
Our Global Chic product line was beautifully captured in this picture from the “Creativity on the Catwalk” fashion shows in the UK last month at CHSI Stitches.
The model is Adrienne Hayley Dayes. (Photo from CHSI)
Our Creative Director, Fernando DaSilva designed an “out of the ordinary collection of jewelry that is delightfully different, chic and of course trendsetting.”
One of the looks he styled features a spectacular necklace which also appear in the latest Perles et Cetera magazine as a step by step. The english translation is provided in this post.

Madagascar Necklace Designed by Fernando DaSilva, Creative Director, John Bead Corp
In 2015, PRECIOSA ORNELA introduced a new pressed bead known as the PRECIOSA Ripple™. The circular bead has a centrally located hole and the undulating surface of the bead causes a ripple to pass through the metallic decoration in both the shiny and matt finish.
Designers around the world are combining the Ripple™ with other beads and discovering that it can also be strung and showcased in a number of unique ways.
Fernando chose to recreate the look of an African necklace usually made with horn discs. These African bead necklaces are called Laguidibá and are usually in black or brown. Fernando created his own version of this distinct style by stacking Ripple™ beads colours in blocks.

“I wanted to design a necklace that would be an homage to the hardworking African woman. She’s wearing beautiful fabrics and jewels. She is positive and the heart of the family. Beauty is a daily routine. I wanted to express this attitude with glass beads.”
Recreating this tiered necklace and customizing it to your own colour pallet is not difficult if you follow a few simple jewelry-making steps.

- Select your Ripple™ beads and divide your strands into small piles of sixteen beads.

- String three different strands:
Strand one features seven colour sets. (7 x16)
Strand two has six colour sets (6X16)
Strand three has five colour sets (5X16)

- A unique Global Chic teardrop bead was added to both ends of the strands before finishing with a wire guardian and crimp bead. Fernando used two crimp beads to ensure his beads were securely strung.

- The three strands were then attached with a jump ring to the dream catcher connector. The placement of the strands is important to ensure you have the tiered effect. Also, he thought the dream catcher component would be perfect for matching earrings.

- A clasp is your last step. If you would like to wear the necklace slightly longer or simply make it fit better, a necklace extender will finish the necklace so that anyone can wear it.

Ripple™ beads also work beautifully on elastic cording. Leftover beads can be easily sorted for matching bracelets. The ethnic chic look can be achieved with the addition of matched and stacked bracelets.

The bracelets and the necklace are completely on trend this summer.

The earrings for this look are also showstoppers. Fernando continued “I really wanted big earrings so I created a vintage inspired chandelier earring set with semi precious drops and beads. The beads have been added to filigree earrings hand set with more ripple beads.
Signature Products Used From John Bead Corp
27800957-17s5 Turquoise Alabaster Preciosa Ripple Beads
27800957-04s5 Copper Preciosa Ripple Beads
27800957-65s8 Silk Matt Yellow Czech Preciosa Ripple Beads
27800957-75s8 Silk Matt Periwinkle Czech Preciosa Ripple Beads
27800957-18s5 Opaque Medium Red Czech Preciosa Ripple Beads
27800957-19s5 Black Opaque Czech Preciosa Ripple Beads
32630137 Dream catcher Pendant/Connector
27600215-00 Abstract Black/White Global Chic Tear Drops
25000666 Beadalon Wire .018/49Strand
24002013 4mm Bead Crimp Cover Stardust
24001016 Wire Guardian
22801027 7mm Jump Ring
23440047 26mm Lobster Clasp
This final post is number six in our series from the Creativity on The Catwalk show
Look One – Golden Butterscotch can be viewed here.
Look Two – Wild Boho can be reviewed here.
Look Three – The Global Jet-Setter
Look Four – The Nomadic Travellor
Look Five – Let It Swing Look