FIRA MARINA - "CONFLUENCE" ~ Glass Charm Fits Pandora

All photos are shot and uploaded  in high resolution. No graphic effects have been applied to the bead in any of the photos.

The photos were taken in natural sunlight to provide the most accurate representation of color.

Confluence - the flowing together of various elements - is the eponymous inspiration drawn from the bright ribbons of opaque glass circulating within a vibrant green transparent glass. Combined, they make up the body of this first charm in a style we've titled Energies for its motive characteristics and lively disposition. A sharp, symmetrical revolution of goldstone brings elegant glitter and colorful warmth to the charm; colorful dichroic glass sparkles inside streaming transparent layers; surface layers of silvered ivory punctuate the vivid color depths with fair, neutral brightness and intricate veins of detail; and layers of fine silver foil display a bright, metallic shine as well as warm, glinting gold-tones. It's the first in its individual series and the first in a new style within the Natural Elements collection! Enjoy!

 1 handmade glass lampwork bead lined with sterling silver tubing (hand lined, not glued in) that is lightly buffed, polished to a high shine and pre-treated to resist tarnishing This bead measures approx 16x8mm with a 5mm hole that will fit all Pandora, Biagi, or Trollbeads bracelets or necklaces.

 I think they also look great strung on a silver chain or matching cord. These beads will fit over most of the silver chains I own and they look lovely worn with several together or alone as a focal piece ...or whatever you choose...the possibilities are endless. : )   - Rebecca

Please note that the bracelet is not offered as part of this auction

Before you bid, please read through the next sections for important information and for a background on the Natural Elements  collection.

Thank You for visiting and for considering making this first in the Confluence series of Fira Marina Energies Natural Elements  a unique addition to your own personal collection!

All Fira Marina Natural Elements  charms are created individually by us - Rebecca and Matt Werner. Rebecca personally makes all of the glass charms using fine Italian, German and American glasses. Matt does all of the silver work with only solid, sterling silver or copper tubing. Each glass charm is properly cleaned and kiln-annealed for ultra-durability. The silver or copper linings are lightly buffed, polished to a high shine and pre-treated to resist tarnishing. They are all crafted to our high standards and are beautifully ready to wear!

You'll notice a lower starting bid on our Natural Elements charms compared to the charms in our Silver Linings and Copper Linings collections. This is no indication of inferiority in this collection! It is, rather, the result of a contrast in style and time to our Silver Linings and Copper Linings charms. The delicacies and  intricacies of glasswork; the volatility and reactivity concerns associated with the types of glass and materials commonly used and combined (for example: fully encasing glass which is more volatile until completely finished through the kiln process; the potential for undesirable reactions between silvered and other glasses and the inclusion of fine silver wire); and the time spent in the finish work applied to the linings in those collections make for charms that must command higher starting prices. Those elements continue to be hallmarks of the Silver Linings and Copper Linings collections. Because those elements will be less common in Natural Elements charms, we're able to offer them at lower starting prices.

As opposed to the very finely contoured edges and extensive re-surfacing, finishing and polishing processes used in the Silver Linings and Copper Linings collections, the silver and copper linings in the Natural Elements charms will only be lightly buffed, polished to a high shine and pre-treated to resist tarnishing. As it is, we're still not sure to what degree or how often these fine, subtle treatments are noticed or appreciated. I'm personally certain that you'll be no less satisfied with the relevant, finishing treatment of the Natural Elements charms and quite prepared to guarantee that you are! It should be noted that this level of finishing is still more than a step beyond what is commonly offered in handmade charms! In fact, any level of finishing is not even acknowledged in most other handmade charms. Seeing and knowing what we do of other handmade charms on eBay, the Natural Elements charms are an exceptional value! 

You can view all of the original and originally unique  charms within our Natural Elements  collection by clicking this "me" where you'll find a "gallery" link. Once there, you'll be able to view all of our additional charm collections as well: Silver Linings, Copper Linings, Complements and Allures

The idea for the Natural Elements collection evolved from the response to Rebecca's "Strikers" style of Complements. These sets of Complements were color sets of etched glass charms featuring natural design elements. Their appeal was evident and the favorable response to the etched charms prompted Rebecca to create the Caballero Silver Linings charm. While working on Caballero, we became more and more "charmed" by its rustic, natural appearance and I ultimately decided to preserve that raw character by doing less finish work on the silver. The silver lining in Caballero, unlike other Silver Linings charms, and as explained in the listing, did not have finely contoured edges. Though I nearly had to have Rebecca tie my hands behind my back, the only finishing I did was to the surface face and the interior.

Our impression of Caballero stayed with us and the idea of a rustic, natural style of charm held a lasting appeal. We talked about the relationship between her glass styles and my silver and copper work and agreed that the different styles of charms we've offered, with their different personalities and impressions, commanded different styles of finishing. In addition to the more elaborate, fanciful and sizable Silver Linings and Copper Linings charms, Rebecca has always enjoyed creating very innovative and unique charms with more earthy, organic, natural colors and elements. And most often she's created these styles in more common charm sizes. As it was, some of those styles represented our most popular and most "inspiring" charms early on in the Silver Linings and Copper Linings collections.

Considering all of these things, and considering our Complements collection (designed to be a more affordable way of completing ensembles with coordinating colors and design elements), Rebecca came up with the idea of a new collection specifically created to offer her natural-style charms in their "natural elements" and priced to reflect the contrasts in time and materials to our Silver Linings and Copper Linings...  A new collection is born!

Not only does the Natural Elements collection provide an opportunity to collect some very fine handmade charms at very affordable starting prices, but it also helps us more specifically categorize our creations and ensure that each style is most relevant overall.

Enjoy!

"Fira Marina", "Natural Elements", "Silver Linings", "Copper Linings", "Complements", "Allures" and all associated titles and graphics are exclusive and may not be used in any other context or by any other association without permission.

Fellow glass artists - please respect this as we respect you and your work... Thank You!

Find out more by visiting the 'About Me' page

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All of our work is guaranteed but we cannot be responsible for items damaged or lost during shipping

We highly recommend insurance (prices as follows)

$1.75 for purchases from $0 to $49

$2.25 for purchases from $50 to $100

$2.75 for purchases from $101 to $200

(Rate increases for each additional $100 of value, I'll update it in the invoice)

We want you to be happy with your purchase... if you're not, please notify us within 3 days of receiving your shipment. We will provide a full refund minus shipping and eBay fees.