Archipelago Bracelet

Chunky Red Coral , Antiqued Bone, and African Brass Bracelet

Archipelago Bracelet has been sold, but if you like this style, let me know! I would love to work with you on a custom-designed piece of jewelry. Just send me a note at kelly@xogallery.com and we'll get started!

Sold Price: $125

Fascinating chunks of highly polished red coral contrast wonderfully with rugged African brass and antiqued rustic bone to create this glamorous one-of-a-kind piece of artisan jewelry. This original handcrafted bracelet is a fusion of primitive and polished components, a unique mix of the ancient and modern. This alluring and striking bracelet has no limits or labels; it can be worn anytime of the year, to any type of function or event, and with any sort of clothing. The mix of elegant and casual elements in this piece make it extremely versatile. I designed this exotic bracelet to accompany the necklace Archipelago.

These beautiful coral beads are made from bamboo coral from the South Pacific. They are dyed to obtain the bright red color and they are polished smooth. Coral is a calcium carbonate that is built up by the skeletons of small sea animals. It often grows in branches that look like underwater trees, and it is found in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Pacific Ocean off Japan or Taiwan. This type of coral grows in segmented branches like bamboo with beige sections that partially cover the black underlayer. The beads retain the texture of their natural formations which gives them a primitive, natural appeal. These particular chunks of coral are among the largest and nicest quality I have seen ranging in diameter from 25-30mm with a thickness of 9-14mm.

Coral reefs are most commonly found in the warm shallow waters surrounding islands, so I thought archipelago was a good name for this bracelet and the matching necklace.

African brass beads and rings and antiqued bone beads make up the remainder of this chunky bracelet. The African brass bicone beads are handmade by people living in Cameroon. They are individually made so each one is unique. They are antiqued, rough and inexact making them very exotic and ancient-looking. They are often a mix of newly made and old beads. The newer beads are hand forged by pounding while the older beads were cast. The brass rings are similarly made in the Gongola State of Nigeria, and these are also a mix of newly made and old rings.

This handcrafted artisan bracelet closes with a giant brass lobster clasp and will be adjusted to fit your wrist.