Tohum
Established · $400-$700 · Istanbul, Türkiye
Shell jewelry handmade in Istanbul, where gold-plated puka shells meet artisan craft and travel-inspired symbolism.
Think: Natural shell jewelry, gold plated, travel inspired.
The buy: the puka shell necklace
What to buy
the puka shell necklace
Categories
Occasions
Sustainability
Why Tohum is worth it
Tohum turns shells, seeds and old talismans into gold-plated jewelry handmade in Istanbul, pieces that feel collected on a long journey rather than bought.
Every piece is handcrafted by local artisans in its Istanbul ateliers, mostly in gold-plated brass: puka shells and seeds rendered in metal, hammered beads and circled-dot charms on adjustable woven cord. The one-of-a-kind necklaces go further, stringing hand-collected shells with vintage African glass beads, so no two are alike.
Tohum picks
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Is now a good time?
The sale pattern
From 1 months of sale tracking.
Tohum discounts about every 5 weeks, and it's been 5 weeks.
- Runs a sale
- about once a month
- Last sale
- 5 weeks ago
- Typically claims
- 50% off
- Deepest claimed
- 50% offSeptember 2026
About Tohum
Verda Alaton, born and raised in Istanbul, launched Tohum in 2009, after five years in New York working alongside African art experts and a first trip to West Africa.
The label grew out of her love of native adornment and natural forms. She reads its name as "to be human", and its logo, a circled dot she kept finding on old artifacts across continents, works as a talisman for that idea.
- Founded
- 2009
- Founded by
- Verda Alaton
- Based in
- Istanbul, Türkiye
- Made in
- Handcrafted in Istanbul, Turkey
- Made of
- Mostly gold- or silver-plated brass, with shells, glass beads and woven cord
- Shipping
- Ships worldwide from Istanbul by DHL (also UPS); US buyers pay any duties and taxes to the carrier on delivery.
- Where to buy
- Tohum's own site · Our Tohum picks
What shoppers say
From reviews and try-on videos, in our words.
- Care
Plated brass needs gentle care: keep pieces away from perfume, lotion and water, including swimming, and store them in the cotton dust bag and box they arrive in.
- Sizing
Pieces on woven cord adjust to your wrist or neck, and hook-clasp styles come in one standard size. Rings and made-to-order pieces take two to three weeks to ship.
- Shipping
Orders ship from Istanbul by DHL, usually within one or two business days. US buyers pay any duties and taxes to the carrier on delivery.
- Returns
Returns are accepted within 14 days at your own shipping cost, and customs costs come out of the refund. One-of-a-kind and final-sale pieces can't be returned.
- Demand
Its gold cowrie choker was a street-style favorite in 2018; the core pieces center on plated-brass puka shells, seeds and talismans.
Tohum in our edits
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Tohum, answered
- What is Tohum?
- Tohum is an Istanbul jewelry label making gold-plated necklaces, bracelets and earrings around shells, seeds and talismans, all handcrafted by local artisans.
- Is Tohum a good brand?
- Yes. We like it for jewelry with a story: handmade in Istanbul ateliers, built around shells, glass beads and old symbols, with one-of-a-kind pieces no one else will have.
- Who founded Tohum?
- Verda Alaton founded Tohum in 2009.
- Where is Tohum from?
- Tohum is from Istanbul, Turkey.
- What is Tohum jewelry made of?
- Mostly 24K gold- or silver-plated brass, with shells, glass beads and woven cord. Pieces in solid 925 silver say so.
- Where is Tohum jewelry made?
- It is handcrafted by local artisans in the brand's Istanbul ateliers.
- How does Tohum sizing work?
- Woven-cord pieces adjust to fit, hook-clasp pieces are one standard size, and rings follow the brand's ring sizer.
- Does Tohum ship to the US?
- Yes. It ships worldwide from Istanbul by DHL, and US buyers pay any duties and taxes to the carrier on delivery.
- Where can I buy Tohum?
- On the brand's own site, or through our Tohum picks.
- When does Tohum go on sale?
- Across the 2 sales we have tracked, Tohum has run one about once a month. The last one was about 5 weeks ago.
- How much does Tohum discount?
- Their sale emails consistently advertise about 50% off. We have not measured it on the rack.
- Which brands are like Tohum?
- If you like Tohum, look at Chan Luu, éliou, Anni Lu and SA·LT atelier.