Six Variations on Peacock Pearl Necklaces

[jesse_the_k]

"Peacock" pearls are dyed to look like black Tahitian pearls. (Genuine Tahitian pearls cost more than anyone reading here would ever spend.) I love working with peacock pearls because they contain rainbows: their shiny gray bodies shimmer with red, green, purple and blue highlights.

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Five planets of pearl: an 18" necklace of freshwater pearls separated with shiny nickel spacers features five matted black glass balls with a shiny crystal-cut ring around their centers, distributed equally.

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Fiddlejoy meets freshwater pearls! These pearls fit just right inside blackstone rings to provide twiddling and fiddling for anxious fingers. This 28" long necklace has two fiddle joys on one side balanced by one on the other.

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Four freshwater pearl necklaces coiled flat on the table showing off their shiny finger-friendly hematine clasps.

Alternating tiny dark rondelle pearls with medium-sized lighter "potato" pearls creates intriguing strands to stroke.

In this 19" necklace, there’s a larger pearl for each pair of tiny ones.

In the 20" version, the larger pearls are separated by five tiny dark pearls

"Rice" pearls bulge in the center then swoop to subtle points on each end. 21" necklace all the same size.

Side-drill pearls are rice shaped and strung through the short bulgy bits, making a solid impression in this 32" necklace, which you can wear doubled for a choker plus a longer strand.

Comments

[forestofglory]

These are lovely!

[jesse_the_k]

Aw shucks, thanks.

[sonia]

Ooh pretty! That first one looks like it would feel particularly nice.

[jesse_the_k]

I've spent quite a while stroking that one, indeed.

[branchandroot]

Don't mind me, I'm just going to be here drooling for a bit.

hands out a towel

[jesse_the_k]

*\0/******

Glad you like.

[worlds_of_smoke]

these are so pretty.

[jesse_the_k]

Why thank you. I welcome your thoughts on what sort of gender(ed) message these send (or don't).

[yourlibrarian]

Oh I quite like that offset placement one :)

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks! Asymmetry is wonderful and it's hard to know when it's balanced just right.

[kaberett]

Ooooh, the fiddlejoy looks very satisfying.

[jesse_the_k]

It's a ton of fun, let me just say.

[firecat]

Love the fiddlejoy necklace esp. (asymmetry rules)

[jesse_the_k]

The rule of asymmetry is asymmetry is the best! I'm curious on your thoughts: re the gender valance (or absence thereof). Could you imagine wearing any of these?

[firecat]

I don't wear single-strand necklaces, but yes to things along the lines of wallet or pocket watch chain, bow tie chain, collar chain, lapel pin (a couple of the linked items are a little more "extra" than my style, but this is the general idea)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/72409506489432549/
https://poshmark.com/listing/Custom-Made-Bow-tie-Lapel-Pin-Chain-Lapel-Pin-598679fca88e7de71004f417
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/32880133825.html (the pocket square / lapel pin thing)

Nifty, thanks!

[jesse_the_k]

I’m seeing a chain-wrapped theme. :)

Does the heavy swing of the chain provide an important part of that esthetic? Also seems like “dapper” is a relevant keyword.

I’ve never stumbled on the relevant findings (the metal bits that clip and connect the chain) and /wheee down a new rabbit hole. that

Re: Nifty, thanks!

[firecat]

Yes, but it's not the chain that matters. The beads and fiddles you're using would work great. It just has to be something that feels...authoritative, lol.

For me, a heavy strand or multiple strands work best, because I'm big and I overwhelm more delicate looks. YourEnbyMayVary.

Dapper is relevant. When I began exploring what nonbinary style looks like on me, I started from a blog called dapperq.com, especially their "100 most stylish" lists https://www.dapperq.com/tag/dapperq-100/

Let me know if you find the relevant findings. I haven't looked yet. (My beading/jewelry stuff is still in boxes from my house move.)

Enjoy the journey!

Re: Nifty, thanks!

[jesse_the_k]

The octopus led the way! Seem to be “standard” patterns which get recreated by finding companies and one person shops.

Here’s one — I have zero experience working with brass, tho

https://www.etsy.com/shop/FINDINGMORE

And more! Cephalopods are hot!

https://beads.artbeads.com/jewelry-supplies/Octopus

https://www.rings-things.com/Products/Cameos/Cameo-Octopus-40x30mm.html

Re: Nifty, thanks!

[firecat]

Ooh, octopodes are the greatest!

[kalmn]

are any of these things for sale?

I haven't quite figured this out

[jesse_the_k]

I'd been planning on a doing a give-away in the WisCon Con Suite on Saturday night.

The joy is in the doing, not the selling. Some folk have suggested I offer them to auction for a good cause -- I can't imagine them raising much money, but then I see them with hypercritical eyes.

Ideas welcome! Or "send me this now" also possible.

[tarasacon]

Lovely! Thank you for the explanation of the various pearls- it’s not something I’ve used in my jewelry so I didn’t know. Today I learned things!

Glad to help

[jesse_the_k]

All my life I've treasured chances to learn new taxonomies.

The first formal education I had in this regard was the six orientations of a brick.

Beading offers hundreds of names: the "standard" colors of Czech glass; the enormous range of shapes; all the kinds of thread.

Happy magpie mind, me.