Craftsmanship
For us at Ottoman Hands, crafting jewellery is an opportunity: to create something meaningful and powerful, that lets the person who wears it express their emotions and tell their own unique story. Each piece is made in gold-plated recycled brass or recycled sterling silver, set with natural semi-precious gemstones.
Our designs are deeply rooted in our founder Deniz Gurdal's heritage, a fusion of East and West: we create handmade, sustainable jewellery inspired by the East and its tradition with a contemporary, Western twist.
Artisan-Made
Since the beginning, every Ottoman Hands piece has been shaped by artisans, whether cast or worked from raw metal, in small, independent workshops. Most of our pieces are still made in the same workshop in the heart of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, where it all started, over fifteen years ago. A selection of our pieces are also made by family-run foundries in India.
"We share the same values, and we've grown together. I've met the artisans personally. That's one of the things we're most proud of: when we make our pieces, I know we're supporting the craftspeople, their families and a jewellery-making tradition that has existed for hundreds of years.
Depending on the design, it takes around half a day to make one piece, from cutting the metal, to soldering, to stone-setting and polishing. I know that someone spends real time and energy to make each jewel. For me, every piece tells a story about the designer, the maker, and the wearer."
Deniz Gurdal
Ottoman Hands Founder & Creative Director
Every piece of Ottoman Hands jewellery is hand-finished: hand-hammered for texture, hand-set with semi-precious stones, individually polished. It's why, more than fifteen years on, no two pieces are ever the same.
Stories We Tell
Every Ottoman Hands piece begins with a sketch.
Deniz's inspiration draws on travel, the meaning and history behind ancient symbols, the details and geometry of architecture, the fluid forms and textures of the natural world, artefacts, and vintage jewellery. Running through all of it is heritage: the culture and traditions of craft.
The Talisman Collection
Inspired by the meaningful objects we carry throughout life, the Talisman Collection unites symbols of protection, guidance and intention.
Celestial
A journey through the night sky, a collection inspired by the moon, stars, and cosmic energy that connects us all. For the moonchild, and for stargazers alike.
The Evil Eye Collection
Evil eye jewellery carries one of the oldest protective symbols in the world, worn for over 5,000 years. From its roots in ancient Mesopotamia, it remains a talisman we still turn to today.
Turquoise Mountain x Ottoman Hands
Handcrafted by artisans in Kabul and reflecting Afghan heritage, the collection draws on geometric elements and intricate detailing.
Where Every Stone Holds A Meaning
The stones we set are chosen for more than their beauty. Each one carries its own history: a protective quality believed in for centuries, a craft tradition handed down through generations, uniting continents and cultures long before it reached our workshop.
Turquoise
One of the world's oldest-known gemstones, turquoise is deeply rooted in the history of ancient Egypt, Persia and the Americas. Its vibrant, sky-blue hue made it a prized amulet of protection, communication and balance.
Labradorite
First discovered along the coast of Labrador, Canada, labradorite has long been associated with transformation, resilience and personal growth. Inuit legend tells that the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights, was once trapped within the coastal rocks, its frozen light giving the stone its characteristic iridescence.
Pearl
Among the oldest of gemstones, with written records dating back to China in 2206 BCE, the pearl has been prized across continents and cultures for millennia. Formed layer by layer over time, it has long carried associations with patience, wisdom and beauty.
Chalcedony
The name chalcedony traces back to Chalcedon, an ancient Greek seaport located in what is now Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey. Carved by ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians into amulets, signet rings and intaglios, it has been a stone of craft and culture for thousands of years. Traditionally associated with communication and goodwill.
Ruby
Referred to in ancient Sanskrit as the "king of precious stones," ruby has been worn in crowns and carried into battle for centuries, a symbol of vitality, courage and protection. Among the rarest of gemstones, its deep red hue has long been seen as a vessel of life and strength.
Lapis Lazuli
Mined in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan since the 7th millennium BCE, lapis lazuli is among the oldest traded gemstones in the world. Renaissance artists ground it into ultramarine, a pigment once valued above gold. Across ancient cultures, a symbol of truth, self-knowledge and intellectual clarity.
Emerald
With a history spanning over 4,000 years, the emerald has been dedicated to goddesses of love and beauty across ancient Greek and Roman cultures. A stone long tied to passion, rebirth and wisdom, it carries a depth of meaning that goes beyond its extraordinary colour.
Our Signatures
Timeless, handcrafted and instantly recognisable, discover our signature pieces
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Sustainability
At Ottoman Hands, we create timeless, sustainable jewellery that doesn't cost the earth.
