By James Brewer
A walk among the fertile wheat fields of Harran – once a Mesopotamian cultural, commercial and religious centre, now in southeast Türkiye – kindled instant inspiration for London-based jeweller Nazan Alhas.
She had set out to experience the aura of the region’s rich history, but it was the golden hue of the fields that left the deepest impression. Mesopotamia, a cradle of agriculture, was where wheat was first domesticated, grown from wild grasses near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. From ancient Near Eastern rituals to Mediterranean sacred offerings, wheat has long been central to life and divine provision.
Returning to the UK, Nazan developed her Golden Fields jewellery series, working from initial sketches through to carving. This unisex, wearable collection is a tapestry of skill and heritage, expressing the symbolism of wheat across history, mythology, and cultural practice.
She emphasises that wheat is not only a vital staple but also a powerful symbol of fertility, growth, and spiritual renewal – an enduring emblem of prosperity and survival.
Her Harran experience inspired a sequence of finely detailed motifs, including a delicate embossed wheat stem with a copper pendant. Among the most distinctive creations is a small silver bird with emerald-set eyes, appearing as though “ready to feast on the seeds.”
Larger bird forms appear as earrings set with crystal quartz, peridot, aventurine, emerald, and citrine, evoking birds in motion across a wheatfield. “I chose the colours of the gemstones to reflect the natural process of the grain – from green sprouting to golden maturity in sunlight,” Nazan explains. Emerald, aventurine, and peridot represent new growth; citrine reflects the sun; crystal quartz suggests water and light; and copper symbolises the soil. The collection unfolds as a coordinated dialogue with nature – a celebration of its cycles and gifts.
Each piece is handcrafted using traditional techniques such as chasing, where textured patterns are formed with hammer and punch, and repoussé, where designs are raised from the reverse side of the metal. These methods bring depth and tactility to the work, as seen in a repoussé bronze bowl with a bird perched on its lid – part of a series that extends the collection into homeware.
A unisex cuff with hand-embossed wheat branches evokes the vastness of wheatfields, reinforcing the collection’s connection to landscape and memory. “Copper nourishes and heals the body, while wheat nourishes the spirit and feeds the hunger,” Nazan observes.
The collection is available in gold, silver, bronze, and copper, with gemstone variations according to choice.
These limited-edition works reflect ancient civilisations and sacred narratives, blending traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary artistic vision.
Nazan’s broader practice is informed by her interest in history, architecture, and mysticism.
Previous collections include Divine Love, presented at London’s Fashion and Textile Museum, and Heaven, shown during Coutts London Jewellery Week.
Her first solo exhibition, For Love, debuted at Canary Wharf and was also presented at the Body Parts exhibition in New York.
“My brand mirrors my heritage,” she says. “My work tells stories of wonder, with gemstones as symbols of healing and personal meaning.”
All pieces are designed in London and completed by master craftsmen in Istanbul, her city of birth. Under her registered trademark, Nazan® she creates bespoke, made-to-order, and limited-edition pieces.
Bespoke commissions are typically completed within 2–3 weeks, offering clients a personalised piece while maintaining a high level of craftsmanship.
Instagram: @nazanjewellery
