Description
A luminous pair of aqua sea green trade glass beads, mounted in hand formed spiral settings of 14k rose gold filled. Dangling from 14k rose gold filled earring hooks.
The design is simple and casual, centering on the beauty of the texture of the glass and the soft diffused glow that is seen when light passes through it. Hand formed spiral setting adds a touch of old world rustic beauty.
The trade glass used for this design is semi-round spherical in shape and is a soft aqua green in color, which I like to call “Sea Green”. It has a raw tumbled surface texture with some unique surface features, and is translucent (light passes through). Please read below for more info about trade glass.
These earrings are made to order, the pair in the photos is sold and yours will be created just for you with it’s own unique trade glass beads.
THE DETAILS
-Recycled/Trade glass, semi-round in shape and soft aqua green in color with a raw tumbled surface texture. Some have surface inclusions and all are translucent (light can pass through).
-I will choose a pair of trade glass beads from my collection to create your bespoke earrings. Each one is unique and they are all beautiful.
-Trade glass beads are mounted in a 14k rose gold filled setting starting with a spiral design at the bottom which runs through the center of each bead and also wraps fluidly around the outside of the glass, finishing at the loop up top, holding it securely in place.
-Trade glass beads vary slightly in shape and size but are all semi-round and average 12-14mm (about 1/2″) in size.
-Total length of earrings from top of earring hook to bottom of design averages 33mm (just over 1 1/4″). Drop length from the connecting point at bottom of earring hook to bottom of design averages 19mm (3/4″).
-14k rose gold filled earring hooks complete the design.
ABOUT TRADE GLASS
Trade glass beads are a type of hand formed (usually kiln fired) indigenously produced African bead created from recycled glass, using an age old process that has been around for centuries. It is sourced from sea glass, old medicine bottles, soda bottles and the like. Used as a form of token currency from the 16th-20th centuries, it derives it’s name.
The beads I use are produced primarily in Ghana West Africa. They are Fair Trade.
ABOUT GOLD FILLED JEWELRY
Gold-filled jewelry is composed of a solid layer of gold, which must constitute at least 5% (1/20) of the item’s total weight, mechanically bonded to sterling silver or a base metal (such as jeweler’s brass). Gold-filled items are 5 to 10 times thicker than regular gold plating, and 15 to 25 times thicker than gold electroplate, making it much more valuable and longer lasting because gold-filled has an actual layer of karat gold, not just a microscopic film as on plated jewelry which is estimated to be 0.05% or less of the metal product. Most gold-filled is 12kt or 14kt gold-filled (I use 14kt for my pieces). Gold-filled does not de-laminate or peel like plated or “dipped” products. It is tarnish resistant and does not tarnish as readily as silver. Many find that they never have to clean gold-filled items at all. However, from time to time your jewelry may become dirty from everyday wear. To clean gold-filled it is best to use mild soap and water.
Thank you so much for visiting my shop! If you have any questions about this design or any of the designs in my shop, please contact me, I’m happy to help!
Amber Spangler (Rafi And Klee Studios) –
I am extremely happy with these earrings. They are prettier in person than they are in the picture.