Coral Mala

Every piece of Kiersten Elizabeth jewelry — her playful yet elegant beaded necklaces, her statement-making drop earrings and her arresting cocktail rings — is made to be passed down and keep those special moments alive for generations.

Despite the natural skill with jewelry design she has demonstrated over time, Elizabeth didn’t have a career in her craft at first. She worked in healthcare IT while making jewelry for herself as a hobby because she could never find pieces she liked enough to wear. Her colleagues often complimented her work and even began asking her to create custom engagement rings. Eventually, the Charleston, South Carolina-based designer asked herself why she wasn't making a business out of her talent.

Elizabeth wanted to do it right. She apprenticed with a major international jewelry company to learn the ins and outs of the trade while earning certifications from the Gemological Institute of America in diamonds and colored gems. Elizabeth also traveled the world in search of rare and distinctive gemstones. She built essential business contacts over the years in all corners of the globe in order to secure Burmese rubies and Colombian emeralds for one-of-a-kind creations that are intended to be in a wearer’s jewelry box forever. 

Speaking to Dallas Style & Design magazine, Elizabeth described her jewelry as “that kind of living memory that you keep with you and you pull out and you wear." 

When she was ready, Elizabeth launched her eponymous fine jewelry brand in 2016. Her collections feature accessories created in Art Deco, Art Nouveau and Edwardian styles with designs inspired by romantic locales like Paris and the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. 

On 1stDibs, find Kiersten Elizabeth necklaces, earrings, rings and more.

Whether they’re chunky, statement-making accessories or a single strand of the understated sort, antique and vintage beaded necklaces are versatile pieces of jewelry. Indeed, the unique beaded necklaces in your jewelry box likely go with everything, from casual summer tops and shorts to dazzling evening gowns.

From the fish-bone and seashell jewelry of the prehistoric era to the breathtaking amulets and pendants of ancient Egypt to modern sapphire beads, people have been accessorizing with beaded necklaces for eternity.

Beaded necklaces — as well as other kinds of necklaces — were common in prehistoric times. Personal adornment was important, and jewelry was made for every part of the body. Beadwork is among the best known art forms attributed to Native Americans, and just as they had for saddlery and clothing, early populations would fashion beads for necklaces with stone tools or instruments made of wood. The making of colorful glass beads for beaded necklaces likely originated in Venice, Italy, during the 14th century, particularly given the growth of the decorative glass industry on the series of Venetian islands called Murano. During the Neolithic period, humans were buried with coral beaded necklaces from the Mediterranean, even as far north as the Alps.

Whether you’re seeking the pop of color you’ll get in a double-row jade beaded necklace from the Art Deco era — which encompasses the 1920s and ’30s and ushered in a very distinct look in jewelry design — or perhaps a simple strand of pearls for a blouse that leaves your neck bare, remember that different necklines call for different pieces of jewelry.

When accessorizing with a beaded necklace, a long piece with a pendant will likely pair best with your favorite vintage V-neck dress or V-neck tee, while beaded chokers and collar necklaces are a stylish fit for strapless tops. Bigger beads will hit your neckline in a different way than a more minimalist necklace might, so you’ll want to keep that in mind. Choose colors you like and pick items that will go with what is in your closet. When the occasion calls for it, don’t be afraid to stack. “More is more” for some, so pairing a delicate strand with a bolder piece might be the move for you.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of pearl beaded necklaces, antique emerald beaded necklaces, diamond beaded necklaces and more.