Pyrite bracelet: benefits, which hand to wear it on, and how to care for it

What a pyrite bracelet is worn for

Tradition gives pyrite three jobs, and they overlap.

• Wealth and abundance. Pyrite is the money-magnet stone, worn to attract opportunity and keep money flowing rather than leaking. Business owners, freelancers and anyone starting something new reach for it first.
• Confidence and willpower. Pyrite is linked to the solar plexus, the seat of personal power. People wear it when they need to speak up, decide and follow through.
• Protection from negativity. Like a mirror, pyrite is held to reflect back the envy and heaviness other people carry, which is why it is a popular stone for anyone in sales or dealing with the public.

Which hand to wear a pyrite bracelet on

The left hand is the receiving side: wear pyrite on the left to draw abundance and opportunity in. The right hand is the giving or projecting side: wear it on the right when you want to put confidence out into the world, in a meeting, a negotiation or a pitch. Most people wear it on the left day to day and switch to the right for the big day. If you are unsure, go with whichever feels comfortable; consistency matters more than the rule.

Where else to keep pyrite

A bracelet is pyrite you carry. At home and at work, a raw pyrite cluster does the same job for the space: on the north wall of the living room (Vastu's direction of Kubera and wealth), on the billing counter facing the entrance, in or beside the cash box, or on the side of your desk you write with. Our Shree Yantra money pyramid sets pyrite and citrine together for exactly this purpose.

Natural pyrite or gold-coated?

Natural pyrite beads are brassy, slightly uneven and show the mineral's own facets; diamond-cut pyrite catches the light the way the raw cluster does. Gold-coated pyrite is natural pyrite with a bright electroplated finish, which gives a smoother, brighter gold look. Both are real pyrite. Choose natural if you like the earthy, raw feel; choose coated if you want it to read as gold jewellery.

The one care rule: keep it dry

Pyrite is an iron sulphide. Water and humidity dull it and can leave a rusty film, so take the bracelet off before bathing, swimming and washing up, and keep it out of the bathroom. Cleanse it with smoke (sage or palo santo), sound or moonlight, never water or salt water. Store it in a soft pouch away from perfume and sanitiser, which also weaken the elastic. If it looks dull, a dry soft toothbrush brings the shine back.

Every pyrite bracelet at Sacred Divine is natural, checked by hand and energised by Bhaarti Sunny Ghai before it ships. Crystals are sold as spiritual and decorative items; tradition is described here as tradition.