Circa the 1940’s or 1950’s, these coral beads were purchased from an estate where it was obvious that the original owners loved to travel. The beads had a rudimentary clasp, but because the coral was such high quality, Kirsten’s Corner fashioned a cap in 14k gold and added a lobster clasp that was a better match for the beautiful beads. The coral is a rich, deep red. Each individual bead is different, and never perfectly round—when examined under a loop, the growth patterns of the branch coral can be seen. Fine delicate branches of coral were cross cut to make the beads. The variations are stunning, giving the necklace a crude and organic quality that could not be replicated otherwise.
A hole was carefully drilled into each bead, making this a very labor intensive piece with a high level of attention to detail. There are 28 strands of beads. The necklace is 29 1/2” long and weighs 175 grams.
To wear this beautiful necklace, give the beads a gentle twist before clasping it around the neck. As seen in the picture, the strands can also be folded through to create a loose braided effect.