The jewel beetle has captivated human imagination for centuries — its iridescent armor more gemstone than creature, its form so precise and deliberate it seems almost designed rather than evolved. This pendant takes that fascination seriously, rendering the beetle in meticulous detail and suspending it beneath a stone that mirrors its own inner luminosity.
The chain is hand woven in a single loop-in-loop construction of fine silver, fused and woven by hand into a supple, fluid length of approximately 18 inches. Two cold-forged hooks of 18-karat yellow gold secure it — functional elements treated with the same care as the pendant they carry.
At the center of the composition, a triangular cabochon of rutilated quartz is set in a sterling silver bezel with an open back, allowing light to pass completely through the stone and the wearer to see the golden rutile needles suspended within from every angle. A cold-forged branch of 18-karat yellow gold arches across the top of the stone, its organic, slightly irregular form a deliberate counterpoint to the precision of the setting below. Delicate gold antennae of 18-karat yellow gold extend from the beetle where it meets the stone, connecting creature to crystal with the finest of touches.
The beetle itself is worked through chasing and repoussé, its body pushed into full three-dimensional form — the front face richly textured and winged, the reverse revealing the chased segmentation and legs of the beetle's underside with equal attention. The wings are gilded with 24-karat yellow gold leaf, sealed with a water-based acrylic sealant to preserve their warm, luminous surface.
A note on care: This piece should not be exposed to perfumes, colognes, hairspray, lotions, water, or moisture, as the sealant is water-based. Upon removal, wipe gently with a soft cotton cloth. Storing the necklace in an airtight enclosure will protect against oxidation and prevent the gold leaf from being scratched or marred.
One of a Kind
Year Completed: 2018
Photography by Terry Weckbaugh, Image Quest Photography
The jewel beetle has captivated human imagination for centuries — its iridescent armor more gemstone than creature, its form so precise and deliberate it seems almost designed rather than evolved. This pendant takes that fascination seriously, rendering the beetle in meticulous detail and suspending it beneath a stone that mirrors its own inner luminosity.
The chain is hand woven in a single loop-in-loop construction of fine silver, fused and woven by hand into a supple, fluid length of approximately 18 inches. Two cold-forged hooks of 18-karat yellow gold secure it — functional elements treated with the same care as the pendant they carry.
At the center of the composition, a triangular cabochon of rutilated quartz is set in a sterling silver bezel with an open back, allowing light to pass completely through the stone and the wearer to see the golden rutile needles suspended within from every angle. A cold-forged branch of 18-karat yellow gold arches across the top of the stone, its organic, slightly irregular form a deliberate counterpoint to the precision of the setting below. Delicate gold antennae of 18-karat yellow gold extend from the beetle where it meets the stone, connecting creature to crystal with the finest of touches.
The beetle itself is worked through chasing and repoussé, its body pushed into full three-dimensional form — the front face richly textured and winged, the reverse revealing the chased segmentation and legs of the beetle's underside with equal attention. The wings are gilded with 24-karat yellow gold leaf, sealed with a water-based acrylic sealant to preserve their warm, luminous surface.
A note on care: This piece should not be exposed to perfumes, colognes, hairspray, lotions, water, or moisture, as the sealant is water-based. Upon removal, wipe gently with a soft cotton cloth. Storing the necklace in an airtight enclosure will protect against oxidation and prevent the gold leaf from being scratched or marred.
One of a Kind
Year Completed: 2018
Photography by Terry Weckbaugh, Image Quest Photography
