FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
OUR STONES
Where does your pounamu come from?
All of our stones are from New Zealand's South Island.
Our Pounamu (Nephrite Jade/Greenstone) comes from Te Wai Pounamu - the South Island of New Zealand - and specifically from the West Coast and South Westland areas, where nephrite jade is found.
A very special part of our pounamu collection is that most of the Jade pounamu we carve has been inherited from Sara's grandfather, Peter Tennant - known to our family and other carvers as PT.
PT was a pounamu carver from Greymouth, and his stones, tools and carving legacy were passed down through our family. Mum, Mia, inherited many of his stones and tools and began teaching herself to carve. Sara has continued that journey alongside her.
This means that much of the pounamu you see in our jewellery isn't simply stone we've purchased - it is stone that has been part of our family for generations.
We also collect and source other beautiful New Zealand stones from around the South Island.
Are your stones actually from New Zealand?
Yes!
New Zealand stone is at the heart of everything we do.
The majority of our stones are collected by hand by us from beaches along the West and East Coasts of the South Island. We also source special stones from other locations around the South Island.
Our collections include Pounamu (Serpentinite, Bownite and Jade) Otago pink rhodonite, Aroha stone,Jasper, Quartz, Greywacke (Onewa) Fossilised shellrock and other rare and unusual New Zealand stones such as Aotea and Goodleite
We love the stones that are sometimes overlooked - the quirky, colourful and unexpected treasures of Aotearoa.
Do you collect the stones yourselves?
Yes! This is one of the most important parts of what we do.
Mum and I spend a lot of time fossicking and collecting stones by hand on our journeys around the South Island We then bring them home and decide what each individual piece wants to become.
Can I buy my own pounamu?
Absolutely! And no, it isn’t bad luck.
This is one of the questions we hear from visitors all the time. Many people have been told that pounamu must be gifted and that buying a piece for yourself is somehow bad luck. But this is a common misconception, and there is no clear tikanga that says you cannot buy pounamu for yourself.
There is a beautiful tradition of gifting pounamu, and receiving a taonga from someone carries its own special meaning. But that doesn’t mean you can’t choose a piece for yourself.
For us, what matters most is respect, intention and connection. If you see a piece that speaks to you, you can absolutely choose it for yourself, learn about its meaning and carry a little piece of Aotearoa with you.
You can learn about Tikanga and Blessing your Taonga here
So if you’re visiting Aotearoa and someone has told you “you can’t buy your own pounamu” - don’t worry! You haven’t done anything wrong.
And if you’d like to know more about the stone, its origins, the symbolism of a carving or the tikanga surrounding pounamu, please ask us. We’re always happy to kōrero and share what we know.
Are your stones dyed or treated or mined?
No. Our stones are naturally coloured.
We don't dye our stones to enhance their colour. The greens, pinks, purples, golds, blacks and otherbeautiful variations you see are naturally occurring within the stone.
Some stones can naturally change or deepen in appearance over time. For example, serpentinite can be porous and absorb natural oils from your skin, which can cause its colour to deepen - this is part of the stone's natural character rather than a fault.
Why does my stone look different from the photo?
Because it’s natural stone!
Our stones are photographed in natural light, so their colour and vibrancy can look slightly different depending on the weather, lighting and time of day. Natural stones can also change subtly over time as they’re handled, worn and loved - oils from your skin or from handling at markets can bring out different tones and depth in the stone.
So while your piece may look a little different from the photo, that’s all part of its natural character and personality. You’re receiving a genuinely unique piece of Aotearoa, with its own colours, patterns and story.
Every piece is completely individual, and even two pieces cut from the same stone can have very different patterns, colours and inclusions.
We photograph each finished piece individually wherever possible, so what you receive is the actual one-off piece you have chosen.
ABOUT US & POUNAMU
Are you Māori?
Yes - We whakapapa to Ngāti Raukawa - Ngāti Wehi Wehi
We are a mother-daughter whānau business, and our relationship with stone goes back three generations. Mum's father, Peter Tennant (known as PT), was a respected pounamu carver from Greymouth. His tools and stones were passed down to Mum, Mia, who taught herself to carve.
Sara joined Mum in 2019 and began her own carving journey. In 2026, Sara discovered through her grandfather that we whakapapa Māori to Ngāti Raukawa. This was something we had not previously known, and it has brought a new and deeply meaningful layer to our relationship with our work, our whakapapa and the stones we work with.
We are continuing to learn and understand this part of our story with care and respect.
Why do you call your jewellery taonga?
Taonga means treasure, and to us it reflects the special relationship between the stone, the person who wears it and the story behind it.
We hand-select, carve and finish each piece with enormous respect for the natural material we'reworking with.
THE MAKING PROCESS
How long does it take to carve each piece?
There isn't really a simple answer!
Every stone is different. Some pieces are relatively straightforward, while others require many hours of grinding, shaping, sanding and polishing.
We also hand- braid our cords and hand-sand every piece for that extra time and detail that really makes a Taonga special.
We also use high-quality handmade metals for our earrings ( not bought off bulk budget sites)
A small piece can take several hours of hands-on work, while larger, more detailed or particularly difficult stones can take many hours - sometimes spread over several days.
