Legend Necklace

  In Greek mythology, the vivid red coral of the Mediterranean was formed after the slaying of the gorgon Medusa by the demigod Perseus. According to legend, he set her severed head down near the sea so he could wash his hands. Medusa’s blood drops trickled into the water turning the seaweed it touched into hardened red coral. Thus, the coral was believed to have medicinal and protective properties across the ancient world, including warding off the evil eye. I sourced this coral from a family business in Torre del Greco, a village in Italy with a centuries long history with this material.            Sandy textured gold with cast-in-situ grey diamond drops wrap a delicate but substantial coral branch. The settings were hand sculpted individually with a unique process I developed in my studio. Next each was cast in 14 karat gold along with the skull. Finally the skull was set with sparking white diamonds. This particular coral branch reminded me of the long serpentine hand of the Gorgo