Last year, I was walking through the streets of Athens and noticed the locals carrying strands of beads; constantly running them through their fingers as if counting each one. I later discovered the beads, called komboloi (or worry beads) are considered a strong aspect of Greek and Cypriot culture, used as a stress relief device.

Since I spotted these colorful komboloi-inspired beads by Brooklyn-based Fredericks and Mae, I've started considering carrying a strand around myself to cope with impending deadlines. The necklaces are made from horsehair, leather string, wooden beads, and Gutermann thread dyed in pigment.

See our recent post on Back to the Future: Nostalgia from Fredericks and Mae.

Above: The large and small sized strands.

Above: The Small Worry Beads measure 18 inches long and cost $100 from Matter.

Above: The three-foot-long strand of Large Worry Beads is made from wooden beads, leather cord, pigment dyes, horse hair, and thread; $265 from Matter.