The December Challenge theme at Art Elements is white. I immediately thought of a necklace of pearls. A pearl necklace is a wardrobe staple. Whether you like strung, looped or knotted pearls, a necklace of pearls is a classic item that adds elegance to your look. It can be simple or ornate, but a pearl necklace never fails.
The Colour Psychology of White
While white not exactly a colour, it is the source of all colours. Many of you would have come across the colour theory of how white light gets split into seven colours making up the VIBGYOR. In that context it makes sense to study the psychology of white.
Colour psychology is based on Visual, personal and social contexts. The universal values of white are purity, peace, and calmness. It is dichotomous in the sense that white stands both for simplicity and for luxury (high maintenance). Some Christian values of white include poverty, chastity, and Virginity. While many wrongly think that white is the colour of mourning in India, it is worn by widows, a funerals and at other solemn occasion for it is the colour of piety.
A necklace of pearls
I find stark white impossible to work with. It feels too costumey to me whenever I make any jewellery or accessory in white. Thankfully for me, Claire included Pantone swatches of “several whites” in her challenge post inviting us to use the “white” that spoke to us. I chose to work with pearl whites along with an accent of light gray. Wanting to keep it simple, I chose to create a necklace of pearls.
I patina-ed a filigree circle with white patina ink and brushed it to get a sheen. That is maybe why it looks offwhite in the pictures. While the gray pearls are Swarovski, the whites are naturally aged pearls. I have had them for atleast 24 years and worn them regularly as a teenager. The necklace got slightly stained with turmeric when my mom wore it for an auspicious occasion in 2008. Read the story in my reply to Laney in the comments ection.
This is the third remodel since then. Though it is just a necklace of pearls, it is jazzy enough to be used as party wear and ethnic enough to match my Indian outfits. This necklace is not for sale.
After making this necklace, I had plans for many more thematic explorations in different mediums including a white pompom Christmas tree.. However, the day of the reveal is here and this is the only piece that I have to show. I hope that my other ideas will soon get translated into products.
This month’s Participants
This is a blog hop. Please visit the other participants to see how they interpreted white.
46 responses to “A necklace of pearls”
I love the story of your necklace and how the pearls grew with you. Your necklace is beautiful, the different whites and the simple but very elegant pendant illustrate perfectly the values of white.
Thanks Karin, I am glad to have you over on the blog.
I love that you used pearls that you’ve had for so long. The grey and white are very pretty together in their subtle shade, and the pendant is a wonderful addition!
Thanks Cat, I have never really worked with such low contrast before. Its very new to me.
I am glad it isn’t just me that is intrigued with the history and philosophy of colour. I love your necklace but more so I love the stories behind the white pearls, how you wore them in your teenage years and how your mum stained them with turmeric… now that is a story I would like to hear 😉
Thanks Laney. Here is the story of the turmeric pearls – When a Hindu married man turns 60, the couple have a wedding ceremony along with other festivities. As a part of the rituals we pour turmeric water over the couple’s head to purify and bless them. My mom wore the pearls just afterward for their wedding ceremony and it got stained with the residual turmeric on the back of her neck.
Oh that is a lovely story, thank you for telling me 😀
My pleasure. I now realise that this makes the pearls my mom’s wedding pearls 😀 😀
beautiful, love the focal with the pearls
Thanks for visiting Jill
Your focal pendant is wonderful with the pearls – I love the story as well. And I love how you always post such interesting information! Love the wedding pearls story as well!
Thank you Susan, I am glad that you enjoyed reading the post
I love that you’ve remodeled an heirloom set of pearls – the subtle grays that you’ve added, and the focal pendant, work really well with them.
Thanks Anita. While the pearls are not heirloom, they were a very special gift so I wanted to reuse it in a good way.
Gorgeous is the first word that comes to mind. The pattern in the focal sets off your rosary wrapped pearls to perfection. One question … did you lop off part of the circle or was it already this shape? Either way, it lends a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to the design.
