Deals Signature Deirdre Necklace 14K Gold Filled with Tanzanite Chainmaille Knotwork Rare Natural Gemstone Purple Blue Unique Semi-Precious

deals *These are natural semi-precious stones and may vary slightly in shape/color from what is pictured. Please contact me if you have questions or concerns!*

This signature "Deirdre" necklace is handmade using 14K gold-filled and features a smooth transluscent tanzanite briolette in a lovely bluish purple. The rare stone is captured within the chainmaille bail, woven in a delicate byzantine pattern reminiscent of Celtic knotwork. The chain is finished with a sturdy lobster clasp and includes an extender chain, so the necklace can be worn at any length between 16 and 18 inches. All materials are 14K gold-filled and have been tumbled to a high polish. Additional chain lengths are available, please contact me for details.

Deirdre is a well-known figure in Irish mythology, famed for her beauty and tragic romance. It is said that upon her birth, a soothsayer foretold that her beauty would bring bloodshed and death to great heroes. Raised in the distant countryside by a foster mother, she grew to become the fairest and most sweet-tempered maiden in all of Ireland. When King Connachar first laid eyes on her he fell madly in love, and they were to be married a year from that day. As with most tragic romances, Deirdre fell in love with another man named Naois, and although they fled to live a life of shared happiness, the King enlisted the help of a powerful magician to kill Naois and his brothers who protected Deirdre. Overcome by a broken heart, Deirdre threw herself upon the grave of her beloved and perished. The King ordered her body to be buried away from the grave of Naois, but two fir shoots grew from their graves and intertwined in a knot that no blade could cut down.

The pure, simple elegance of this design reminded me of something worn by a classic beauty like Deirdre, and the chainmaille accent is reminiscent of the knotwork that represents her eternal bond with Naois. This was one of my first designs to incorporate chainmaille, and it remains one of my personal favorites and most popular many years later.