The Passage reopens with a Wild-Dyed Draw

Welcome! The Passage reopens with its traditional pearl post, fluffed by a pearl giveaway!

But first—and don't you dare skip to the bottom—I'm showing off my milestone birthday pearls, a gift from a loved one. Not just swanning about here, I have a point: orbit clasps are genius!

Mine are at left and upper right, a 39-inch necklace of 3-5mm Chinese keshis and gold-filled beads. When I use the term "pearl chain", this is what I mean: small pearls that take the place of metal links. Layer these or wear them on their own; the orbit clasp handles a pendant perfectly.

Someone else's pearls are at bottom right; I'm posting her Kamoka Tahitians (Madonna, look at those colours!) to show how orbits can join two bracelets to form a necklace.

That clasp is two ellipses that close with a pinch on one piece. To wear a removeable pendant, rotate the clasp to the front, as shown on my necklace and hang the pendant on one ellipse. That works best with a uniform-sized or only subtly-graduated strand.

If you're restringing, the orbit clasp is available from Pearl Paradise in silver, and 14k yellow or white gold. They are also known as oval push clasps or double triggerless lobster clasps.


The Wild-Dyed Draw

A giveaway is always fun, and this one is especially cheeky! These are wild stacked keshis from Kojima Company, dyed to extreme peacock-ness, as if Mardi Gras beads and a mollusc had a baby.

The 6mm-12mm pearls flash metallic tones of teal, aubergine, bronze and rose; the clasp is a hook and eye on textured matte gold-tone cones. This is a choker-length necklace, 16 inches including the clasp.

To enter:
1. Comment by noon EST on Sunday, September 9
2. Include DRAW in your comment.
Good luck!

My neighbour Bob will draw the winner on Sunday evening, and I'll announce the name on Tuesday, Sept. 11 and ask for a postal address. I will send by Canada Post express tracked delivery. Recipient responsible for any applicable import taxes and duties; retail value is $US 100.