This blue and brown necklace features pretty ceramic beads that look like Mockingbird eggs, pale blue with brown spots. I paired them with luscious chocolate cultured freshwater pearls and some interesting glass beads to get this one-of-a-kind piece. The necklace is finished with a 14K gold-filled clasp and extender chain. This is a piece of jewelry that you can wear with lots of things, from casual to the office.
I found these blue beads in a little bead shop in Iowa. They are close to what I thought was a robin's egg blue, but upon googling it, I have decided they look more like Northern Mockingbird eggs. The blue is a nice accent on the mostly brown necklace.
The large dark brown chocolate genuine cultured pearls are a great match for the ceramic beads. I bought these pearls when I was still living in Shanghai and brought them back to the states with me. They run about 8 mm in diameter, and since they are not exactly round, many times the length is more than 8 mm. Since freshwater pearls do not naturally come in brown, these pearls have been either dyed or irradiated to give them their brown color. Although I have had these pearls for many years (probably at least 10), and their color has not faded, it is possible they could fade if left in the sun for extended periods of time.
All the additional beads in the necklace are various types of glass beads. There are four different kinds of roundels: fat ones, skinny ones, and two different kinds of faceted ones. There are also some seed beads. My favorite is the flat clear beads with a brown edge. I have never seen anything like them before or since. They are supposedly window glass. I got them in a bead shop in Fort Wayne. This necklace is one of a kind, because I will never be able to find these same beads again.
Findings are all 14K gold filled, including the hook and eye clasp and the extender chain. I use Beadalon 49 (flexible wire made from 49 strands of steel) so my necklaces are sturdy. The ceramic beads, though beautiful, are probably not extremely sturdy, so I would not let a child play with this.
This necklace is 17" (approximately 43 centimeters) long with a 2" (5 cm) extender.
I think this necklace is very versatile. It will go with blue or brown. It will look sophisticated with a hint of exotic if you wear it with a dress to the office. With a pair of jeans it could even have a tribal look. However, because the beads are ceramic, they are breakable. I would not recommend this necklace for a child.
Shanghai Tai
Unique Artisan Jewelry
Handmade in the USA
Copyright 2022 Shanghai Tai LLC, all rights reserved.
