Custom Design - Pacifica

This set is named after the ever-changing moods of the Pacific Ocean: the light blue (amazonite nuggets) for warm, calm days -- those summer days where the heat and the cool breeze almost seem dreamlike together. Then the dark teal (apatite nuggets) for colder, less calm days, where the water is choppy and it looks cold. Finally, the greenish (butter jade nuggets) for the roiling, angry sea the Pacific was after the 2006 tsunami. It was green. A shade of green I had never seen before.

Our client had an 8-strand neckace of gorgeous little freshwater pearls -- very tiny. It was given her by her husband and it had been too small for years, so she wasn't able to wear it and wanted to. She wrote me asking if the pearls could be re-strung, making the necklace longer. I offered her the option of adding stones to it to add some interest. She liked that idea and said she wanted stone nuggets water colors, and that she'd also like the accent of dragonflies here and there. I sent her photos of the various nuggets, telling her which ones I felt would work best, and she approved them.

So, the necklace is now 36" long, and has side details of the various nuggets at differing heights, as well as small 2mm silver beads, and on one side, little bali silver dragonflies. It also has a lovely little drop at the back toggle clasp, where hangs a pearl and one nugget of each color -- with a top drilled apatite at the bottom, sharing space with a dragonfly.

It was evident that there was enough pearls left for either one more strand or a matching three-strand bracelet and earrings. She liked the second option, so a bracelet and earrings were created.

The bracelet is really a miniature of the necklace in many ways, down to the matching bali silver toggle closure and the drop hanging from said closure, as you can see from the bracelet close-up.

Our client's preferred earring length is between 1 and 1 1/2 inches from the drop, and they use, a bit differently, all of the elements of the necklace and bracelet. They are suspended from sterling ear wires.

Of course, it's always great fun when a client who knows what she wants gives free rein in the creation of a piece, or set, of jewelry. This set was so very satisfying to create, and that she loves it so much is the ultimate goal and pleasure for this jewelry designer.