[Ashley]

Hi Everybody,

I just finished having this custom-design necklace made for a customer of mine- she is celebrating her mother's 80th Birthday, and wanted to create a very special heirloom necklace featuring the 15 birthstones of her grandchildren. The matching earrings and bracelet that her brother and sister commissioned will be finished on Monday, and I will post pictures of them both as soon as possible, but I couldn't wait to share!

I have always really enjoyed the combination of pearls and colored gemstones, but birthstone jewelry has always seemed like such a jumble (it seems like very little consideration is given to how the colors compliment or contrast with the others, and is not my favorite style of jewelry), so this particular piece was a fun challenge!

The gemstones featured in this necklace are all 4.5mm round-brilliant cuts, mostly eye-clean, and totally saturated with color! I really like how intense the Emeralds are, and am sending out a great BIG Thank You to my former employer, Renata, Gonen and Lupe at ABC Gems for help in obtaining some of the rarer precious gems.

Gemstones:
2 pcs. Citrine (November), 2 pcs Peridot (August), 2 pcs Emerald (May), 1 Tanzanite (December), 1 Ruby (July), 1 Garnet (January), 4 White Sapphires (!!) (replacement for very $$$$ Diamonds- April), 1 Aquamarine (March), and lastly, and also my favorite: 1 Brazilian Alexandrite (June) which displays a brilliant color-shift from Tourmaline Green to Raspberry Red.

Each stone is bezel set into hand-milgrained 14K Yellow Gold and soldered together in clusters of 3 stones each, and spaced out into 5 clusters that were complementary to each other in one of our Elite Freshwater pearl strands 7.0-8.0mm, approx 16-inches, and finished with a 14KY Ball clasp. My hope is to possibly put this piece up in our Bridal section, so that grooms, brides, mother of the bride, etc can create a treasure that can be handed down through generations! Any thoughts?

[Ashley]

Here is another piece that we finished earlier on in the year, with 3 large 6.0mm Blue Topaz gemstones- unfortunately, I was under too tight of a deadline and did not get to take a picture of the finished necklace , but you get the idea...

[Heidi]

I saw the birthstone necklace posting on your blog and really think it's a great idea. There is the potential for personalizing that is so nice (many ideas here about a bride and groom's parents' birthstones getting incorporated, and so on for non-bridal applications like new moms, etc). I also see this as a fairly timeless style that is still unique. Of course I am partial to colored gems with pearls, too. The little trios of gems make a pretty rhythm against that of the pearl strand.

[Ashley]

Thanks, Heidi- I appreciate the feedback! can't wait to post the finished earrings and bracelet, but mostly, I can't wait to get the necklace into my client's hands! I'm so excited for her to have this!!

[pattye]

Ashley,

That is just completely gorgeous! Wish I could do the gold work, it looks so pretty that way! So classic and classy with the white pearls! Can't wait to see the earrings and bracelets, too!

Here's a photo of a "cheaper" version, spacing nice champagne roundel pearls with gems as a memory necklace for the Mother of my sis-in-law who died of cancer (she had June birthday) and my (Oct) brother who was killed in accident before that. She and her husband have raised my niece and nephew.



Marilyn is much loved and appreciated by everyone in the family--on both sides, so I put 3 sets of birthstones in representing everyone else!

Bet some others of you have done some similar projects--?

[barbie biggs]

Pattye:
Lovely design, and a nice way to remember loved ones.

Ashley:
Both are striking. I confess I prefer the first one. I has a slighly more formal look and the gold and jewels in line are very nice.
The second is also nice. Great colors!
Can't wait for the earrings.
barbie

[Nerida]

Pattye - I love your memory piece - just gorgeous and such a beautiful story behind it.

Ashley - I think the "grandmother's piece" is just so perfect and exquisite! My sisters and I did a needlework design for our mother's 70th birthday incorporating special things about all the grandchildren, but hey, I would take jewellery any day! Beautiful, elegant design, and like Pattye - I wish I could do goldwork - congratulations and I trust your clients will be delighted!

[Ashley]

I sure hope so! Thank you for the compliments- we'll see what she says on Monday when she opens the box! I'm crossing my fingers...

Pattye- that is such a beautiful memory necklace, I really do love it- the alternating gem rondelles are really pretty. That is a very special treasure!

[Caitlin]

Ashley

That is really beautiful- great designs and stone arrangement!

Pattye
Different version of the same idea- I think you're both on the cutting edge of a trend.

[GemGeek]

Ashley, that is so pretty.

Pattye, what a wonderful gesture and such a lovely result. I'm sure she feels terrific whenever she wears it. You're a peach!

[jerin]

Ashley,

I love the bezelsetting with 3 coloured gemstones. It is a lovely and very elegant design and I look forward seeing the rest of this set. I think it is a good idea taking them up into the bridal section. I could think myself buying such a fine necklace for all the other festive times through life!

[Sueki]

Ashley,
I love it - classic elegance, yet so different and special for the eventual owner.

Pattye,
Thanks for your pic. too - also a very special necklace which is surely much-loved and treasured by Marilyn.

[knotty panda]

Caitlin's right, Ashley. I can see that birthstone design shooting off in to lots of different directions. I don't recall seeing that shamrock design gem setting used as a station anywhere. Nice work! Help me out on the blue topaz. Top drilled? Or set? Wire wrapped or knotted on silk? Curious panda always has to have all the particulars.

[waimeamomi]

I think that first necklace is gorgeous! I love gemstones and pearls together, but because right now I have more gemstones than pearls, I am going the opposite direction using gemstone strands that feature a single pearl. Here is one with aquamarine. The color is much prettier in the stones, and the silver pearl picks up all the blue, my daughters' are March (aquamarine) and June pearl babies, but unfortunately that necklace is not mine to keep. One is black diamonds and South Seas pearl (I call it the tuxedo look). The second is rubies, my birthstone with a Tahitian. I love the shapes you created with the gemstones, and it makes me want to play around with hanging the pearls in stations through the stones, the opposite take on your necklaces. I think your client is going to start crying with joy when you reveal that necklace!

[barbie biggs]

Sheryl:
What a lovely approach. The gemstone rondels are very appealing and showcase the pearls perfectly.
You are all so imaginative!
barbie