In-Stock and One-of-a-Kind Artisan Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings
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Hubei
A single strand of absolutely stunning turquoise from China’s Hubei province is completed with gold beads, brass rings and a handmade copper wire clasp to create this classic, eye-catching neckpiece. Each one of the oversize turquoise beads is handmade and polished making this turquoise and the necklace itself truly a one-of-a-kind piece of artisan jewelry.
Most of the turquoise available today comes from mines in China and Tibet and this particular turquoise comes from the Hubei province of China, hence the name of the piece. Most turquoise is usually stabilized with a clear epoxy to harden and seal it, as I imagine these beads are. With magnificent matrixing and varying hues of green, blue and brown, these are some of the most beautiful turquoise beads I have seen. Each bead is unique both in coloring and shape, with the sizes ranging from 32-40mm in length and the widths averaging 30mm. Each of these beads is a miniature work of art all by itself.
Although commonly associated with silver, I much prefer turquoise with brass or gold. I think it brings out the earthy hues and better accentuates the matrixing. It also gives the whole piece of jewelry a more exotic feel making it more important somehow, like an antique or a historical piece of artwork. The gold beads at the ends of the necklace are actually terra cotta beads that are kiln-fired, refired with a rough copper base and then coated with pure gold. These beads have amazing reflective qualities and almost look like balls of molten gold. The rings are solid brass and their largeness adds to the significance of the necklace, helping to achieve that classic, timeless quality that I try to attain in all of my designs.
In order to add a touch of the contemporary to this necklace, I made the clasp out of copper wire adding some coiling for character. This necklace is currently 18" in length. I can make it shorter if you would prefer it closer to the neck or I can make it able to lengthen by adding chain.
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