aquamarine necklace with antique 18th century Cape Town 22K gold clasp

A heavenly hue of celestial blue defines this aquamarine necklace, hand-knotted with matching silk into a quietly understated double-strand choker with an antique clasp. The shining star in this constellation is an incredible 18th century 22K gold buckle clasp made by Cape goldsmith Johannes Casparus Lotter.

designer: atelier bento

details:

• necklace length: 17.25 inches (18.5" longer strand)
• stone:  moss aquamarine smooth rondelle beads
• treatments:  assumed heated for clarity
• stone sizes: graduated between 7mm-12.5mm
• clasp: solid 22K gold 8.6 grams, South Africa
• marks: JCL Johannes Casparus Lötter
• construction: individually hand knotted

$3200

item: N 00026
availability: one-of-a-kind

CONTACT: 520-906-7187

about aquamarines:

Named after seawater, aquamarine’s fresh watery hue is a “cool plunge into a refreshing pool". This is the opening descriptive line for aquamarines from the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Gem Encyclopedia. This short phrase captures the essence of this ethereal blue gemstone of the mineral species beryl. Other well known varieties of beryl include the classic green emerald, morganite (the peachy beryl discovered in Madagascar in 1910 and named in honor of J.P. Morgan), green beryl (a green too light to be represented as emerald), heliodor (a yellow to orange beryl), and the super rare red beryl - bixbite - found to date only in the Wah Wah mountains of Utah.

All the members of the beryl family are beryllium aluminum silicates by chemical composition with a Mohs Hardness of 7.5-8 and are found in pegmatite deposits, often at high elevations. Chemically pure beryl is colorless, but trace elements give rise to green, blue and pink/red colors. The most important variety is green emerald (colored by chromium or vanadium), followed by blue aquamarine and yellow heliodor (both colored by iron), and pink morganite (colored by manganese). The GIA Gem project: Beryl has some beautiful photographs of the stunning range of color found in beryls.

Of all gemstones, I think that the beryls are my favorite. Watching  Amanda Adkins prospect for the "icy blue" on top of Mt. Antero in Colorado on the hit series Prospectors, cinched my love for the elusive blue gem. What fun it would be to find an aquamarine crystal!  In ancient sea lore, aquamarine was believed to be the treasure of mermaids and was worn by sailors as a talisman of good luck, fearlessness and protection.

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CONTACT: 520-906-7187