IOILITE FACETED ROUNDELS WITH 14K GOLD BEADS

As a navigation tool, the stunning purple-blue gemstone, iolite, often saved the ancient Viking mariner from sure disaster on the high seas. When viewed through a lens crafted of iolite, the first low-tech polarizing filter, the sun's location could be pin-pointed with accuracy. The iolite stone, a variety of Cordierite, was often called a "Water Sapphire," for it's mystical blue appearance, but if you look hard enough, you will see that the blue is not uniform. The stone is a wonderful example of "pleochroism," or a slight variegation in the stone in which there are three different shades of blue that range from purple-blue to sapphire to a watery light blue-violet. Spiritually, the stone represents the Higher Self and was used by ancient shamans to dispel discord and to add an accuracy to their visions; the ancients also believe that iolite is a shield against victimization. Sounds like a real paladin stone. . .and, it's gorgeous. I took this rather unique strand of faceted roundels and paired the stones with corrugated 14k gold roundels. The contrast is rich and satisfying. The clasp on this 16-1/2" choker-length circlet, by the way, is very secure and has a built-in protective guard.

Retail Price: $1000.00

FACETED AMETRINE BRIOLETTES, COGNAC QUARTZ, 22K GOLD BEADS

Ametrine is a colorful and quite surprising stone. It can't decide if it wants to be citrine or amethyst, so it is both. These faceted square-ended Harlequin-carved briolettes meet and match up to create a series of unique nose-to-tail pairs, separated by roundels of 22k Thai gold. The 19" long necklace is strung with a briolette of cognac quartz affixed with two 22k Thai gold hexagon beads from the necklace for more visual interest. The clasp is a 14k gold barrel closure that is very secure.

Retail Price: $1375; Matching drop earrings hung from vermeil, lever-back closures are $85.00

COPPER-VEINED CHINESE TURQUOISE, GARNET ROUNDELS AND A TURQUOISE, GARNET AND DRUZY QUARTZ PENDANT

There are times when I'm designing a necklace, that the components speak to me in thehir own quiet way, and tell me with which other stones they'd like to spend eternity. Such was the case with this druzy quartz pendant with the turquoise and garnet accent stones. In this case, the contrast between the earthy turquoise and the Wicked Queen sophistication of the blood red garnet is stunning and works quite to the advantage of the druzy quartz, really showing it off. Druzy quartz, glittery and mysterious, looks like crushed deep blue topaz quartz gemstones mixed with crushed rubies; I love using it with smooth-textured beads like these copper-veined turquoise beads from China. Completing the fabulous fall of turquoise and glitz is a sensuous rectangular cabachon garnet clasp, garnet roundel accent beads and a single creamy white pearl right below the silver bail of the pendant. The necklace is 21-3/4" long.

Retail Price: $225.00

DYED CARNELIAN FACETED ROUNDS WITH 22K GOLD FIGURED ROUND BEADS

The carnelian beauty on the left is a KISS-KISS

necklace -- a pure example of Keep It Simple, Silly. When you find beads as luminous and as full of inner fire as these special rust-colored carnelians, you really want to show off the quality of the bead and not mess it up with a lot of frou-frou. I used teensy 22k gold pumpkin rounds to

separate a series of carnelians. I've never seen 4mm beads quite this detailed and almost old-fashioned in feeling. Again, these came out of the box of unique beads that my friend Karen sent me from Santa Fe. I am most reluctant to string these, because once they're gone, they're gone. But hey -- isn't that what unique, hand-made pieces are all about? A strand of beads to powerful and special, no one else will ever have them.

Retail Price: $180.00

FACETED LEMON QUARTZ ROUNDELS WITH 14K GOLD

A classic circlet of golden beads, faceted to catch the light, this lemon quartz necklace is beauty in simplicity. Lemon quartz is so special. It is pure light-golden yellow, the yellow of a baby's hair or a squeeze of bracing lemon juice. Combined with 14k gold corrugated roundels, this circlet is a study in textures that requres a second look to appreciate its subtle beauties. It is choker length -- about 17-1/2".

Retail Price: $475.00

VARIEGATED TOURMALINE LIFESAVER NECKLACE

Karen Riley's surprise gift of all those strands of spectacular gemstone beads turned up some fantastic treasures including a strand of variegated red-to-green tourmaline that looks almost like a roll of LifeSaver candies. Tourmaline is a most wonderful stone. One of my dearest friends had her wedding ring created from one of the most spectacular green tournalines I've ever seen in lieu of the traditional diamond. You can't quite pin down what a tourmaline is going to look like. It can be as pinky-red as a Burmese ruby; as green as an emerald; as black as obsidian or a golden as a citrine. I loved this strand because there is so much going on it it. It's like a party around the neck. Because the texture of the beads was so smooth, I felt it needed a little jazzing up with the gold I used. so there are corrugated roundels and filigree rounds of 14k gold, finished with a corrugated 14k golden ball clasp.

Retail Price: $1500.00

OPERA LENGTH FACETED COGNAC QUARTZ BRIOLETTES

Cognac quartz has a very special color. It
looks just like the deep gold of an very
old, vintage sauterne or cognac. These beads were given to me by my friend Karen Riley. They have quite a story behind them. They were in a treasure box she had given to her by her boss whose wife had bought these years ago from a very expensive New York dealer who dealt in very special, rare beads. The wife never strung them so they were among the various treasures Karen gifted me with. When you have beads as textured and luminous as these are, faceted in a harlequin pattern, less is absolutely more. Also in that treasure box were these 22k Thai gold (a deep, satisfying color, almost bronze) faceted beads. The two elements really wanted to live together. This is a very unique piece. I'm not sure I could ever find beads like these again. This particular necklace is opera length; is extends right into the decolettage and would look fabulous with a black or brown turtleneck sweater, a rust, gold, hunter green, scarlet, purple or burgundy taffeta dress for the holidays. A fabulous neutral, you can dress up or down in this gorgeous, one-of-a-kind gemstone piece.

Retail Price: $1750.00

NINE-STRAND GARNET BIB NECKLACE

The garnet is the January birthday stone. They can be as dark as blackberry juice or as red as burgundy beets. The garnet rounds in this spectacular nine-strand bib are closer to beet red than blackberry. This is a substantial necklace, strung on silver slide clasp set with peridot, amethyst and garnet. Nine strands of garnets have some heft and import. I'd call this a major-major piece of jewelry.

Retail Price: $700.00

NINE-STRAND GARNET BIB