On The Silk Road Bracelet

I was wandering lonely as a cloud across a high wasteland, when from a distance trumpets and bells made themselves heard over the thudding of hooves and a cloud of dust rose up from the horizon. A most exotic retinue appeared, with yaks, camels, and sturdy mountain ponies bedizened with tassels, bells, and all manner of ribbons and amulets. In a language I could not understand someone announced the arrival of a magnificent lady who was only visible in glimpses behind the brocades on her magnificent palanquin. Her ladies in waiting, mounted upon ponies were dressed as splendorously as I thought the great lady herself should be, surrounder her, quite dripping with jewelry. I stood at attention until the procession passed, leaving in its wake fading flower petals, yak droppings, and here and there an exotic adornment that fell in the dust.

Here I offer to my fellow travelers a treasure made from genuine Chinese cloisonne enamel, faceted green amethyst, and a clasp made from vermeil (silver, heavily electroplated with 22-kt gold). The complementary beads are Czech fire-polished glass.

I will soon be offering another version of this bracelet with a regular gold-plated (non-vermeil) clasp.