We don't mass-produce our jewellery. Each piece is individually shaped and finished by hand, which is why every one is slightly different.
Are your pieces handmade?
Completely.
We collect or source the stone, choose each piece, shape it on machine, grind it, sand it and polish it by hand before turning it into jewellery.
It's a very hands-on process - and yes, there is a LOT of mess, ruined nails and dirty clothing involved.
Are all of your pieces made by you?
Most of our Simply Stone pieces are carved by Mia and Sara.
We also occasionally collaborate with other New Zealand carvers. These pieces are listed as Guest Artist pieces in our shop, so you'll always know when you're purchasing another carver's work.
Why aren't all your pieces exactly the same size?
Because they're not manufactured jewellery.
We work with the natural shape and character of each individual stone. We might have a general size description such as Small, Midsize or Large, but these are guides rather than fixed manufactured sizes.
Every stone has its own shape, thickness, pattern and personality.
NECKLACES & CORDS
Are your necklace cords adjustable?
Yes!
Our necklaces generally use a hand-braided waxed polyester cord with an adjustable/extendable sliding system. This means you can alter the length to sit higher or lower depending on what you're wearing.
Do you have set Small, Midsize and Large necklace lengths?
No - our size descriptions are guides rather than fixed necklace sizes.
Because each pendant is individually handmade, the measurements can vary from piece to piece. The actual measurements of each individual pendant are listed in its product description.
Can I change the cord colour?
If you'd like a different cord colour, send us a message before purchasing, and we'll let you know what's possible for that particular piece. This will incur an extra cost most of the time.
EARRINGS & METALS
What metals do you use for your earrings?
Our earrings are available with different metal options, depending on the design.
We use 925 sterling silver and 14ct rolled gold findings.
The metal used is always specified in the individual product listing.
What is 14ct rolled gold?
Rolled gold is a layer of genuine 14ct gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. Rolled gold contains roughly 50 to 100 times more gold than standard gold plating, carrying a minimum legal threshold of 5% pure gold by total item weight. In comparison, standard gold plating has no official minimum standard and generally accounts for less than 0.05% to 0.5% (or fractions of a percent) of the item's total weight.
Are your earrings made from New Zealand stone too?
Yes!
Our earrings are hand-carved from a selection of beautiful New Zealand stones and pounamu, including stones such as jade, serpentinite, rhodonite, Aotea and other unique South Island stones.
ORDERS & SHIPPING
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes!
We ship our jewellery internationally as well as throughout New Zealand. International shipping options and costs are calculated at checkout.
How long does shipping take?
Shipping times depend on where you're located and the service selected at checkout. Once your order has been dispatched, you'll receive tracking information where tracking is available.
Please remember that international parcels can sometimes take longer than expected due to customs and local postal services.
Is shipping free in New Zealand?
We offer free New Zealand shipping on stone products over $150 NZD.
The current shipping options and thresholds are shown at checkout.
Do you gift wrap?
Yes - gift wrapping is available through our shop.
If your piece is a gift, we're happy to help make it feel extra special
Can I send a piece directly to someone as a gift?
Absolutely. Just enter the recipient's delivery address at checkout and make sure your own details are correct for the order confirmation. If you'd like us to include a special message, get in touch and we'll do our best to help.
BUYING FROM US
Are your pieces one-off?
Yes!
Because we're working with natural stones and hand-carving each piece individually, many of our creations are completely one-of-a-kind.
Once a special stone is gone, we can't recreate it.
That's part of what makes natural stone jewellery so special.
Do you make custom pieces?
Not usually, although sometimes we accept custom requests depending on what we're working on and what stone is available.
Because our pieces are handmade from natural stone, custom work can take time and isn't always possible.
The best thing is to get in touch and tell us what you're dreaming of.
Where can I see your jewellery in person?
We're based between the West Coast and Queenstown, although you can only view in Queenstown. You can find us at a couple of selected stockists locally in Otago see here
In Queenstown, you can find us at the Whakatipu Lakefront markets on Saturdays, and we also offer home studio viewing by appointment.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for current market dates and pop-up events.
Can I visit your studio?
Yes - Sara is based in Queenstown and can arrange private home studio viewings by appointment.
Just get in touch with us first so we can organise a time.
WANT TO MAKE YOUR OWN?
We're now offering intimate Carve Your Own Stone Workshops from Sara's home studio in Hanleys Farm, Queenstown. click here
These are beginner-friendly, hands-on experiences where you'll work with a piece of New Zealand stone and learn the basics of shaping and carving it yourself.
Workshops are intentionally small, with only 1–2 people at a time, so you get plenty of individual guidance.
It's messy, creative, hands-on and a pretty special way to connect with a piece of Aotearoa.
Still have a question?
We're a tiny mother-daughter business, so if you can't find the answer here, just send us a message.
We're probably either carving, fossicking, packing orders, photographing new pieces or covered in stone dust somewhere — but we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Kia ora for supporting our little whānau-run business.
Mia & Sara
Simply Stone West Coast
