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Queen Anne’s Lace Convertible Bridal Necklace
This statement piece was a commission for a bride whose wedding theme was Queen Anne’s Lace. What started as an inquiry from the mother about a gift to commemorate the wedding became an exciting project to create a magnificent bridal necklace. The special request for this commission included a way to make the necklace function as both a complex metalwork piece and also have the option for a casual alternative. We called this a “nested” necklace.
First, I built the frame from thick sterling, then soldered one gauge thinner curls on the interior of the metalwork scrolls. Curls are among my favorite shapes when it comes to metalworking. My first designs included silver twirls in the “curls & pearls” style of wired wonders.
Then I hammered out each scroll and formed its shape. I changed the design of the central pendant to allow for a single centered hang or the double attachment on the scrolls. (If you follow metalledwith on instagram, some of these images will be familiar.)
To make the conversion from casual to elegant quick and easy, I used sterling hidden hinged clasps. They complement the design and are not noticeable, but will make the change much easier and faster than traditional jump rings that require tools. The end result is one I’m really pleased with. This custom piece was challenging in all the right ways. My clients were wonderful to work with and I had the chance to push a fresh design, learning from it the whole way along.
