Joie de Vivre jewelry

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m e d i c i 

The Medici family was a powerful Italian family in Florence and the Tuscany region in the 1400s - 1700s and sponsored many projects of the Italian Renaissance that included artists such as Michaelangelo, a native of Florence, and Leonardo da Vinci. The Medicis were bankers and their wealth produced generations of patrons of the arts and letters, as well as several Popes and even Queens of France; naturally, there was also corruption, scandal and political intrigue as well. The magnificent Medici Chapel in Florence with sculptures by Michaelangelo are testiment to the family's influence and support of the Florentine artist. The style of this necklace takes its inspiration from jewelry of the Italian Renaissance: large central pendant flanked by curves of supporting jewels and metalwork. The sterling silver pendant is inset with numerous small marcasite stones (same composition as pyrite but in a different crystalline structure) and onyx cabochon. Deep black spinel gemstone drops emphasize the dramatic dark colored design. Black spinel is a metal oxide and particularly tough (Mohs hardness 8), making it a great choice for a more open design such as this in which the stones are free to move and relatively unprotected.

Cost: $142.00 USD

m a k e   i t   a   g i f t   s h i p m e n t :

Looking to ship this item separately as a gift? Gift shipment includes gift boxing and an occasion specific card sent to the recipient via USPS Priority Mail. Fill out the fields below including this jewelry item name, the recipient name and address, and occasion and this item will be sent to the recipient with a card and note. See the gift box section for samples of shipments with different occasion specific cards.

Cost of gift shipment (domestic shipping only): $5.95 USD

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M a t e r i a l s  &  C a r e 

Length: necklace - 22"

Materials:

  • maracasite and onyx set in sterling silver
  • spinel gemstone drops
  • silver plate tubes
  • sterling silver beads
  • sterling silver toggle clasp

Care & cleaning: Clean with warm soapy water and avoid chemical or abrasive cleaners. Use a soft jewelry polishing cloth to clean tarnish appearing on silver.

The gemstones may be tough but the silver plated tubes may be distorted with hard tugging so it's recommended to keep this out of reach of young hands. As with all beaded jewelry: do not let young toddlers chew on it.

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W h a t  t o  W e a r 

This 22" necklace can be worn with casual tops (crew necks, V-necks, turtlenecks) as well as blouses with higher collars. It is a larger and more dramatic design so care should be taken when pairing it with bold patterns.