay we do. A straight line needs one true channel; a chevron needs two, meeting at an exact angle, and every one of them has to point the same way and sit parallel to the one above. An error of a degree at the join shows immediately, and there are several joins on every piece.

Two shapes, two woods

Above the shield sits a separate element in solid Ebony, shaped to a soft point at the crown and a downward point at its base, where it meets the Boxwood. It is deliberately plain — no inlay, no pattern — so that the eye reads it as a dark cap rather than as competition for the chevrons below.

The colours are the woods' own. Boxwood grows pale gold, Ebony near-black; nothing here is dyed, stained or painted. Because every piece is cut from repurposed offcuts, the Boxwood grain beneath the inlay differs in every pair.

Details

• Woods: Boxwood and Ebony, both responsibly repurposed
• Craft technique: hand-shaped, hand-inlaid, sanded flush and polished
• Design: an Ebony finial above a Boxwood shield with Ebony chevron inlay
• Colour: natural wood colour, undyed and unpainted
• Findings: metal alloy hooks with a metal ring
• Unit: one pair
• Made in: India, handcrafted by skilled artisans

How to style Varmini Wooden Earrings

With a saree. Pale gold against black is the most versatile pairing in the range. Varmini works with cream, off-white, mustard, olive and rust handlooms, and holds its own against a deep red or maroon silk where a paler piece would vanish.

With a kurta. Keep the fabric solid so the chevrons stay readable. Ivory, ochre, indigo, black and wine all suit it.

With western wear. A white shirt, linen, denim, monochrome. The geometry is graphic enough to read as contemporary despite the traditional palette.

For festive days and celebrations. Warm gold sits comfortably beside gold jewellery rather than competing with it, which makes this an easy choice for Durga Puja, Navratri, Diwali and daytime wedding functions.

This is a broad, graphic piece. Wear the hair up or back so the full shield is visible, skip the necklace, and keep other jewellery quiet.

Caring for your Varmini Wooden Earrings

• Wipe with a soft, dry cloth after every wear. Never wash them.
• Put them on last, once perfume, makeup and skincare have settled.
• Take them off before bathing, swimming or exercising — moisture is what stresses inlaid work.
• 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 wood.

Frequently asked questions

Which woods are used in Varmini Wooden Earrings?

Two. The shield is Boxwood, pale gold and close-grained. The finial above it and the chevrons set into the shield are both Ebony, a dense near-black hardwood. Both are responsibly repurposed exotic wood.

Are the chevrons painted, engraved or inlaid?

Inlaid. Each one is a real strip of Ebony cut into a channel in the Boxwood, seated, then sanded and polished until both woods sit flush. The face of the shield is smooth and level right across.

Why is chevron inlay harder than straight-line inlay?

A straight line needs one true channel. A chevron needs two channels meeting at an exact angle, and every chevron has to point the same way and stay parallel to the one above it. A degree of error at the join is visible immediately, and there are several joins on each piece.

What does the name Varmini mean?

It comes from varman, the Sanskrit word for armour. The shield form and the chevrons running across it are where the name comes from.

What shape are these earrings?

Two elements joined by a ring. The upper one is a solid Ebony finial, pointed at the crown and pointed again where it meets the piece below. The lower one is a shield — broad across the shoulders, straight down the sides, tapering to a point at the base.

Will the Ebony inlay come loose or fall out?

The strips are seated into channels and finished flush, not glued onto the surface, so there is no raised edge for anything to catch. Kept dry and handled with ordinary care, the inlay stays where it is.

Is the black wood painted or stained?

No. Ebony is naturally near-black and needs no treatment at all. Nothing on Varmini is dyed, stained or painted — the contrast is simply the difference between two species of wood.

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.

Is this a large earring?

It is one of the broader designs in the range — the shield is wide as well as long, so it reads as a definite statement rather than an everyday piece. Wear it with the hair back so the full shape is visible.

Are wooden earrings durable enough for regular wear?

Boxwood and Ebony are both dense, close-grained hardwoods chosen for strength, and Ebony is among the hardest woods worked anywhere. Handled with ordinary care, Varmini is built for years of wear rather than a season.

What if they get wet?

Take them off before showering, swimming or working out, and keep them away from sustained damp. Water is the one thing inlaid work genuinely dislikes, because two woods set together respond differently to moisture. If a splash lands on them, dry it with a soft cloth and leave the pair in open air before storing.

Will the colours change over time?

Gently. Boxwood warms towards a deeper honey with age and light, while Ebony holds its depth, so the contrast softens a little over the years. That is natural ageing, not fading. Storing the pair out of direct sunlight slows it.

How should I clean and store them?

A soft, dry cloth after each wear — no water, no soap, no alcohol-based cleaners. Keep the pair on its own in the box or pouch it arrived in, somewhere cool and dry.

Will my pair look exactly like the photographs?

Very close, but the grain will be its own. Each shield is cut from repurposed offcuts and each chevron is set by hand, so the figuring in the Boxwood shifts from pair to pair. No two are identical.

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

Yes. Every pair is quality-checked and packed in premium protective packaging, ready to give — a considered keepsake for birthdays, anniversaries, festivals and corporate gifting.

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

• Mahek — Ebony inlay again, as diagonal lines across a Boxwood diamond
• Hanshika — Ebony inlay in a Maple star, worn as a stud
• Aadhya — an Ebony inlay lattice disc above a striped Boxwood teardrop