Joie de Vivre jewelry

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t o u r m a l i n e   n o . 1 0   l e  g u i n 

The Earthsea books were my first introduction to Ursula Le Guin, followed by The Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed, Always Coming Home, the Hainish novels, amazing collections of short stories (Searoad, The Compass Rose, Unlocking the Air), essays, poetry, children's books, even a translation of The Tao Te Ching. She is a writer; she writes. Her writing reminds me of the green tourmaline crystals in this necklace: clear, natural and to the point. She is probably best known as a science fiction author, but I find this a bit misleading. Yes, she uses the science fiction and fantasy genres to tell many of her stories, but the subject matter is us, and what she has to say about us is unusual and refreshing. The hexagonal crystalline structure of tourmaline is highly visible in the necklace, and the rawness of the stones contributes to its wilder feel. Most green tourmaline is a more saturated, darker green, and these unusual stones favor the more blue-green indicolite variety of tourmaline. It's a unique necklace inspired by an unusual author.

Cost: $174.00 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 - adjustable 16"-20"

Materials:

  • tourmaline gemstone beads
  • Japanese glass seedbeads
  • sterling silver links
  • sterling silver chain and hook clasp
  • Soft Touch light duty nylon coated stainless steel cord (10 lb. load test)

Care & cleaning: Beading cord may be kinked or broken through hard jerks or severed through prolonged exposure to rough or sharp edges; store necklace flat when not in use to prevent stretching or kinking cord. Clean with warm soapy water and avoid chemical or abrasive cleaners. The tourmaline stones required a small diameter beading cord and therefore, greater care is needed to avoid snagging the necklace or otherwise applying sharp force.

Tourmaline is a hard mineral (Mohs 7 - 7.5) but the delicate nature of the design (top drilled small crystals + seedbead glass spacers) means it's probably best to keep out of the 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 

The adjustable 16"-20" necklace is versatile and can be worn with shells and blouses as well as deeper V collared shirts. It is a delicate and elegant design that dresses up a casual outfit without being flashy and enhances evening wear with glow and subtle sparkle.