Bantaey Srei necklace tutorial

During the lockdown of 2020, I created a ceramic and stone bead necklace with tassels. I used the ceramic art bead from Claycult Cambodia as my focal. I combined it with stone beads that I bought at Rameshwaram, Czech beads that I got during a bead swap, and Indian glass beads. The  Bantaey Srei necklace is inspired by the red stone Bantaey Srei temple at Cambodia and is a reminder of a well cherished trip. Bantaey Srei necklace tutorial is my way of reliving that wonderful trip through another post in the Bejewelled Travel series.

Bantaey Srei or citadel of women as I mention in my must see temples in Siem Reap post, is a cluster of structures that were used for worship. Commissioned by the tutor to king Jayavarman V in 967 AD, the reliefs in the pediments are intricate. However, what we see today at the site are replicas while the original is stored in the National Museum.

Bantaey Srei necklace tutorial

Materials

• 20g artisan wire, rose gold/gold tone
• Round ceramic textured bead from Claycult Cambodia
• 3mm Red Rondelle crystal Bead Chain – 1 meter
• Stone bead barrels – 4
• stripped shaded orange-gold Czech glass beads – 4
• 10mm maroon glass rounds – 10
• 8mm red glass crystals – 4
• 14mm peach glass ovals
• 6/O gold lined seed beads – 8
• Ornate Gold tone connectors – 2
• Gold tone bead caps – 2
• Gold plated clasp

Method

The material list for the Bantaey Srei necklace tutorial is long but the process is simple. You need to make the tassel and the looped bead chain and connect them both together on both ends.

1. Cut the meter-long chain into 9-10 lengths. Group them together and loop them using artistic wire. Add a bead cap, focal bead, and another cap to the length of the wire and loop again. Your tassel is now ready.
2. Loop the beads together as seen in the image to create the beaded chain.
3. Connect the beaded parts to the tassel and add a clasp to the other end.

I added beads to create a sense of rhythm and harmony by playing with different shapes, finishes and colours. You can use a single type of bead to make the chain or mix and match beads as I did. I hope you have fun playing with your beads and creating variations of this necklace. Find more jewellery making tutorials here.

I have plans for some big changes at Sayuri and I need to make space for them. I am clearing my stock with a flat rate sale at Sayuri with never before seen prices. This Bantaey Srei necklace is one of those available at an unbelievable 35% discount, waiting to be owned by a lucky wearer. Do send me a mail or message if you are interested in any of the pieces.

I hope you found it interesting
Cheers