Pastel-toned, matte Peruvian opal rod beads make up the principal stone in this necklace. Worked inbetween each opal rod bead are turquoise colored faence, matte pale yellow serpentine beads from Afghanistan and round, flat gold-plated beads from Columbia. These are exact replicas of old Pre-Columbian gold beads, originally found in niche graves and today exhibited in the Gold Museum in Bogota, Columbia. By using the same antique techniques as the pre-Columbians did, the original warm gold look and matte patina is maintained.

To the pre-Columbians, gold represented eternity and the sacred source of all life. The wearer of this precious material was bestowed with energy, health and happiness. The symbolic and preferred matte quality of the gold was believed to preserve its energy inward, versus a shiny surface which was believed to radiate the gold’s energy outward.

45cm/17.5 inches