Handmade Artisan Necklaces

Cebu Island

Seven strands of gorgeous South Sea bronze pearls, golden globes of Grecian terra cotta and a stunning oversize black tab shell from the tropical waters of the Philippines create this exotic and elegant pendant necklace. The deep, rich luster of these beautiful pearls is complemented by the incredible brilliance of the seemingly molten gold beads and the super shiny and reflective surface of the deep brown shell. This captivating necklace wears gracefully around the neck and will be a sensational addition to any wardrobe choice.

Handmade in the Philippines, the black tab shell is completely natural and will vary from necklace to necklace. Shells coming from the Philippines are naturally gathered using the primitive way of diving under water and harvesting them. Most shells are harvested primarily for food. The outside shell is then cleaned, cut and formed into shell beads and shell pendants.

Although I am not exactly sure where this particular shell was harvested within the Philippines, I have found that most exporters of shell beads and components are located in Cebu City which is called "the Queen City of the South" as it is the main hub of commerce in the country after Manila. The island of Cebu is also famous for Magellan’s cross which was planted there on April 21, 1521 and became the spot where the first Christian Filipinos were baptized.

The pearl is an organic gem grown within oysters and a few other mollusks. It is formed when a tiny particle or object gets inside a mollusk's shell. The irritation caused by the foreign object causes the oyster to secrete nacre to cover it. Nacre is the same material that forms the shell of the mollusk. When the nacre dries, the mollusk is irritated again, so it secretes another layer of nacre. This continues to happen, eventually forming a pearl. This process can take anywhere from 4 months to 7 years depending on the size of the pearl. A single mollusk can create dozens of pearls at a time. Most pearls today are "cultured" which means that people, rather than nature, implant the foreign particle into the mollusk, and then care for them in a protective environment or pearl farm. Natural pearls are very rare and extremely valuable. These particular pearls are cultured freshwater pearls and are most likely dyed to obtain their deep, rich bronze and copper colors.

The magnificent golden globes consist of a terra cotta base that is kiln-fired with rough copper and then heavily coated with 24 karat gold. These beads are enchanting and mystical, having the unique appearance of liquid gold.

This timeless neckpiece closes with a large brass lobster clasp and can be adjusted in length using the attached brass cable chain. You may also be interested in the Pearls of the Orient Bracelet that beautifully complements this bold necklace.

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