Russian Charoite and Black Onyx Necklace

A handcrafted gem stone necklace of artisan quality.

Price: $40.00

Who says the fun of marbles is only for kids? This creative necklace features fabulous, swirly spheres of Russian charoite, accented with onyx and sterling silver. Each gem stone bead is unique and carefully chosen by our expert jewelers.

What is Charoite?
Charoite is a completely unique gemstone found only in the Sakha Republic of Siberia, Russia. Like Poppy Jasper, this gem stone has only one known source in the whole world, and this adds to its value for jewelry makers and collectors. In technical terms it is caused by the geologic phenomenon of syenite massif intruding into limestone, and from a purely aesthetic point of view, it is little wonder that people attribute near-magical qualities to this swirly, deep purple gem stone. It has a hardness of 5-6 and must be very skillfully carved and shaped by beadmakers and artisans to achieve the desired design without cracking the stone.

Charoite was reportedly first discovered in the 1940's but was unknown and not officially named in the world of gemology until 1978. Jewelers quickly recognized its value as a gem stone and, over the past 30 years, it has become very popular. However, Russia has placed strict limitations on the exportation of the raw stone and the majority of Charoite must first be carved prior to being exported in order to protect the financial interests at stake.

There is Something of the Magic of Siberia in this Gem Stone
Siberia - a land of vast mountains and lakes, of ice and snow, of long and peculiar history. When you hold this Russian Charoite necklace in your hands, you are holding a piece of the world's story. It is believed that Siberia was first inhabited by the Yeniseians and the Ugro-Samoyedes who left behind a tremendous number of Bronze Age ornaments and weapons, skillfully crafted of silver, gold and bronze. Turkic invaders gained mastery of the land and the peoples of Siberia and absorbed the earlier culture's skill with metal. The ornaments and pottery pieces from this era are simply stunning, and the new rulers reigned until the Mongol invasion in the 13th century. Eventually, Siberia fell under the rule of Greater Russia, but it has carried on its aura of mountain-encircled inaccessibility into the present age. The frozen and stark beauty of Siberia is legendary, and all throughout the march of time an history, Charoite remained hidden in the hard ground, waiting to be discovered.

There is an interesting debate over the origins of the name given to this mysterious gemstone. One school of thought claims that it was named for the Chara River, some 70 KM distant from the source of the stone. The other school says that, in fact, its name relates to the Russian word for magical charms. Whatever the case may be, the next time you adorn yourself with a piece of Charoite jewelry, take a moment to reflect on the millennia during which it remained hidden from the eye of man before becoming available to you for your jewelry box. What a wonderful little secret!

Care of This Handcrafted Onyx and Charoite Necklace
The black Onyx beads in this stunning, unusual necklace pick up the tones of the darker swirling in the deep purple Charoite orbs. Accented with the shine of sterling silver, this handcrafted necklace feels like a very important piece of jewelry in the hand and worn around the throat. To keep the Onyx and Charoite beads looking their best, polish from time to time with a very soft cloth. Never use abrasives of any kind. Store this necklace in a soft cloth jewelry pouch to protect it from scratches and it will last you for many, many years of pleasurable wearing to come.

*Don't forget, in addition to our retail jewelry sales, Two Cat Studio offers special wholesale pricing for wholesalers. Contact us today for complete details.