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There are so
many styles of jewelry that have stood the test of time, being
replicated over and over again throughout the centuries. A great
example is the swag style necklace. Gemstones set in fine settings,
usually with accompanying drops, connected to each other with
varying lengths of a chain of some sort. The simplest versions
used plain gold chain links, with 2-3 varying lengths between
each gemstone component. As the lengths of chain were increased
between the components, the chain gave the connections a swag
appearance. The look was light and airy, delicate and alluring,
as the style showed the wearers skin between the components.
Over the centuries,
the swag style continued with only a few modifications. A great
example is the emerald and diamond Parure that was commissioned
by Emperor Napoleon and Empress Josephine of France in 1806.
They didn’t commission a new style of necklace for their
gift to Stéphanie de Beauharnais to honor her marriage
to the heir of the Grand Duke of Baden, but a tried and true
design in honor of the glories of the empires of ancient Greece
and Rome. Large rectangular emeralds surrounded by set diamonds,
with open backed settings so the stones showed up more in the
light, each component has the accompanying emerald drop. Connecting
the components together are 2 lengths of alternating set stones
of emeralds and diamonds linked as chain, connecting to each
component in two places. One link is shorter than the other to
give the swag look.
Bringing this
design into the 21st century, Somewhere in Time, evokes the same
alluring qualities as the swag style necklaces did as far back
as the 4th century BC. Somewhere in Time has 3 trillion shaped
CZs (lab grown corundum stones), surrounded with beadwork, and
connected to a CZ pear shaped drop that also has a beaded bezel
and is flourished with a cluster of wire-wrapped faceted gemstones.
Each component links to the other with 2 lengths of gemstone
chain. Bezeled trillions continue the progression around the
necklace, separated with the gemstone chain, to end with a beautiful
vermeil clasp.
Skill level: Intermediate. The beading
skills needed for creating this design is a good knowledge of
Peyote Stitch.
This is a 1-day
workshop.
Photos: Mark
Rutledge
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