I
have
become fascinated with agate beads. The
designs in them are unique — no two identical
— and often stunning. They also come
in amazingly rich colours. My favourites
are dragon-vein agates, but there are many other kinds
— fire, druzy, sakara, cherry and plum blossom,
and scenic dendric agates; sea sediment; ocean crystal;
kambaba jasper; turquoise gold copper bornite stone;
chrysanthemum and nipomo coral; and more. The
necklace lengths are most often made from agates,
jade and/or rock crystal; but sometimes amethyst,
sapphire, tourmaline, topaz, obsidian, howlite, rose
quartz, etc.
The
necklaces are double threaded and knotted (between
beads) by hand. I use nylon beading thread
and silver bails with glass seed beads under them
to prevent the bail from fraying the thread. Then
they are hung for at least a week to reveal any stretching
of the thread of knots.
The
longer necklaces are 27-28 inches long (not counting
the main pendant bead) and are endless (i.e. no clasp
as they can go over the head). The shorter
ones are 20-2 inches long (again not counting the
main pendant bead) and are closed with clasps. The
pendant beads are generally 40-60mm on the longer
necklaces and 30-40mm on the shorter ones.
Matching
earrings may be available in 'Necklace Other' in the
top menu.
WARNING:
although the stones are fairly strong, they can break.
I recommend that you store them separately
from other jewellry, or at least alone in a bag. Most
can be washed with soap and water, scrubbing with
a soft toothbrush if need be.
