Collection: Crystals & Paws

What a matching set actually is

One charm for them, one for you, the same symbol on both. Clip theirs to a collar, wear yours on a chain. Or skip yours entirely and let them carry it alone — plenty of people do.

It sounds like a novelty and it isn't, quite — the people who buy these are mostly people whose dog is the reason they got through something, and a matching charm is a way of saying that out loud without having to say it.

Three matching sets — the evil eye, the hamsa and a hematite-and-quartz set — and three beaded collars sit in this collection. The full collection guide walks through all of them and how to choose between them.

The collars are made here

Kelly and Shannon string them by hand, in Calgary, bead by bead. Not a factory run, not dropshipped — which is also why there are only ever a few of each style at a time. The beads and hardware are sourced; the collar itself is made in Calgary by two people whose names I can give you.

That's a smaller claim than most of this category makes and it's one of the few in it that's true.

Where the 25% goes

25% of the sale price of every Crystals & Paws piece goes to animal rescue. A real number, tracked, and I keep the records. I'd rather quote a smaller honest number than a bigger vague one.

Choosing a collar

Fit first. Two fingers should slide under a fastened collar with a little resistance — loose enough not to press, snug enough that it can't come over the ears. Measure the neck with a soft tape rather than guessing from the last collar you bought, because sizing runs differently everywhere.

Because they're made in small batches rather than stocked in every size, sizing questions are worth asking before you order rather than after.

Beaded collars are for supervised wear — walks, photos, visits. They are not the collar for the dog park, the lake, or an unsupervised afternoon with something to chew. Keep the ID tags on a separate everyday collar.

The keepsake pieces

Some of what's here is for the ones who went ahead — urn pendants, keepsakes, paw prints. If that's why you're reading this, our pet memorial guide walks through the options and what to do with what they left behind. No rush and no script; it'll still be there next month.

What you're buying

Genuine gemstone beads and sterling or plated hardware, named on each listing, with dyed and treated stones disclosed. The evil eye and hamsa charms are enamel on 925 sterling silver, no gemstone, and their listings say so. Real stone and metal hardware last longer with a little care — rinse after a muddy walk, dry fully, and keep porous stones away from flea treatment and shampoo. Our jewelry cleaning guide covers the rest.

Buying for someone? Start with gifts for animal lovers.

Mystic Soul Jewelry — Canadian small business, Calgary, Alberta, since 2008.