Asyk is an elemental, iconic feature of ZHANAR brand and a national symbol of childhood and good fortune in Kazakhstan, uniting all people regardless of age, ethnic or religious affiliation. It is also a game that recently joined UNESCO’s list of events within its Intangible Cultural Heritage domain. Asyk is played when two persons have a target and attempt to hit it with a saka (a larger, personalized, & usually brightly colored asyk-projectile of sheep’s knee-bone). If one hits the target, an asyk is collected from the opponent. The winner continues to throw and collect asyks until a target is missed. At which time, the opponent may begin to reclaim the lost asyks and then some. The battle continues until one side claims all the asyks.

For more on asyk and the UNESCO award—an honor for Kazakhstan and a gift to our global community—please click on the embedded video.

We offer a versatile array of asyk pieces for women: silver and gold necklaces, broaches, buttons, bracelets, rings and belt buckles. Our ZHANAR Women’s Accesories are made from rhodium plated silver and alloyed plated gold, while our cufflinks (for women & men) are composed of silver and gold-finished steel. Altogether, these offerings from ZHANAR are much more than adornments; they are embodiments of our deep commitment to preserving Kazakh culture and promoting Kazakhstan’s place in contemporary fashion. It is, in fact this love that motivates our work and further enriches our most cherished friends.

When we first started ZHANAR, we never imagined that our asyk line of men’s cufflinks would be our best seller. It turns out, however, that women love to gift our cufflinks to the most important men in their lives: husbands, boyfriends, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, cousins, and sons. Regardless of their age or background, men admire the asyk’s history, cultural relevance, and connection to nature. They value the message that our asyk cufflinks—with their unique disposition and edgy brilliance—communicate about a man’s character and worldly refinement.