Freshwater Pearl + Sapphire & Gold Double-Strand Necklace

[morphius]

So, it just occurred to me that I had not yet actually contributed anything to PG in terms of actual pearls.

Thus, here is my contribution...

The pearls are 6-6.5mm freshwater. The metal spacer beads are 14kt white gold, and the sapphires (13.4ct total weight), are genuine 'A' grade 3-4mm faceted roundels. The necklace measures 18"/19". The pearls are individually knotted and there's a knot on either side of the 'gold bead-sapphire-gold bead' combo.

Sadly, I realized later that there are a couple pearls on the necklace that don't match (they have a green overtone instead of all being a rose overtone)...so I will have to remake.

 

[Mary Montpezat]

What a beautiful lustre - I like the way you've only used the spacer beads between the sapphires, and left the pearls next to each other. Makes for a much nicer look design-wise!

 

[morphius]

What a beautiful lustre - I like the way you've only used the spacer beads between the sapphires, and left the pearls next to each other. Makes for a much nicer look design-wise!

Interesting that you should point that out because the original design had 14kt white gold beads between the sapphires and the pearls - it didn't look very good - gave it an almost "fake" look because it was just too much. But I have developed 4-5 additional patterns of pearls to sapphires - my wife is absolutely in love with the combination.

 

[pattye]

Just beautiful! Your wife must get tons of compliments and feel so elegant wearing these! Did you knot these yourself?

 

[Katbran]

That is really lovely! I do love sapphires! Thanks so much for posting..we love photos!! And thanks again so very much for the great techy-talk!

 

[morphius]

Did you knot these yourself?

Yes I did. It's just a basic dead knot. I also drilled the holes in the pearls myself so allowing me more control of the thickness of the silk used for the knotting. I really did not want the knots to be too noticeable - so there would be more focus on the main elements.

 

[Caitlin]

Drilling and knotting...you are more than a techie, you're a pearlover, advanced, I'd say.

 

[Ash]

Morphius,

What a beautiful piece!! I love the metal spacers on either side of the sapphires. Creates a bit of separation & draws attention to the sapphire stones as well a pearls. A very classic & elegant look! LOVE it!!! You drill too?

Cheers
Ash

 

[morphius]

I do actually - I bought a bunch of loose half-drilled not to long ago...except when they arrived, they had no drill holes at all - so given that there is no one that offers pearl drilling services anywhere near me, I bought a pearl drill and a couple hundred pearl drill bits ranging in size from 0.5mm to 3mm, along with different sized pearl cups and reamers for slightly enlarging holes. Now when buying loose, I prefer ones without holes so that I can choose myself where to place the hole...especially when it comes to earrings and pendants. That and it allows me to experiment

 

[morphius]

Drilling and knotting...you are more than a techie, you're a pearlover, advanced, I'd say.

Those who know me cannot believe the combination of techie and 'pearler'...I suppose it is an odd combination...especially given that I'm 6 feet tall and no skinny chicken - my ring finger is a size 13 which made learning to knot a bit of a challenge at first.

But I think my hardcore techie background has actually complimented my pearl obsession.

 

[newberry]

Love the design of your necklaces!!

 

[Adrienne]

What a beautiful necklace. I love sapphires! Lovely combination.

 

[Adeline Leigh]

Wow, you started out really advanced I must say, Morphius. Knotting and drilling. Wow. Was it hard, the drilling, that is, I'm thinking of getting a 3M Jool Tool but tell me, how is the your pearl drill and drilling coming along? Is it an upwrd curve on pearl drilling considering I've drilled nary a hole in any surface whatsoever in my life.

Btw, our eyes can't spy the green overtone but we sympathise with the must-fix-it-right-itis that has grabs designers (ameteur, lowly or otherwise real) in their stranglehold.

 

[morphius]

oh no I didn't start out advanced, I'm just late to the party at PG. I got into pearls about two-years ago after getting scammed at a brick-and-mortar jewelry store...then I spent the next year "learning" exactly how many many companies out there scam people with low-end pearls, as I bounced from one supplier to another, each promising they only carried top quality. My entire first year was one long drawn out (and expensive) trial-and-error process in my attempt to find legitimate suppliers. A trip to Beijing finally netter a contact who was able to provide consistent quality and quantity, but the prices are almost as high as buying from US wholesalers...it's not so easy when you just don't have $10k to drop down on a single order and even putting $2k together requires a couple months of savings. So for me anyways, learning how to knot end up being the least stressful part of this whole process.

As for drilling, it's fairly straightforward...clamp pearl and drill hole. It's certainly not like drilling into wood of course, given that the drill bits resemble chisels and "shave" away the nacre to form the hole as opposed to "boring" into the material; so you definitely go a little slower...but on round pearls it's not hard at all...baroque pearls are a different story and take some patience if the hole is going to be in an odd spot.

In truth though, I am finding photographing to be the hardest aspect to get settled. I can achieve bright, clean, focused images where the colour looks close to what it looks like in reality...but capturing the true luster remains a difficult chore.

 

[Amanda]

It's absolutely lovely, really gorgeous.

 

[KarinK]

I'm very impressed, Morphius!

- Karin

 

[Caitlin]

Thanks for joining this forum! We totally appreciate go-getters like you who are geeks as well. Oh MY. And I have focused on you rather than the pearls and sapphires. I want to say that is a splendid design masterfully executed with beautiful components.

Don't obsess on the green overtone pearls, they add an artistic touch of interest to those who see it. Most won't. You do not need to redo it. Move on to the next thing and please show us!