I bought an absolutely GORGEOUS strand of graduated rhodochrosite flat ovals at Intergem. The central piece is about 25x20mm, and it tapers down to about
14x10mm at the ends. It's very nearly gem-grade; the swirls of color have incredible depth and almost a bit of shimmer. Also, someone went to a *lot* of trouble to select beads that are not just the same size but similar in pattern in corresponding positions. It cost $70, and I consider it worth every penny.
Now, I'm not quite sure how best to do it justice. My initial thought was just to make it into a necklace as it is, with elegant spacers, and let the beauty of the stone speak for itself. Then I wondered if it might be better to make the central bead into a pendant instead of making a straight strand. I considered adding pearls, but on second look that won't work -- there's too much beige in a couple of the beads. I considered spacing it with some of the ruby rondelles that have been sitting in my inventory for about 2 years.
Then too, any of those options would make it a hellishly expensive piece. So I also considered using the central 5 beads in a pendant-style necklace with some other kind of stone, and the other beads in a smaller piece. But it really does seem a shame to break up such a beautifully-selected set.
Please think about this both as an artist and as a potential buyer. What would you consider doing with a set like this, and what would make it something you couldn't live without? I'm hoping that something in the discussion will spark an idea that just seems perfectly *right* for this strand. Thanks!
Celine