Description
The black obsidian mala necklace, a traditional meditation tool fashioned from the protective stone, 108 beads exactly, one guru bead, a hand-braided tassel. Not a decorative piece but a practice object, designed to be counted bead by bead, breath by breath. Handcrafted with natural stones, it’s the one you wear or hold whenever you need to come back to stillness.
A mala is a traditional strand used for centuries in Buddhist and Hindu practices to count the repetitions of a mantra or the cycles of breath during meditation. The number of 108 beads is not arbitrary: it recurs across many Indian and Tibetan spiritual traditions, carrying ancient numerical symbolism that practice has preserved unchanged, century after century.
This necklace follows the classic mala structure: 108 black obsidian beads, one guru bead slightly larger to mark the starting and ending point of the count, and a hand-braided tassel that traditionally symbolises unity and the completion of practice. Worn as a long necklace every day, or held in both hands during meditation, sliding each bead between thumb and forefinger.
In crystal healing, black obsidian keeps its properties of protection and grounding. Paired with the mala format, it is traditionally chosen for practices that demand staying the course, consistent meditation, inner work rooted in duration rather than in the moment.
To learn everything about black obsidian, explore my complete obsidian guide or my piece on obsidian, meditation and the root chakra.
- 108 natural black obsidian beads, guru bead and tassel
- Handcrafted in my workshop, in France, one of a kind
- Hand-knotted between each bead, for a durable and flexible mala
- Worn as a long necklace or held during meditation practice
The jewel from every angle
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Specifications
- Stone type
- Black obsidian
- Colour
- Deep black, matte or polished finish
- Number of beads
- 108 beads, plus 1 guru bead
- Bead size
- 6 mm
- Length
- 90-100 cm / 35-39 in. (traditional mala, no clasp)
- Construction
- Hand-knotted between each bead, hand-braided tassel
- Gender
- Women and men
- Brand
- Bijoux Obsidienne
Handcrafted by Camille
Every mala is hand-knotted in my workshop, in France. It is the most time-consuming piece in my entire catalogue: 108 beads sorted for consistency, then a knot tied between each one, one at a time, so the thread never slips and every bead keeps its exact place. The final tassel is braided and secured by hand.
I follow the traditional mala structure without shortcuts, the guru bead, the exact count of 108, the tassel. It is an object with its own language, and I had no desire to simplify it for speed. Discover the story of the workshop, or my whole collection of obsidian necklaces.
“Knotting 108 beads one by one takes hours. But that is exactly the spirit of the mala: nothing rushes, every bead counts.”, Camille
Care: a soft cloth is all it takes; avoid salt, knocks and prolonged water. All my care tips are in the cleaning guide.
