White Biwa Stick Pearl Hand-Knotted Strand Necklace in Sterling Silver

There’s an undeniably sensuous allure to a hand-knotted strand of gemstones. Each bead moves with a liquid grace, the silk thread giving the necklace a supple drape against the skin. In the hand, they’re a joy to roll between your fingers, smooth and rhythmic with just the right weight. It’s a tactile pleasure, flexible and deeply satisfying. I adore layering these strands, playing with different stones, colors, and lengths, but they’re just as beautiful worn alone. Each one is knotted on silk thread chosen to complement the stones.

I love pearls in their more unusual forms, and these long, slender Biwa stick pearls are particularly beautiful. Each one has its own irregular shape, with subtle ridges and ripples running along its length. The luster is fantastic, with an almost metallic sheen and flashes of pink, lavender and silver across their creamy white surfaces. At approximately an inch long, these pearls create a striking strand with a completely different look from traditional round pearls. There's something very cool about the elongated shapes, especially with the natural variations that make each pearl a little different from the next.

The name Biwa originally referred to freshwater pearls cultivated in Japan's Lake Biwa, although it's now widely used in the jewelry trade to describe elongated, irregular freshwater pearls like these. Pearls have been treasured for centuries and are traditionally associated with wisdom, love, prosperity and good fortune.

✧ Stone: White freshwater Biwa stick pearls
✧ Bead Size: Approximately 25mm long × 5mm wide
✧ Length: Adjustable from 18–20 inches with a 2-inch sterling silver extension chain
✧ Thread: Hand-knotted on silk in a coordinating hue
✧ Closure: Sterling silver lobster claw clasp with 2-inch extension chain
✧ Metal: Sterling silver

One-of-a-kind and made with care in my studio.