South African jewellery brand PICHULIK has unveiled AZU, a new collection inspired by the ancient Sumerian concept of the azu – a water-knower, diviner and healer believed to possess an intuitive connection to what could not yet be seen.
Drawing inspiration from Sumerian reverence for water as the source of life, AZU explores the idea of trusting intuition and finding what lies beneath the surface. It is a theme reflected in the collection’s fluid forms, natural stones and tactile, sculptural details.
Clear rock crystal features throughout, catching and reflecting light like water, while turquoise-blue howlite brings a sense of movement to pieces including the Melam necklace and Nammu statement earrings. Tigers eye, malachite and other earthy tones add depth to the collection, alongside PICHULIK’s signature hand-worked rope.
The collection also introduces the brand’s first gold lurex rope, bringing a subtle shimmer to the Ishtar clutch and Pala choker.
For founder and creative director Katherine-Mary Pichulik, AZU is ultimately an invitation to reconnect with a quieter form of knowing.
“AZU is about trusting what you cannot yet see,” she says. “Before there were instruments to find water, there were women who could sense it.”
With its combination of ancient symbolism, natural materials and PICHULIK’s distinctive sculptural aesthetic, AZU is a collection about intuition, connection and the things that reveal themselves beneath the surface.
