The HUNT for the perfect COCKTAIL RING...IS ON!

This (pictured above) is a colour-themed corner of the NAMCRAFTS shop in Maerua Mall, Windhoek, where, I've been tipped, it is possible to find if not the best, really great, Namibian-made COCKTAIL rings.

I have a pet peeve and they're everywhere at the moment, turning up like spoilsports at every decent event, like dust in my eye on a windy day in Windhoek, so are cheap, garish, made-in-China, plastic cocktail rings worn casually and without a hint of shame in and around our lovely African city. What a pity.

I decided there must be a good, well-made, genuine Namibian alternative to these plastic horrors. Asking a few trendy and fashionable folks, listening to a few words of advice from my hairdresser, it wasn't long before I was directed to the NAMCRAFTS outlet in Maerua Mall.

And what I found, was worth the effort...

On dun coloured cushions in the store, are a selection of almost 100 great pieces, all unique and handmade (100% Namibian). Sea-shells, bone, eggshell, fruit pips, quartz in various colours, amethyst, jasper, turquoise (set in silver)...the choices are pleasant. They look good and are not available at made-in-China prices.

Turning around, in the display window of the shop, are a variety of attractive accessories made with quartz. Quartz is a mineral very common to Namibia and good, clear quartz, as we all know, makes for great jewelry. Quartz is so common here, my mother has a large quartz cluster serving as a weight on the stoep table.

Pictured below is a pendant made of citrine-coloured quartz. The clarity is outstanding (you can see my finger right through it) and the cut is very neat and complimentary. In other words, the quartz wasn't butchered, scraped or nicked.

And in addition to the lovely varieties of quartz accessories (citrine-coloured, rose quartz, amethyst), I found a beautiful range made with seashells, of which the bracelet was most enchanting. Not exactly accessories for a cocktail meet and greet, they compliment any wardrobe and will look stunning at any daytime event (see below).

Please click on any of the images to enlarge?

Not bad, I think. My hunt for the perfect cocktail ring in Namibia started well and I'll update as soon as new information (and rings) comes to light. Why should we settle for those awful plastic things? Why not have an unique, handmade, Namibian cocktail ring?

Spare yourself the embarrassment of a plastic 'pearl' falling out of your cocktail ring during an engaging conversation. Visit the NAMCRAFTS shop in Maerua Mall for an interesting alternative, albeit more pricey.

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