NAIL TALK

RAVEN’S CLAWS

The power of crystals, a passion for fashion & the idea of an artist combine to unveil an exciting concept in press-on nails

ALEX FOX REPORTS

Raven

Sometimes, a meaningless scroll on Instagram before sleep can lead to something truly special. Let me explain: I spend a lot of my spare time looking at nail designs and the artists behind them on various platforms, immersing myself in styles and creativity. It’s a vital part of my day, and one night I happened upon a photo that arrested me. It was posted by @makeitcrystal.official, an account run by Raven, in Toronto, Canada. I immersed myself in the content and rushed to message her. I wanted to know more; to know everything.

Raven’s profile showed that she crafts real crystals into sets of wearable nails: ameythst, rose quartz, black obsidian, natural citrine, aquamarine, moss agate and blue chalcedony. Each one is stunning and unique.

Mineral magic

A mineral collector for around seven years, Raven has an affinity with the styles, colours, textures and shapes of crystals and gems. However, in 2022 it took just one crystal to show her a new path. “I came across a raw quartz that was unusually elongated, which instantly reminded me of a stiletto nail. Just for fun, I glued it onto a fingernail and wore it for a day,” she reveals. “The feeling surprised me. Every small hand gesture felt powerful and intentional, and my mood was instantly uplifted. I remember thinking, ‘What if nails could be sculpted entirely from natural crystals?’”

Raven allowed that question to pull her into the world of lapidary: the art of cutting, polishing and engraving gems and minerals. She then immersed herself in research. “I had no formal training or mentor. I learned everything through pure obsession, scouring obscure Reddit threads, watching countless YouTube tutorials and experimenting with every tool I could get my hands on,” she explains. “I also joined local lapidary workshops to understand the basic handling of minerals and equipment. I began by studying traditional lapidary techniques: slicing, shaping and polishing, then slowly adapted them to a miniature and unforgiving scale. The learning curve was brutal. Crystals are fragile, and shaping something as thin as a fingernail is like walking a tightrope; one wrong move and it cracks.

“I see this as the beginning of a luxury category. I call them ‘jewellery nails’. They’re not only nail art and not quite traditional jewellery. They live in the space between sculpture, adornment and expression, and are wearable, collectible and deeply personal.”

“The biggest technical challenge was polishing, as I had no idea before I started that it is such an art,” Raven continues. “The ratio of diamond powder to oil has to be exactly right and the process isn’t just one step, as you have to work through multiple grits until the surface glows. Achieving a mirror finish takes time, intuition and a lot of failed attempts, but the mental challenge is even greater. You can spend days on a single nail, only to watch it fracture during the final polish. That kind of heartbreak forces a choice: surrender or evolve. I chose to evolve.”

Shaping thoughts into reality

This evolution took commitment, focus and patience. Three months after the idea was spawned, Raven completed her first, imperfect set. “I wore it proudly. Friends, especially fellow crystal lovers, were amazed,” she shares. “They started asking for their own crystal nails, and as the requests grew, so did my skills. Eventually, I created my first fully refined set. I’ll never forget that moment: the feeling of holding something that once seemed impossible and realising I had made it real. That’s the feeling I hope to pass on with every set I create, as a reminder that what feels too bold or unrealistic might just be waiting to be shaped into reality.”

Now a burgeoning business with clients as far afield as Australia, Raven has two work partners, since the demand and production complexity grew to a level that could not be managed alone. She explains: “I work alongside JL, a crystal cutter and rough shaper. He starts by slicing large raw stones into manageable pieces, then carefully size matches each one to the customer’s provided nail sizes. From there, he shapes the rough form of each nail, preparing it for final refinement. I then take over to complete this stage, and carve the precision details that make each piece personal, such as facets, initials, numbers or symbolic motifs. Then there’s Fang, who is the master of polishing. Her dual-polish technique is what gives the nails their signature glow. She polishes the outside to a mirror-like shine while leaving a soft, matte texture on the underside. This contrast gives the nail an ethereal, floating appearance and improves the grip when worn on natural nails.

“We’re a small team, but everyone brings something essential to the table. It’s a deeply hands-on process and I feel lucky to have people I trust contributing their own artistry to this vision.”

