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Buddha Mama’s Egyptian Fascination
The new Ankh collection sees the Miami brand embrace a new set of symbols.
Miami—Ancient iconography is one of the cornerstones of Buddha Mama design and the brand’s latest collection sees it opening the door to a whole new set of symbols.
The “Ankh” collection is inspired by ancient Egypt and Buddha Mama interprets the period's trove of icons through its signature blend of over-the-top luxury and whimsical camp.
“I’ve always been fascinated with Egyptian culture and symbols,” said Dakota Badia, the daughter of the mother-daughter Buddha Mama design duo. “This collection is something I’ve been accumulating ideas for over the past couple of years and couldn’t wait to produce.”
Badia said the 15-piece assortment—comprised predominantly of pendants and rings in 20-karat yellow gold with enamel and gemstones—took about eight to 10 months in total to create.
Her favorite piece is a large red enamel collar with the symbol of Egyptian goddess Isis at its focal point, surrounded by repeated imagery of ankhs, pyramids and scarabs. “It’s got some weight to it, and it feels great on,” she explained. It retails for $46,000. 
Other highlights include a Nefertiti pendant carved in Sleeping Beauty turquoise, which retails for $25,300, and the Buddha Mama version of a charm bracelet, consisting of four large panels depicting an elaborate pharaoh, scarab, an ankh atop a pyramid and an eye of Horus. The showstopper costs $60,000.
“The symbols are not only beautiful and bold, but I believe they are still so easily recognized and appreciated today. Egyptian imagery is something I’ve always gravitated toward,” Badia said, noting it fit the Buddha Mama requirement for jewelry that is talismanic and based on sacred symbolism.
Buddha Mama showed the collection at the Couture show in June, where the brand graduated from the Design Atelier to a ballroom booth this year.
Ankh, and expansions to other Buddha Mama collections, will hit stores like Broken English, select Neiman Marcus locations and Marissa Collections in the fall, plus a few new retailers Buddha Mama picked up at the jewelry trade show.
Badia said up next among the brand’s projects is a men’s collection, slated for unveiling in the “near future.”
Buddha Mama
This bracelet features four intricate panels depicting an eye of Horus (pictured left), a pharaoh (pictured right), an ankh above a pyramid and a scarab. Made of 20-karat yellow gold,enamel and 6.63 total carats of diamonds, it is priced at $60,0000 retail.
A close-up of the Isis collar shows its enamel and gold detailing. Featuring 7.78 carats of diamonds, the 20-karat yellow gold style costs $46,000.
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