How your DNA becomes a necklace: the full DesigNA process
Five steps, around three weeks end to end, from a kit on your doorstep to a certified one of one necklace on your collarbone.
1. Order your kit
You choose the metal (sterling silver, 9ct gold, or freshwater pearl) and your stone palette. The collection kit ships free anywhere in the UK and usually arrives within two to three working days. The kit contains a sterile cheek swab, instructions, a consent form, and a prepaid return envelope.
2. Take your sample
The swab takes around 30 seconds. You rub the cotton tip against the inside of your cheek, place it in the supplied tube, complete the short consent form, and post the kit back to our laboratory. Postage is included.
3. Laboratory analysis
Your sample is processed at a UK laboratory. The lab reads a specific set of markers chosen for their design potential. These are not health, ancestry, or disease markers. The output is a sequence of values unique to you, captured at this moment in time.
4. Design and craft
The sequence is mapped to the stones in your chosen palette. The order of stones along the necklace, and their spacing relative to the pearls or metal beads, is determined entirely by your data. Once the design is generated, your piece is handcrafted by our partner jeweller in Birmingham. Each necklace is hand strung, hand finished, and quality checked.
5. Delivery
Your finished necklace ships inside our signature packaging. The outer black box contains the certificate of authenticity, then a navy sleeve, then the inner black jewellery box, and finally the necklace itself in a double helix arrangement. Steps 3 to 5 together take 2 to 3 weeks from receipt of your sample at the lab.
What happens to your sample afterwards
Once the analysis is complete, the physical sample is destroyed and the digital data is encrypted and stored only for as long as needed to fulfil the order, in line with UK GDPR and the Human Tissue Act 2004. You can request deletion at any time.
Further Reading
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What Happens After You Order: The Sampling Kit, Step by Step
Wondering what happens after you order? Here is exactly how the DesigNA sampling kit works, from the moment it lands to the moment you post it back.
August 4, 2026
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Who Is the Founder of DesigNA?
Who is the founder of DesigNA? Oliver Sullivan, through Double Strand Ltd. Here is who runs the brand and how every necklace is really made.
July 31, 2026
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9 Precious Stones or Something Else? The DNA Necklace Materials FAQ
Does a DesigNA necklace use nine precious stones? Here is exactly what your DNA necklace is made from, and how your genetic code shapes it. From £299.
July 28, 2026
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DNA Jewellery
How Long Does a DNA Necklace Take? Your Order to Delivery Timeline
How long does a DNA necklace take from order to delivery? Here is the full stage by stage UK timeline, so you can order gifts with real confidence.
July 24, 2026
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DNA Jewellery
DNA Necklace Care: Silver, Gold and Pearl, Looked After Properly
Simple DNA necklace care steps for silver, gold and pearl pieces, so your one of one design stays bright for years to come.
July 20, 2026
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DNA Jewellery
DNA Necklace: The Real One, Explained
Searching for a genuine DNA necklace? Compare real genetic jewellery to look alike designs and see why DesigNA’s UK made necklace is the trusted choice.
July 15, 2026
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