An Aurora Borealis necklace featuring polychromatic faceted crystal beads interspersed with smaller faceted diamond shaped spacer beads strung onto a nylon graduated double strand necklace. The necklace is affixed with a fishhook clasp set with small silver rhinestones and measures 17" long. The maker is unknown and the condition is very good.
Necklace Sizing
To measure the best necklace size for you, take a tape measure and wrap around your neck to get its circumference. Take that number and add 2" to 4" to determine the best minimum necklace length for you. For a regular necklace, choose the second size up from your neck size as a minimum. For example, if your neck measures 15" around, the minimum necklace size you should choose would be 17" to 19". If you want a choker, stick with your exact neck measurement for the necklace size. Standard necklaces sizes, common to most people, come in the following sizes:
14" to 16" is a standard choker length
16" to 19" falls just below the throat at the collarbone
20" falls slightly below the collarbone and is a good choice for low necklines
22" falls at or just above the neckline
24" falls below the neckline
36" can be worn as a long single opera length or doubled up
Children's necklaces are usually between 14" to 16"
A Brief History of Aurora Borealis Crystal
Aurora Borealis crystal had its glamorous start in the 1950s when Manfred Swarovsky, son of founder Daniel Swarovsky, teamed up with fashion designer Christian Dior to create exceptional jewelry to go with his revolutionary New Look fashions. The process of creating the Aurora Borealis effect was inspired by Swarovsky's prior utilitarian application of coating optical lenses with blue metallic coating. Manfred decided to experiment using this application on cut crystal beads by spraying them with micro-layers of metal and then vaporizing the finish in a vacuum. The result was shimmering beads that reflected a rainbow of luminescent colors. The beads came to be known by its trade name, Aurora Borealis, in homage to the charged, dancing ethereal colors of the Northern Lights.
