Verdant
This 45.5 cm necklace of the gemstones chrysoprase, aquamarine, and malachite radiates freshness and vitality. 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, moving upwards, with measurement for some of the bigger beads, with metal beads named last.
Length: 45.5 cm (18”)
Weight: 83 gm
Aquamarine pieces (piece in centre approx. 17 by 17 mm)
Chrysoprase tablets: approx. 18 mm long by 17 mm wide
Aquamarine lozenges: approx. 17 mm long by 13 mm wide
Green glass spacers
Gold filled crimp tubes,
Silver toggle clasp
Silver Manik identity disc
Chrysoprase is a more expensive gemstone, being relatively rare, and the apple green colour is particularly prized, although its hue can vary within the green and yellow-green spectrum. So, I was quite pleased to acquire the apple-green tablets with cut corners. Tablet shaped beads can present a challenge however – being flat, you must find bead shapes that would be compatible; bigger round beads for e.g. wouldn’t work. I thought to pair these with orange agate in similar tablet form; it was boring, however. I put aside the chrysoprase tablets for some time, and it wasn’t until I thought of the milky aquamarine nuggets with a faint whisper of blue that I got excited. The introduction of the malachite tubes was thrilling…
The coming together of the smooth tablets of crisp apple-green chrysoprase with the softly luminous milky white aquamarine with the faintest hint of blue, threaded through by the deep forest green of the malachite tubes, is a combination that radiates freshness and vitality. The synthesis feels both lively and tranquil – crisp, elegant, and full of natural vitality
So, it seems appropriate to name this necklace Verdant. I placed Verdant against a strong red, a white, saffron yellow, olive and navy, and interestingly, they all seem to work. Experiment and enjoy!