Alysen, you have a very sharp eye. I fiddled with the filigree as I had another design in mind. I snapped off one edge and that plan failed. So I cut it off to create a flattened circle. “Rosary” was what I had in mind while making the piece. I am so thrilled that you got my idea. 🙂
I know you were a little nervous working with this theme. As most of your pieces are bright and vibrant, I’m sure white was touch, but you totally pulled it out. Pearl necklaces are indeed classic, but you created something distinctly yours. I have to admit that the simple crystal on one side is what draws me in the most. It makes the necklace slightly asymmetrical and adds so much interest. As for the focal, I bet you had fun with those patinas. I know they’re one of my favorite supplies with which to work. As always, beautiful work!
Yes Hope, I am not good with white at all but I had fun with this piece. Thank you for noticing the asymmetrical twist and the way the pendant and the beads come together as my style. I am really grateful for that.
The necklace is classic elegance with a wonderful story. As always, I enjoyed the information in your post as much as the lovely jewelry.
Thank you Tammy. Much love
Enjoyed reading your post 🙂 That’s a beautiful design and really special!
Thank you Caroline
Thanks for sharing a history of white – it is always fun to learn things about color!
I love the what you have done with the pearls and that they have been with you and have used them in a new look.
Thank you Beth. Colour psychology is a very interesting subject. Do look it up
This is a beautiful necklace. I love that you worked with various tones of white (stark white is a bit too much for sure). 🙂
Thank you Marsha, I am so glad that Claire gave us the choice of different whites
I love the metal pendant that you added the patina to. And using the pearls you have had for many years makes this necklace much more special. The addition of the gray pearls is the perfect touch.
Thanks Cathy, The pendant was a full circle of flowers that I cut. But I am happier with it this way
Beautiful pearl necklace I agree totally a very staple part of anyone’s jewellery collection… I have a few myself. Lovely pendant and you would never know you had trouble keeping to this with no other colour to speak of…
Yes Elaine, I had trouble working solely with white. That is why I added gray. But I am glad that its goes together
What a special necklace! I love how it has changed over the years. It is beautiful. I know you will enjoy wearing it and wear it often.
Thanks Kathy, I have already worn it once and hope to wear it more often
A gorgeous necklace Divya! Loved to learn about its history and it really is a wonderful keepsake you get to treasure!
Good luck with the competition! My vote has been cast!
Thanks for voting for me Maya
Such an elegant and striking piece.
Thank you Lesley
The necklace turned out wonderful is elegant and interesting (as much as I love pearls, I find the simple pearl necklaces simply boring… especially at events where it seems most women wear them….). I love that this necklace shows you in it. For me jewelry is not only about looking beautiful but rather also to express something and to tell a story. By the way, I would also love to hear the story about your mum, pearls and tumeric! 😉 Did you try out staining pearls with tumeric on purpose? I am curious how this would turn out and how stable it would be.
Thank you so much for participating in this month’s challenge even though it was a difficult theme for you! 🙂
Thank you so much for selecting this theme Claire. I made me workout my issues with white. No I did stain the pearls on purpose, it was a complete accident. You could read about the incident in my reply to Laney. It is as follows. When a Hindu married man turns 60, the couple have a wedding ceremony along with other festivities. As a part of the rituals we pour turmeric water over the couple’s head to purify and bless them. My mom wore the pearls just afterward for their wedding ceremony in 2008 and it got stained with the residual turmeric on the back of her neck.
This necklace is absolutely beautiful, even more so because some of the beads have a history with you. Fun to see.
Thansk Ann, have a great new year
This is a gorgeous pice – with a heartfelt personal story! Your Mom’s wedding pearls! Tumeric! I love every part of this. I hope you wear this in health and happiness in the New Year ahead!
Thank you for your beautiful wishes Jenny. I hope that you have a great year too
That filigree gives a high-end feel to the whole piece! Isn’t it interesting how we define many nuances of white as white? I’m often asked to restring pearl necklaces that have been in a family for years but I would personally prefer a request for makeover and this piece explains it why – it’s modern classic with a history!
I never take orders to restring or work with old beads. But I do it for myself and my family members as I want to simply wear it. Sometimes it is better to let old pieces be
Sorry for the super late blog hopping… that keeps happening in my world! I love that you’ve been able to keep giving this special strand of pearls new life. This iteration is so lovely and wearable. Sometimes we all need to make something just for ourselves!
No issues at all. I am glad that you were able to make it. Yes, it is a late realisation but I now know that I need to make things for me as well.