“While I care deeply about the visual impact and craftsmanship, I also see each set as a small portal into beauty, intention and something a bit more mysterious.”

Raven cites that it takes from eight weeks to over six months to carve a full set between them, with factors such as complexity of design and ‘how cooperative the crystals are feeling’, dictating the timeline to completion. “Simpler designs, like our signature Sparkle of Life motif (inspired by sacred geometry and reflected in our logo), tend to form faster, because we’ve created them many times and know the process well,” she shares. “It takes more time when we develop new patterns or custom symbols, as every step has to be rethought and tested.

“Shape and length matter, too. We started out crafting long stilettos: my favourite shape, and the one we practiced for almost three years. After our launch on Instagram, we received requests for different lengths and shapes, which means we’re now retraining our hands for those: a slow but exciting process. Ironically, shorter nails are harder to carve because they require greater precision.”

Raven adds: “Crystal type makes a huge difference. Stones like natural quartz and agate usually have fewer internal fractures, so are more reliable. Black obsidian, moonstone and labradorite are structurally more temperamental and prone to cracking under pressure, so require extra care. However, the biggest variable is luck. There are two critical phases when breaks can happen: shaping and polishing. Sometimes, a nail will break at the very last step, and if that happens, we have to start again from the raw material. That unpredictability is part of the reality of working with real stone at this miniature scale. What’s fascinating is that once finished, the nails are sturdy. The risk of breaking mainly happens due to the heat and friction of carving or polishing – not through wear.”

Averaging a cost of $795 for a set of 10 nails, this is most certainly a specialist and luxurious press-on nail style that is testament to rarity, exclusivity, precision and creative skills. Raven reveals: “Pricing is determined by the number of carving hours, the complexity of the design and the material used. We also consider special requests like custom engraving, rare stones or extra-long or short shapes, all of which add to the time and labour involved. The pricing reflects the level of craftsmanship and rarity of turning natural gemstones into wearable miniature sculptures.

“I see this as the beginning of a luxury category,” Raven continues. “I call them ‘jewellery nails’. They’re not only nail art and not quite traditional jewellery. They live in the space between sculpture, adornment and expression, and are wearable, collectible and deeply personal. I believe that in a few years, we’ll see this art form formally recognised as part of the jewellery world, much like statement rings or hair accessories once carved their own niche. Right now, I’m continuing to expand both my media and techniques to push this boundary even further in the same way this all started: with a wild idea and the determination to make it real.”

Standards & symbolism

When facing a niche market such as this, I ponder the supply chain and sourcing of these precious minerals, since I imagine that raw materials need to go through a set of quality control measures to make the grade. Raven shares: “The most commonly used crystals in our work are moss agate, citrine, amethyst and rose quartz. I hand-pick all the raw materials from trusted suppliers at local gem shows. Carving nails from crystal requires ultra-thin shaping, so material quality is everything. A single invisible fracture inside the stone can cause the entire nail to shatter mid-carving, so I spend hours examining each specimen.

“For translucent coloured quartz like rose quartz, amethyst and citrine, saturation is key. Most commercial-grade material is too pale once thinned to suit the nail thickness. I look specifically for high-saturation pieces, so even when carved very thin, they retain a soft, luminous hue that holds beautifully on a nail.” Raven continues: “We also place a strong emphasis on traceability. While the crystal and mineral industry still lacks formal regulation, I only work with suppliers who can provide detailed information about mine origin, labour conditions and ethical sourcing practices. It’s not always perfect, but we do our best to uphold the highest possible standards, especially since our jewellery nails are worn close to the body, and have deep symbolic meanings.

“There are definitely stones I avoid, for a few reasons,” Raven adds. “I stay away from conflict minerals like lapis lazuli from Afghanistan. I also avoid minerals like malachite and bumblebee jasper. While they’re stunning, they can release harmful particles or substances during carving or wear and I won’t risk the health of my team or customers. On a practical level, I won’t work with stones that have high internal fracture rates. For this same reason, I also don’t accept customer-sent crystals. While I completely understand the sentimental value some attach to their own stones, I can’t verify the internal integrity or trace the origin of those materials, and if they break during carving, we’re both left heartbroken.”

