Skulls, Skulls, Skulls!
You May Have Noticed…
I have been using a lot of skulls in my designs lately. Mostly because I am motivated this year by impermanence. Specifically, by a saying, I saw that really resonated with me.
“The goal in life is to die as young as possible as late as possible.”
Skulls are a reminder that in life…death is a fact, and the closer that we can relate to death and embrace it, the sooner we can start living with love and compassion. I used to think skulls were a symbol of fear and hate…and perhaps there are those who use them for nefarious reasons. However, in the world of Mala (if you will), skulls signify an acceptance of what is.
So…I started using more skulls!
There are a few different styles I am using right now, and I wanted to take a moment to describe each of them.
316 Stainless Steel Single-Sided Skull
While I am sure it doesn’t make good business to tell you this is my favorite skull bead, (so far) but it is true. What really stands out to me is the high-quality 316 Stainless Steel. This sort of steel is a higher-quality than most steel used in jewelry which is 304 Stainless Steel. Additionally, I love the smooth underside of this bead. Plus…at just 12mm it doesn’t jump right out at you.
304 Stainless Steel Single-Sided Skull
This bead is slightly more aggressive in design and bigger too! Pulling in at 14mm this skull bead is chunky and quickly makes a statement. Type 304 Stainless Steel proves to be resistant to oxidation and corrosion.
304 Stainless Steel Single-Sided Skull - Gunmetal
Coming in at 11mm this skull bead is Gunmetal Black for added character. This skull bead has a hollow bottom which makes it lighter than the other skull beads. In this picture, it is paired with Hematite…which is naturally grounding and heavy.
316 Stainless Steel Double-Sided Skull - Top-Drilled
This is a fun bead to work with. It is top-drilled which makes it perfect to use as a spacer bead or as a guru bead.
European Alloy Metal Double-Sided Skull
This skull bead is only 8mm wide, but is also 12mm long. It’s two-sided design allows for the skull face to show all the time. It is an alloy metal, so If you’re in the category of people who have sensitive skin, then I would not recommend you to wear. Otherwise, the benefit of this bead is that it is slightly cheaper than the stainless steel versions. The alloy added will help prevent this bead from tarnishing.
