Honu Handmade Jewellery

Honu Handmade Jewellery is an independent art jewellery brand founded and led by jewellery artist Isabelle Bénatouil, working from her studio in Lisbon, Portugal. The brand takes its name from the Polynesian word for turtle, and its visual identity and creative philosophy are anchored in the leatherback turtle, which Bénatouil describes as her totem and source of inspiration. Honu's pieces are sculpted, forged and shaped entirely by hand from solid metals — primarily recycled 950‰ solid silver and 750‰ (18K) palladium-plated white gold, both RJC-certified — without any casting or moulding. This direct-metal approach gives each piece a sculptural, one-of-a-kind character that the brand positions as "art jewellery" rather than conventional fine jewellery. The collections are distinguished by the use of carefully selected natural materials: Tahitian pearls, mother-of-pearl, coral and natural gemstones. The flagship Totem Luth line, for example, is hand-shaped from a solid block of recycled 950‰ silver and set with rows of natural black diamonds; its design echoes the seven keels characteristic of the leatherback turtle. Honu also offers a gift card, Luthia, available in several denominations and valid for one year, reflecting the brand's emphasis on personal choice and bespoke service. Pieces are made to order, with production lead times that can extend to one to two months depending on gemstone availability. Honu sells primarily online through its own e-commerce site, shipping across Europe — with free delivery within the European Union, Switzerland and the United Kingdom — and internationally. The brand offers a three-year warranty against manufacturing defects and provides a traceability booklet with its pieces. Its positioning combines artistic craft, responsible sourcing and marine conservation: Honu has entered a solidarity partnership with Te mana o te moana, a French Polynesian association founded in 2004 by Dr Cécile Gaspar and Richard Bayler that works on sea turtle research, rehabilitation and education. In 2026, Honu Handmade Jewellery was selected for Milano Jewelry Week, with six pieces chosen by the curators of ARTISTAR Jewels for exhibition at the Palazzo Bovara in Milan on 24–26 October 2026, followed by inclusion in the official ARTISTAR Jewels catalogue and in THE JEWELRY DROPS special edition. The brand remains privately owned and operated by its founder.

Honu Handmade Jewellery was founded by jewellery artist Isabelle Bénatouil, who creates her pieces in a studio in Lisbon, Portugal. The brand's name derives from the Polynesian word "honu", meaning turtle, and Bénatouil has stated that the animal embodies the values she stands for — longevity, wisdom, resilience, perseverance and an unbreakable bond with the ocean — with the leatherback turtle in particular serving as her totem and source of inspiration. This marine symbolism shapes both the aesthetic language of the jewellery and the brand's conservation commitments. From its inception, Honu has pursued a handcrafted, direct-metal approach. Rather than casting or moulding, Bénatouil sculpts, forges and shapes each piece from solid metals, principally recycled 950‰ solid silver and 750‰ (18K) palladium-plated white gold, both RJC-certified. The pieces are primarily adorned with carefully selected natural materials such as Tahitian pearls, mother-of-pearl, coral and natural gemstones. The flagship Totem Luth design, described by the brand as its iconic creation, is hand-shaped from a solid block of recycled 950‰ silver; its structure echoes the seven keels characteristic of the leatherback turtle, and in its black diamond version it is set with rows of natural diamonds sourced from suppliers committed to the Kimberley Process. The brand sells through its own e-commerce platform, shipping across Europe — with free delivery in the European Union, Switzerland and the United Kingdom — and to international destinations. It offers a three-year warranty against manufacturing defects and a traceability booklet with its pieces, and many items are made exclusively to order with production times of one to two months depending on gemstone availability. Honu also introduced Luthia, a gift card available in several denominations and valid for one year, allowing recipients to choose their own piece. Honu has built a solidarity partnership with Te mana o te moana, a French Polynesian association founded in 2004 by Dr Cécile Gaspar and Richard Bayler. The association, whose name means "the spirit of the ocean", has worked for more than 21 years on the Polynesian coasts to protect sea turtles and their environment through research, conservation, rehabilitation and education. The brand frames its jewellery as working towards the conservation of sea turtles, and the partnership is presented as a natural extension of its symbolism. In 2026, Honu Handmade Jewellery was selected for Milano Jewelry Week, one of Europe's most renowned events for contemporary jewellery. Six of its pieces were chosen by the curators of ARTISTAR Jewels and exhibited at the Palazzo Bovara in Milan on 24, 25 and 26 October 2026; the pieces were subsequently featured in the official ARTISTAR Jewels catalogue and in THE JEWELRY DROPS, a special edition of Milano Jewelry Week 2026. The brand remains privately owned and operated by its founder.

• 2026

  Honu Handmade Jewellery is selected for Milano Jewelry Week; six pieces chosen by ARTISTAR Jewels curators are exhibited at Palazzo Bovara, Milan, on 24–26 October 2026.

• 2004

  Te mana o te moana, the French Polynesian sea turtle conservation association later partnered by Honu, is founded by Dr Cécile Gaspar and Richard Bayler.

Art jewellery hand-sculpted from solid recycled precious metals, combining sculptural craft, natural materials and sea turtle conservation.

• Totem Luth Pendant

  Iconic hand-sculpted pendant inspired by the leatherback turtle; available in solid silver and other precious metal versions.

• Totem Luth Earrings

  Rhodium-plated solid 950‰ silver earrings hand-sculpted without casting, set with six rows of natural black diamonds; approximately 2.2 x 2.00 cm.

• Totem Luth Pendant, Ocean palette

  A variant of the Totem Luth pendant in an ocean-inspired palette.

• Luthia Gift Card

  Gift card available in denominations of $100, $250, $500, $1,000 and $2,000, valid for one year, delivered by email.

• Passage 15.70 Necklace

  A necklace from the Honu collections.

• TāMahana Pendant

  A pendant from the Honu collections.

1. 1Art Jewellery in Solid Silver 950, 18K White Gold and Tahitian Pearlshonu-bijoux.com
2. 2Luthia Gift Card Art Jewellery | Honuhonu-bijoux.com
3. 3Sea Turtle Conservation | Honu Handmade Jewelleryhonu-bijoux.com
4. 4Totem Luth Earrings, solid silver, black diamonds | Honuhonu-bijoux.com
5. 5Honu Handmade Jewellerywikidata.org