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Jade & Tantalum Handmade Necklace: The rarest metal, one of the rarest gems

About the Item

Tantalum is the rarest metal on earth -not counting lab-created metals that exist for fractions of a minute, metals that are liquid at room temperature, or radioactive. Tantalum's bluish-grey-silver color is unique among metals. It is a very hard metal that is biologically inert, so it won't cause skin irritation. Tantalum jewelry is rarely encountered. And here, Tantalum wire has been combined with highly translucent bluish-grey-silver jadeite jade beads to create a one-of-a-kind 21 ¾" necklace. The rarest metal and beads hand-carved from one of the rarest gems, sharing such a similar tone. The dense, satisfyingly weighty Tantalum has a muted luster, while the jadeite has a complimentary high-gloss polish. There are 19 natural and untreated jadeite beads: 13 measure 7mm and the larger 6 are 12mm. Their high translucency makes the beads dynamic, changing with the light. Jadeite's unique crystal structure seems to act like a spider's web for light; they are luminous even in the softest lighting. Because both tantalum and jadeite are highly durable, you can wear this necklace without worrying it will be harmed by salt water, chlorine or body oil. You never have to take it off. If you're looking for an incredibly unique, exceedingly rare handmade necklace with a rugged, natural beauty this is it: there's not another one like it in the world.
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    The luminous untreated jadeite jade beads that compose this 20" necklace are so faintly light green, that they appear white. Well, but not white; not really, because they are far too fascinating to be merely white like a piece of paper or a sheet. It is as if an apparition has assumed bead form and settled around the neck. These gorgeous, succulent beads seem filled with a reserve of light they have gathered during the day in order to release back into the night like a whisper. If you like pearls but wish for something denser, more grounded in the material world, these may be for you. They do look like pearls from a distance, a pristine strand of vintage cultured Akoya pearls. But then, up close, what are they? White sapphires? What could they be? Most people, of course, have no idea jade is anything other than green. The individual beads measure approximately 8.5mm for a clean, unified presentation around the neck. I am a second-generation collector of jade and have loved Gump's jade jewelry all my life. Gump's was an iconic San Francisco department store that was founded in the 19th century and awed the world with their remarkable and unique pieces until 2005 when they were sold. Gump's never used any dyed or treated jade in any of their jewelry, so they remain one of very few brands that you never need to have tested; vintage Gump...
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