A customer came to Paul with a collection of color-matched Mabe pearls, which she had purchased in New Zealand. She wanted a necklace with a flowing, wave-like appearance that would remind her of her visit.

Click on photos to see enlargements.

Paul was inspired by the shape of the fishing hooks used by the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. The detail here shows how the inside hook cradles the mabe pearl and the outer hook becomes part of the link.

In order to create the settings, Paul carved an individual wax model for each segment, attached each wax model to the casting “tree,” and then cast them in gold. Here, you see the individual gold castings on the casting “tree.” Finally, Paul cut off each piece, polished it, and set each pearl carefully in its setting to complete the necklace.

The gold in this necklace came entirely from the customer’s personal unused gold jewelry.