Long before they were written, Amazigh stories were drawn: tattooed on skin, woven into carpets, painted on kasbah walls and chiselled into silver. Every Yelli jewel starts with one of these signs. Here are ten of them, and the pieces they became.
Amazigh jewellery has never been only an ornament. For generations, it was a woman's protection, her savings, her identity and a language she wore every day. At Yelli Jewels, Samia Benbrahim begins each design with a sign from that language. She sketches it, redraws it, and our master silversmiths in Tiznit bring it to life in 925 silver, chiselled and set by hand. We call it Neo-Amazigh: keeping the meaning, freeing the form.
1. The chengas: a crown of filigree
The chengas is an openwork silver plaque that Amazigh women wore on top of the head, with chains falling on each side. Its drop silhouette, cut with delicate openwork, is one of the most recognisable shapes in traditional adornment.
We kept its outline and its lace of silver, and made it the pendant of a whole family: the Pearl Drops earrings, the Waterfall Pearl earrings, the Dark Blue Teardrop necklace and the Azul Teardrop ring.
2. The rosette: the balance of life
In Amazigh cosmology, the rosette expresses the balance of life. Its circle is made of tiny triangles: those pointing up stand for fire and virility, those pointing down for water and femininity. Often compared to a "flower of life", it speaks of natural cycles, unity and cosmic harmony, and it has long been used as a talisman against the evil eye.
Rosettes have adorned the walls of earthen ksour and kasbahs and the great carved wooden doors of Amazigh homes, like a shield for the family inside. On the Amazigh Rosettes Bangle, a rosette is chiselled on each end, so the two forces meet on your wrist. You will also find it on our Rosette ring, chain bracelet and earring.
3. The rhombus: femininity
In Amazigh culture, the rhombus is the sign of femininity.
On the Coral Diamond necklace, the sign becomes the pendant itself: a silver rhombus chiselled with Amazigh motifs, with a coral stone at its heart. The Coral Diamond ring sets three coral stones on the same diamond shape.
4. The fibula: the tizerzai
The tizerzai, or fibula, is the triangular brooch Amazigh women wore in pairs to fasten their draped dress at the shoulders. Functional and precious at once, it is one of the great icons of North African silverwork.
Its triangle, studded edges and central stone run through all our fibula pieces: the Hanging Fibulas earrings, the Asymmetrical Fibula and Fibulas Shells earrings, and the Sapphire Fibula ring.
5. The boat: strength and wisdom
In Amazigh symbolism, the boat stands for vigour, strength, blessing and wisdom.
Its lines, triangles and beaded ends draw the Tidal family: the pendant of the Tidal necklace, the Tidal ring and the Tidal earrings, each one cut and set with individual silver pearls.
6. The medallion: from painting to silver
The Amazigh Medaillon began as a motif from Berber paintings: triangles, a central diamond and stars, framed like a sun. Samia redrew it, then our silversmiths in Tiznit chiselled it in relief, by hand.
It became the Amazigh Medaillon ring, open at the back so it fits any finger, the Medaillon earrings and the Medaillon coffee chain. A tribal piece with a modern attitude.
7. The coins: wealth you wear
Silver coins, the guerches, were hung on Amazigh necklaces, headpieces and bracelets. They were far more than decoration: a woman's savings, worn on her body, which could be detached and sold in times of need.
That idea of jewellery as a treasure you keep close runs through the Blue Coral Coins necklace, the Amazigh Coin Braided Bangle, the Coin Ring and the Coin Earring.
8. Wheat and the olive tree: symbols of life
Berber tattoos draw wheat and the olive tree, two symbols of life.
Samia drew the Grey Eben ring from these tattoos: chiselled by hand in 925 silver and set with eben powder, its layered bands echo the lines of the tattoo.
9. The snake: life, renewed
For the Amazigh, the snake is life in its most primitive form: a sign of regeneration and renewal.
On the Azul Snake Cuff, its winding body becomes the cuff itself, wrapping the wrist, with a deep blue stone at each end.
10. The +: the eye of God
In Amazigh tattoos, the cross, or "+", represents the star, or the eye of God, that guides through the dark: a sign of balance and protection.
On the Plus Studs ring, necklace and earrings, silver studs nailed by hand draw the cross, so the guiding star travels with you.
Give a sign, not just a jewel
Choosing a Yelli jewel for someone is choosing a sign for them: protection, strength, femininity, renewal, a guiding star. Each piece is handmade in Tiznit by artisans with more than 30 years of experience, in limited runs, and delivered with its story.
Which sign would you offer? Discover the pieces on yellijewels.com.