Joie de Vivre jewelry

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e u r o p a 

Leda, Io and Europa were all maidens to catch the attention of Zeus and bear him children. From Leda, Pollux and Helen of Troy (Castor was Pollux's half-brother, and his father was King Tyndareus of Sparta); from Io, Epaphus (ancestor of Hercules); and from Europa, Minos and Rhadamanthus. Of the three, Europa seems to have the gentlest abduction - she was enticed and carried over the sea to Crete on the wide back of a swift and gentle bull, Zeus in disguise. Perhaps after Io, Zeus thought it best to do the transforming himself. Eventually, she married the King of Crete. The opal in this 1/2" pendant made me think of water and its role in the story, the simultaneous pull of attraction - an adventure with the most powerful god! (which in Greek stories is typically portrayed in a positive light, nevermind reality) - and push of fear, being carried away to places unknown. The materials that create opal are carried along in water and deposited, and the stone owes its properties to what happens after the water recedes, like Europa being carried along the water and deposited to make her fate. The pendant is paired with a lightweight flat cable sterling silver chain.

Cost: $94.00 USD

m a k e   i t   a   g i f t   s h i p m e n t :

Looking to ship this item separately as a gift? Gift shipment includes gift boxing and an occasion specific card sent to the recipient via USPS Priority Mail. Fill out the fields below including this jewelry item name, the recipient name and address, and occasion and this item will be sent to the recipient with a card and note. See the gift box section for samples of shipments with different occasion specific cards.

Cost of gift shipment (domestic shipping only): $5.95 USD

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M a t e r i a l s  &  C a r e 

Length: necklace - 16"

Materials:

  • opal cabochon set in sterling silver
  • sterling silver 1.5mm flat cable chain

Care & cleaning: Clean with warm soapy water and avoid chemical or abrasive cleaners. Use a soft jewelry polishing cloth to clean tarnish appearing on silver. Solid opals, like this one, may be submerged in water, but they are relatively soft stones and may chip or crack under hard use.

The pendant and chain are robust to toddler tugs, but as with all beaded jewelry: do not let young toddlers chew on it.

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W h a t  t o  W e a r 

This 16" necklace and pendant are versatile and can be worn with casual tops (crew necks, V-necks) and higher-neck blouses or deeper V collared shirts.