COMMON CURIOSITIES (FAQs)

Choosing a piece is an exercise in intuition. I recommend quieting your mind and observing which stone or color combination you are repeatedly drawn to—often, your energy field knows what it needs before your logical mind does.

If you are seeking more targeted energetic support, take the free Five Elements Test. It maps your current elemental imbalance and recommends stones that bring you back to center.

Remove your talisman before exposing it to water. This is especially important for pieces containing yak bone, old silver, copper, or natural cotton cord—water, soap, and chlorine accelerate wear on these living materials.

Beyond physical preservation, I treat the act of taking off your jewelry before bathing—and putting it back on afterward—as a daily ritual of grounding and intentionality.

While every piece leaves my studio fully cleansed, it will absorb your energy over time.

When your talisman feels "heavy," I recommend resting it on a selenite plate, bathing it in moonlight overnight, or passing it through smoke or sound vibration. Trust your intuition on when it needs a reset.

The majority of my talismans are cord-and-stone only—no metal hardware at all. A small number of pieces use antique silver, brass, or copper findings, and I avoid modern nickel-plated alloys entirely.

If you have severe metal sensitivities, filter to the cord-and-stone collection at checkout, or reach out and I'll confirm a specific piece before you buy.

Yes. In Tibetan culture, the yak is a revered animal that sustains entire communities. The bone beads I use are repurposed from yaks that have passed naturally—nothing is killed for material.

Working with yak bone is a way of honoring the animal's spirit and ensuring nothing goes to waste. It is a material of "Memento Mori"—a reminder of the preciousness of life, not a product of harm.

These organic materials are porous and alive. They will absorb your skin's natural oils, deepening in color over time (patina).

Avoid soaking them in water or exposing them to harsh detergents, as this can dry out the bone or swell the wood. A drop of olive oil rubbed in once a year keeps them nourished.

Like raw denim or a vintage leather journal, the materials I work with—especially the Alchemy Agate and natural cotton or waxed cord—evolve with you. Prolonged exposure to sun, natural skin oils, and the friction of daily life may soften the colors over the years.

I celebrate this evolution and call it the "Patina of Life."

Wrap a soft tape measure or a strip of paper around your wrist just above the wrist bone, snug but not tight. Record the measurement in inches or centimeters—that number is your wrist circumference. For most bracelets, the finished fit should be about 0.3 to 0.5 inches (1 to 1.5 cm) larger than your wrist circumference for comfortable movement.

Tibetan-style pieces with a sliding knot (adjustable closure) are designed to fit wrists between 6.0" and 7.5" (15 to 19 cm) without measurement.

Most of my talismans use a sliding knot (adjustable closure) designed for wrists between 6.0" and 7.5". Fixed-length pieces and mala beads are noted in each product description with exact finished dimensions.

If your wrist falls outside the standard range, leave a note at checkout or email hello@alaluck.com before ordering. Because I knot each piece by hand from scratch, I can often adjust the cord length for you at no extra charge—as long as you reach me before the ritual preparation stage locks the piece.

Yes, within reason. Because each piece is hand-knotted individually, I can often adjust cord length or starting knot position for wrists outside the standard range, longer or shorter necklaces, or pet collar sizing. Email the request to hello@alaluck.com with your order number or intended order, and I'll confirm before the piece enters the cleansing queue.

What I cannot change: the stone composition, bead counts on mala pieces, or the energetic intention of a piece. Each talisman is one-of-one by design.

For orders shipped internationally, the buyer is responsible for any import taxes, customs duties, or fees levied by the destination country. These are outside my control—they are calculated and collected by your local government.

I ship DDU (delivered duties unpaid), so the fee goes to you directly rather than being absorbed invisibly into the product price. For a rough estimate, consult your country's customs schedule before ordering.

I am "Small by Choice" and do not mass-produce. Please allow 3 to 5 business days for me to physically craft, inspect, and energetically cleanse your piece before it leaves the workbench.

Transit times (typically 7 to 20 days globally) are in addition to this ritual processing time. Full details: Shipping & Delivery.

Yes. Because I treat each piece as an energetic gift, I never include printed price tags or financial invoices inside the box. It arrives perfectly ready to give.

If you leave a brief note at checkout, I'll handwrite it onto the mint seed paper card for the recipient.

Most "conscious" and "spiritual" jewelry brands still ship inside a poly mailer, wrapped in plastic bubble wrap, with the piece tucked into a clear plastic gift bag and dropped into a printed tissue–lined box. Mine does not.

My packaging is 100% plastic-free—the fabric pad, the kraft paper, the jute twine, the mint seed card. Not one synthetic fiber in the box.

• The Coaster: Your jewelry holder is a handmade fabric pad designed to be reused as a tea or coffee coaster.
• The Collector's Note: The textured paper card is embedded with mint seeds. Don't throw it away. Plant it under a thin layer of soil, water it, and new life will sprout within ten days.

Every hand-knotted piece from my studio carries a lifetime commitment on the knots themselves. If a knot ever slips, frays, or gives way through normal wear—even years later—send the piece back and I'll rebuild it on fresh cord by hand.

Within your first 12 months of ownership, the first rebuild is free of labor charge (you cover two-way shipping). After that, rebuilds are charged at or near cost. Stones cannot be replaced if lost, and the guarantee does not cover change-of-mind returns. Full terms: Returns & Exchanges.

I stand by my knots. While I am uncompromising on energetic purity (all sales final for change of mind), I am deeply committed to artisan quality.

If your piece arrives with a structural defect, or if a knot slips prematurely, email me within 14 days of delivery with a photograph at hello@alaluck.com. I will honor the Artisan Promise—repair, replacement, or resolution. For the full policy, see Returns & Exchanges.

No. To maintain strict energetic hygiene, all sales are final. Every piece ships with Pristine Energy Cleansed—the absolute certainty it has never been worn, handled, or energetically imprinted by another customer.

For the same reason, I don't accept returns for style, fit, or a change of mind. For defects or transit damage, see Returns & Exchanges.

Because each piece enters a specific queue for energetic cleansing and final knotting, I can only accept modifications or cancellations within 24 hours of your order being placed. Once the ritual preparation begins, the order is locked.

Reach me at hello@alaluck.com within that window.