Rhodonite Rose Cleopatra Necklace

Rhodonite is a manganese silicate. The dusty pink body and the black manganese oxide veining are not two materials. They are one mineral in two oxidation states, the pink where manganese stayed reduced, the black where it met oxygen. Sourced from Russia, Australia, and Sweden.

Here it anchors a two-strand collar. Upper strand: rhodonite ovals connected by clear bugle tube spacers, with teal matte dagger beads hanging from each cabochon junction. Lower strand: magenta seed beads in large scalloped loops, teal matte rounds at each intersection, dark burgundy translucent triangle drops hanging from the scallop points. A silver bugle Y-drop at center carries a single mint green focal bead.

The palette reads botanical without being literal about it. Pink, red, green: the color relationship of a garden in high summer, abstracted into beadwork and stone.

The mint green drop is the decision that holds it together. It cools the red-pink tension just enough to keep the whole piece from tipping into seasonal.

Wear it with an off-the-shoulder linen dress, a high-neck black silk blouse, or a charcoal wool turtleneck. Anything that lets the collar shape sit cleanly. For openings, dinners out, or a wedding where you'd rather not blend in.

Construction:

• Rhodonite oval cabochons (upper strand, dusty pink with black manganese oxide veining)
• Clear/crystal bugle tube spacers between cabochons
• Teal matte dagger bead drops at cabochon junctions
• Magenta seed beads (lower scalloped strand)
• Teal matte round accents at loop intersections
• Dark burgundy translucent triangle drops along scallop points
• Silver bugle bead Y-drop stem at center
• Mint green focal bead at center drop
• Bugle bead chain
• Lobster claw closure