What looks best with Blue Akoya

[ckrickett]

I bought a few very inexpensive strands of baroque blue akoyas off of ebay (some of them look like they are just garbage, others look beautiful. I trust the seller, and they were very honest with their listings).

I wanted to use them to string a little shortish rope (34-40 inches) and I wanted to add gemstone beads between the pearls. I was thinking either mystic topaz, london topaz, or aquamarine


thoughts?

 

[ennui]

I'd go with aquamarine, or sky blue topaz. Maybe opal.

 

[Fly Girl]

I have a blue akoya strand that I'm planning to do the same thing with. It needs to be longer and I'm considering adding gemstones and perhaps gold rondelles to give it more length and kick it up a notch.

So, I've been looking around and considering different options. The most striking one I've seen has larger smooth black rondelles (either spinel or onyx would work) between the pearls along with a few yellow gold spacers.

For a longer rope, I would consider adding a couple of colors of gemstone spacers. I love labradorite for the blue sheen, but you might want a contrasting color as well.

 

[ckrickett]

I have a blue akoya strand that I'm planning to do the same thing with. It needs to be longer and I'm considering adding gemstones and perhaps gold rondelles to give it more length and kick it up a notch.

So, I've been looking around and considering different options. The most striking one I've seen has larger smooth black rondelles (either spinel or onyx would work) between the pearls along with a few yellow gold spacers.

For a longer rope, I would consider adding a couple of colors of gemstone spacers. I love labradorite for the blue sheen, but you might want a contrasting color as well.

I have a 1/2 strand of large black spinel rondelles, and 4 strands of small black spinels.

so I may play around with that!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

No mystic topaz, please! It usually looks fake and will cheapen the look.

The black would look good, I think: colour contrast and sparkle for a more modern touch. The aqua would be very elegant and a more classic look. A baby pink tourmaline might look nice as well.

 

[ckrickett]

Here is what both strands look like. One was $34 the other $29 so I definitely didn't pay anything for them.


The first strand





second strand



I will probably have to trash at least 1/3 of them.

 

[ckrickett]

The nacre is looks kind of thin on some of them so I am going to have to play with them once I get them.

again this is just for a fun strand.


I'm liking the idea of pink tourmaline, aquamarine or black spinel!

 

[Lovinggems]

Sounds great! I was going to throw in a suggestion for dark blue beads. I am looking forward to your photos.
The pearls looks really great for the price!

 

[Pearlescence]

If you want them to look more blue perhaps blue sapphires..maybe even dark blue..or tanzanite? blue zircons?
If you want to bring out the grey then plump for the black spinels

 

[ennui]

If you want a dark contrast, there's always lapis lazuli.

 

[ckrickett]

If you want a dark contrast, there's always lapis lazuli.

That would be nice too!! I have been looking at emerald too. some colombian emerald rondelles look nice.

 

[ckrickett]

I think I am going to wait until I get them to see how they look IRL

 

[NacreLover]

No blue stones. Sterling silver or white gold chains would look smashing. If you try to use blue you'll never match the color and the color will look off, you'd be better off using something completely different.

 

[krissy7]

How about small faceted labradorite stones?

 

[ckrickett]

No blue stones. Sterling silver or white gold chains would look smashing. If you try to use blue you'll never match the color and the color will look off, you'd be better off using something completely different.

I was also thinking columbian emerald rondelles, or black spinels

 

[Begonia]

Some very pale citrines might complement some of the tones in the pearls. Lighter citirines sometimes go well with labradorite and gold fittings.

 

[Begonia]

Perhaps some large Bali silver beads to go with the citirines and labradorite...

 

[ckrickett]

Light citrines sound nice

 

[Kay]

I love my light blue baroque akoyas paired with dark blue tops. I bet dark blue sapphires or other stones would look great with the light blue akoyas. Black spinel would probably look good too.

 

[ckrickett]

Here are some pics of different ideas. they shipped today, so I am going to wait until I get them to figure out what I am going to use.

Thoughts?


Citrine


Aquamarine


Pyrite


Columbian Emerald


Laboradite


Morganite




Also on the table are rough champagne diamond beads, Lapis Lazuli, Black Spinel, Pink Tourmaline

 

[Lovinggems]

I like the emerald idea, a bit of contrast. Or how about a Gellner type strand, there was one where they used small sections of different color beads, perhaps the paler beads like the labs, morganite, citrine and aquas? Maybe leave out one or two if it's too colourful.

 

[Tucs]

I vote for citrine!

 

[ennui]

No blue stones. Sterling silver or white gold chains would look smashing. If you try to use blue you'll never match the color and the color will look off, you'd be better off using something completely different.

Hmmm. I'm a monochromatic person, I guess. I would at least keep it in pastels.

I love those aquamarine rondels.

 

[pkinnew]

crickett - Great project! I'm not much of a jewelry designer but maybe the morganite? Might bring out some of the pink in the pearls? I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

 

[mapo]

What are the overtones that you like in the blue akoya? I would pick a stone in the same color as your prefered overtone so it'll really bring out your favorite overtone in the strand. I love this idea btw! You're so creative in your choices.

Editing this to say that of the stones above, I love the color of the emeralds. Such a pretty fresh saturated green. Reminds me that spring is almost here!

 

[ennui]

I'm thinking back to the Tahitian / spinel "party" strands ... I think faceted black spinel would be pretty.

Yes, I know I said pastels, but it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind.

 

[dk168]

Instead of gemstones, how about faceted crystal roundels or beads in pale pink to bring out the blue in the pearls?

DK

 

[ckrickett]

I got them today, they are very pretty, and I love their freeformish shapes!

I had some black spinels and moonstone on hand to get an idea


(taken under yellow light, much prettier without the ugly bulbs color.

I kinda really like the moonstone

 

[ennui]

I don't suppose you'd care to share the vendor name? Those pearls look pretty good to me!

 

[ckrickett]

I don't suppose you'd care to share the vendor name? Those pearls look pretty good to me!

Out of 30" I got about 26 inches of pearls, they are really beautiful.
http://stores.ebay.com/ehretdesigngallery/
is where I got them. I have ordered a number of different strands and beads from them, they are really great