I made this elegant necklace from vintage baroque pearls that I believe to be blue akoya saltwater pearls. The original, very elaborate necklace the pearls came from was an estate item and, I was told, purchased as a gift in Hawaii in the 1950s. When I acquired it, the necklace itself was broken, including its original clasp, so I decided to use the pearls to make three much simpler, elegant single-strand necklaces. The other two have been sold, so this beauty is the only one left!
Blue is a natural color for akoya saltwater pearls and such "blue pearls" are typically not only blue, but also grey, with pinkish tones. These look very typical in that regard, with beautiful blue, grey, and rosy pink plays of color. The luster is good, though varies pearl-to-pearl, and the shape is very much "baroque", with the many fascinating irregularities and imperfections that remind us that these organic gemstones were made by nature, in a pearl-producing mollusk.
This necklace has blue baroque pearls primarily in one size range (~6-6.5 mm), with one larger pearl (~7.5–8 mm) in front as a focal piece. In addition, there are 4 mm cubes of blue lace agate, a natural gemstone with a blue-grey color that blends beautifully with these pearls. Overall, this necklace has a delicate pastel color palette and a very interesting, complex texture due to the cube-shaped agate beads interspersed among the baroque pearls. This piece is one-of-a-kind!
The necklace closes in a sterling silver fish-hook safety pearl clasp. As a sparkly accent, I added 6 mm round Swarovski crystals in the color "Silk", a soft rose, at each end to beautifully complement the lustrous colors in the pearls. The necklace is knotted in grey silk, for a very graceful drape and its length is approximately 19 inches (see photo).
It will arrive in a gift pouch with a tag describing materials and craftsmanship. The mannequin and felted hat are for display purposes only and. will not be included.