Each piece is layered with the influence of high-luxe fashion and enriched by the spiritual symbolism of crystals and their vibrational qualities. “A blend of artistry, fashion and spirituality guide each nail set,” reveals Raven. “My academic background is in psychology and I’ve always had a strong passion for art and fashion history. So, I’ve long been interested in how abstract symbols can carry meaning, not just aesthetically, but emotionally and spiritually. That naturally seeps into my work. When I design a nail, I’m not just thinking about shape or colour, but what the crystal represents and how the form can hold symbolic resonance for the wearer. Whether it is sacred geometry carved into a quartz nail or choosing stones based on their energetic qualities, I love embedding quiet layers of meaning into each piece. The nail becomes more than an accessory: it becomes a wearable form of personal expression, almost like a talisman. While I care deeply about the visual impact and craftsmanship, I also see each set as a small portal into beauty, intention and something a bit more mysterious.”

Letting skills shine

The majority of Raven’s clients allow her to interpret their visions through her lens. “Part of that comes from the nature of this medium, as every crystal is different and carving nails from natural stone is such a delicate, unpredictable process,” she highlights. “Many clients will give me a few keywords, like ‘elegant’, ‘ethereal’ or ‘powerful’, and trust me to translate that into the finished piece. That kind of trust is the most rewarding part of what I do. It pushes me to stay true to my voice, while holding space for the client’s energy and intention.”

“These nails aren’t just beautiful objects, but physical proof that imagination, patience and persistence can turn the impossible into reality.”

When asked about the most memorable nails she has created, Raven shares: “A loyal client ordered three sets – one of which was long, stiletto nails in black obsidian. Now, if you know crystals, you know how wild that is. Obsidian is a volcanic glass, which is naturally razor sharp and often used to make blades and arrowheads. So, carving it into a long, dagger-like stiletto shape sounded like a recipe for accidental weapons. At first, I was going to decline, but then realised we could soften the inside of the sharp tip while preserving the sleek look. This would keep the drama and elegance of the stiletto silhouette without risk. The result was stunning obsidian stiletto nails that looked like sculpted jet black glass daggers, yet were smooth and safe to wear.”

A proud business owner and innovator, Raven radiates an entrepreneurial spirit to be admired as she shapes and defines this unique field of jewellery nails. “What began as a quiet personal exploration, carving raw crystals into wearable miniature sculptures, suddenly became something seen, felt and loved by people all over the world,” she relays. “When I first set out to create the Make It Crystal brand, I was driven by the belief that everyone’s potential is boundless. That belief came from the feeling I had when I completed my very first set of crystal nails. It was magical, fulfilling and almost surreal. I wanted others to feel that, too. The idea of sculpting nails entirely from natural crystals sounded absurd, even to me, but after years of trial and error, I made it possible. I hoped these nails would make people feel that nothing is too crazy to come true, so maybe their wildest dreams could.”

One of Raven’s proudest milestones on this journey was the moment Make It Crystal launched publicly and the world responded. In just six months, the brand’s Instagram grew to over 100K followers organically, without a single dollar spent on advertising. One reel amassed over eight million views.

Crystals are known for their vibrational energy and healing power, so what does a set of Raven’s crystal nails mean to the person who wears them? “These nails aren’t just beautiful objects, but physical proof that imagination, patience and persistence can turn the impossible into reality,” she reveals. “I hope that first moment of wearing them feels like a portal cracking open to remind the customer that their dreams are not only valid, but worth chasing.””

I quiz Raven on how sees her business evolving. “Creatively, I’m excited to keep expanding the boundaries of what ‘nail art’ can be,” she shares. “I hope this work will one day sit proudly alongside rings and earrings as a recognised category of fine jewellery. I am currently developing a collection that blends precious metals with hand-carved semi-precious crystals and precious gemstones. This is a true crossover between fine jewellery and nail craftsmanship.

“I often hear from people who say, ‘This feels impossible and yet it exists’. That’s the exact feeling I had when I finished my first crystal nail set,” Raven continues. “I want this brand to evolve not just in form, but as a living symbol of possibility: showing that your boldest visions are worth chasing, even if they take years and break 10 times along the way.”

www.makeitcrystalofficial.com

@makeitcrystal.official