The inspiration:
Heading forward - new cuts, losses, beginnings, new spark. With a design that looks forwards and backwards, like Janus, the namesake of January, a radiant pink rhodolite garnet brightens a January birthday and the start of a new year.

The materials:
A brilliant, berry pink rhodolite garnet is framed by delicate silver and 18k gold surface details that evoke the looking forwards/looking backwards duality of the new year, gleaming against the darkened, coin shaped background. Soft pink tourmaline beads and 24k gold-lined Japanese glass seed beads decorate the chain, carrying the garnet's light upwards. This luminous recycled silver construction is paired with a delicate 19" sterling silver chain with adjustability at 17”.

The history:
Garnets comprise their own mineral classification, with distinct varieties in yellow, orange, red, brown and even vibrant green. Red garnets were one of the most common gemstones used throughout the Roman Empire and by those predominantly northern peoples who then took over the territory of the Western Roman Empire. Throughout history, garnets have symbolized passion, power and creativity. It was historically considered a warrior's stone, often worn for protection and expanded awareness. It is now celebrated as the birthstone of January babies and as loved as a beautiful, durable gemstone and for its myriad industrial and technological uses.

The process:
I have recycled almost all of the silver used to make this pendant; melting sterling scrap down to form silver ingots, flattening and drawing the silver down to plate (and sometimes wire) using hammers and my rolling mill, and then using this newly reclaimed silver to create my work. This detailed setting highlights the brilliant, transparent garnet against a darkened background set with gleaming wire surface decorations in sterling and 18k gold. The stone is neatly set in clean-edge bezel with a solid, polished backplate behind it to enhance the stone’s rich colour. Each side of the tourmaline, gold-lined seed bead and chain necklace connects to the pendant by sterling spring rings, and the necklace is finished with a sterling silver lobster-claw clasp and faceted pink tourmaline and 24k gold-lined seed beaded clasps at 17” (43 cm) and 19” (48 cm).

The details:

• Pendant diameter: 15 mm

• Stone cut & size: rhodolite pink garnet cabochon, 7 mm diameter

• Chain length: 19” (48 cm) total length, with adjustability at 17” (43 cm)

• Recycled components: silver pendant construction

• Stone source: garnet - Alpine Gems, Kingston, Ontario

My promise:
All of my jewelry is made by me, by hand, in my little home studio and will be shipped to you as shown, beautifully packaged and ready for gift-giving to someone special (like yourself!) I am a life-long artist and designer, and I take great care and pride in creating one of a kind jewels that evolve from my own design, emotion and inspiration, rather than trend, imitation or artifice. It means the world to me that you've witnessed my work - thank you for being here, and for shopping and supporting handmade!