??Sea of Cortez Pearls??

[JerseyPearl]

Oh my! Those pieces are stunning ladies! Cathy, I am intrigued by those tiny diamonds and how they attach to the chain...I cannot imagine the amount of work that went into creating that necklace...it is stunning! STUNNING!!

And newberry, your peanut with the blue akoya...I never realized that was SoC...I had assumed it was a South Sea baroque. It is one of my many favorites in your collection.

[Pareltje]

Thanks for sharing your pretty SoC pearls, la_corsettiere, lillifefuzzysocks, newberry and Cathy. Those are real eye candies.

[pattye]

My apologies for being late to the Cortez Pearls party! Mine are treasured, too!

[BWeaves]

Oh wow. I'm never fast enough to get to Douglas at Ruckus.

[Pearling Technologies]

Yep, I’m sold too!

[JerseyPearl]

Oooh, pattye, those pieces are stunning!

BWeaves, I told myself I wasn't going to buy any pearls while I was in Tucson...then I met Douglas, and saw the SoC in person. I actually refused to try on a strand, although Douglas did try his charming best...but I persevered. I knew if it went on my neck, that would be it. I did, however, pick up some goodies for my jewelry line.

[pattye]

Yes, JP, so difficult to resist, such magnificent colors! It will be fun to see what you do with your purchases. Always a delight to see my friends Cortez Pearl treasures! These mabes were my choice to wear to my Granddaughter's wedding last fall, with a strand wrapped as a bracelet.

[CathyKeshi]

Oooh, Pattye, I have always LOVED those SOC Mabes ... especially the settings ... magnificent! I'd love to see those again ... on you

JerseyPearl: If you look at that gold chain used, it's oval links separated each by a much smaller link. The diamond structure is like a little barbell. little piece of gold wire, slipped through the link, a little diamond on each end of the wire, and then soldered to create the little gold bead ends to the wires. At least that's how I understood it. And yes ... it was a gift of love no money could buy; just one of the reasons I love this piece so much ... the love and friends it reminds me of

[Katbran]

That was my guess ! I thought maybe a ball head pin was run through the two and then either heated and balled or hammered like a rivet and then shaped with a balling tool. Either way it's a lot of work and really easy to melt the gold wire. Takes concentration ! It's a beautiful delicate necklace - just gorgeous !!

Newberry - love the before and after ! Those pearls are really quite amazing .. especially the peanut !

Pattye - Your Mabe are stunning and I love the deep gold with them.

Oooh, Pattye, I have always LOVED those SOC Mabes ... especially the settings ... magnificent! I'd love to see those again ... on you

JerseyPearl: If you look at that gold chain used, it's oval links separated each by a much smaller link. The diamond structure is like a little barbell. little piece of gold wire, slipped through the link, a little diamond on each end of the wire, and then soldered to create the little gold bead ends to the wires. At least that's how I understood it. And yes ... it was a gift of love no money could buy; just one of the reasons I love this piece so much ... the love and friends it reminds me of

[CathyKeshi]

Katbran ... it could have been a fine head pin I suppose. My extremely detailed description of "a fine piece of gold wire" is open to interpretation and correction LOL

[Pareltje]

I don't have that many yet. Here's my two cents,
a SoC keshi bracelet and a pendant

[JerseyPearl]

Thanks Cathy, that barbell structure is what I had assumed, but I wasn't sure. Sarah's work really is so lovely. On my SoC design, I've only completed one project with them (it's on my Instagram).

[MSC]

I am loving this thread! SoC pearls are drool-makingly beautiful. Here's my contribution

Some SoC pearl pieces (thanks to Jersey for her help on the earrings!)

Some SoC keshi pieces
(the pendant has a keshi in the center, but all the other pearls are natural Pteria sterna)

Some SoC pearls and mabes and keshi and shells destined for future projects

[Pareltje]

MSC, I looovvveeeee your SoC pieces. They are wonderful.

[pattye]

All so so beautiful! Now I wish I had more keshi, lol!