Festive
A swirling river of green and purple jewels of specialty cut fluorite beads, anchored by four golden globes characterise this gorgeous, festive 67 cm long necklace! For more info on the necklace, please click on Details, and if interested in my musings, please go to Story.
The identification of the beads starts from the bead in the centre, with measurement for some of the bigger beads, moving upwards, with metal beads named last.
Length: 67 cm (26.5”)
Weight: 181 gm
Fluorite in green and purple, in different shapes, with variations in size:
Concave cube in centre,11 mm, round violet beads after it 14 mm;
pyramid 15 mm in height, 15.5 mm at base
Gold-plated silver spacers
18K gold-plated silver beads: 15 mm
Approx 13.6 gm silver (excluding clasp & identity disc)
Gold filled crimp tubes
Gold-plated silver toggle clasp
Gold-plated silver Manik Identity disc
It was very exciting working on this necklace of green and violet fluorite beads! For years I had overlooked this short string of fluorite in different shapes acquired in the ‘90s, and it wasn’t until I started working on necklaces for Manik that I came across it again and realised how ‘special’ it is – these are specialty cut stones, because you don’t normally get different shapes of beads in a single string, not commercially viable! There are seven differently cut shapes in this necklace from a concave cube in the centre, to pyramids, discs, rounds, oval tablets, oblate lanterns, and cylinders!
I decided that it had to be a long necklace to show off the beautiful colours and shapes, and I had to dig around for more fluorite beads than were in the short string. Fortunately, I have always loved the green and violets of this gemstone, and I had enough fluorite beads in about the same size to make up the necklace. I quickly decided on gold-plated silver spacers. Nevertheless, as with all my designs, I worked through different iterations, playing with placement of colours and shapes before I was satisfied. Even then, a casual remark from a friend that there seemed to be brighter beads in the upper part of the necklace had me re-arranging the beadsagain. Finally, I decided to add the four 15mm, 18k gold-plated silver beads, and they really lit up the necklace! Do admire the lovely gradations in colours and the different shapes that give this necklace its character!
This necklace is gloriously joyous and celebratory in character, and so I am naming it Festive. At 67 cm, this necklace can be worn over collars, and it would go well with cobalt, navy, and different shades of greens (but not too bright ones), as well as a range of lighter colours – cream, ivory, pale lemon, salmon pink etc. Party with it and enjoy!
