Necklaces should be beautiful from one end of the clasp to the other. Most necklace designs feature an alternating pattern of small rondelles and ellipses to reduce the width and length of the design near the clasp while emphasizing design continuity. The ends of the strings are encased in silver or gold French wire so that they are covered where they meet with a clasp. Only sterling silver or 14K gold is used for clasps and other new metal findings (antique Turkish silver is an exception).

Just a Sampling

PLEASE NOTE: ONLY WHITE CREAM AND PALE PEACH ARE NATURAL FRESHWATER PEARL COLORS. ALL OTHER SHADES ARE ENHANCED, OFTEN USING HEAT AND/OR LASERS.

Organic and Inorganic Gemstones
Pearls are the exquisite bounty of our living, organic world. Minerals, produced by heat and compression millions of years ago, represent the inorganic structure of the earth, well our entire universe, to be more correct. Traditionally, these two types of gemstones were sequestered into different designs. Hence, the no on of a strand of pearls, or a stone medallion pendant. But Barbara’s designs often combine the organic and inorganic realms of nature, creating a beautiful synergy, reminiscent of how our world really works.

Freshwater Pearls
With modern farming techniques, freshwater pearls rival the richness and diversity of salt water cultivated pearls, but at significantly more reasonable prices. Now the traditionally idealized spherical shape of Akoya and South Sea pearls, is enriched by a variety of baroque shapes that include everything from nearly round potatoes and their flat cousins in the form of coins and  les, to the magical irregularity of Keshi (nonnucleated) pearls which vary from rice-like forms to irregularly-shaped ribbons formed from nacre. Pearls can be as distinctive and uniquely individual as you. But all represent the ability of living creatures to transform the irritations of daily life into a works of beauty. It takes real inherent beauty and compassion, like yours, to generate new beauty, no matter what life brings.

JUST LIKE TRULYHUMANmedallions, STORY CARDS ARE INCLUDED TO EXPLAIN THE MEDALLION'S SYMBOLISM IN TERMS OF HUMAN VALUES.

Many Jewelry designs feature stone medallions representing time-honored symbols. Like their related TRULYHUMANmedallions for home decor, necklaces with medallions are intended to bring specific human values to mind. These carvings, may be in serpentine or new jade stone, like TRULYHUMANmedallions. Often, the wearable jewelry collection may feature other, more valuable minerals including carnelian, fancy agate, jadeite jade or obsidian as the medallion. Also the materials that form the necklace itself are chosen from the full breath of gemstones used in the jewelry collection, including carnelian, pearls, black onyx, turquoise and even moonstone.

Be sure to include the name and item number of the TRULYHUMANmedallion, as well as your phone number, in your E-mail. We will E-mail you a price quote for your approval before any production starts. These custom necklaces are non-eligible for return.

THE BEADS THAT ACCENT THE MEDALLION ARE WOVEN INTO THE BODY OF THE NECKLACE.
NECKLACES FEATURE A STERLING SILVER CLASP AND ARE INDIVIDUALLY HAND KNOTTED.

Fall in love with a

Look for patterns that incorporate light and dark colors, or translucent and opaque materials to remind us of our natural day and night cycle. While this type of patterning is calming, it also poses the yin-yang conundrum of what is light or translucent, and what is dark or opaque. After all, ideas which are seemingly translucent are most often formed in the darkness of the night, while the light of the day brings effective work which can prove numbing or opaque. Each is present in the other, but we need to understand how each of us reacts uniquely to the day-night cycle by virtue of our own internal clock, called the circadian rhythm. Understanding when you are most creative, or most productive, or most sleepy, is key to achieving a life well lived.

Many design patterns feature a natural undulation, created by using differing diameter beads, to create a recurring expansion and contraction along the string of beads. This is deliberately intended to echo the shape of sound and ocean waves -- the natural rhythmic environment in which we live. By staying mindful of the waveform’s imagery, greater calm and relaxation can be achieved, even in the midst of chaos.

Learning to thrive is in great part a cultivated ability to see beyond the highs and lows, the fluctuating circumstances of day-to-day living, to which we too often assign judgments of life as being either bad or good. By “going with” the organic flow of the waveform, we can lose less of our valuable personal energy to our internal critic, so that we can purposefully become more of an active participant in life.

While quartz is often used to shape a waveform, other gemstones are sequenced into create this natural rhythm, including black onyx, or a mix of stones that is sometimes combined with sterling silver.

DESIGN HALLMARKS

Whether as the primary gemstone in a design or as accents intended to set off other natural minerals with increased shimmer and shine, rock quartz crystal is a mainstay element. Because this is nature’s real crystal, formed by the tremendous heat and compression of volcanic action, the resulting chemical lattice structure is as strong as steel. In contrast to man-made glass crystal which reflects light, its natural translucency transmits light, making skin look shimmery and flawless. Further, quartz carries a longstanding tradition as a symbol for inspiration and insight. All gemstones, and especially quartz, will absorb heat radiated from our bodies as we wear them. Cool to the touch when first put on, when taken off, they are pleasantly warm. What a great way to confirm that we are truly alive as we move throughout our day.

JEWELRY-to-Treasure

Power bracelets are a thing of the past. ENERGYjewelry is the classic that will be here for today, tomorrow and forever.

Semi-precious wearable jewelry
Featuring gemstones and pearls combined with sterling silver