Clara Necklace

I wore this every single day of a two week trip to Mexico and never once took it off, including in the sea and the pool. My real worry was the join between the pendant and the bail, since that tight spot holds water and is where every other necklace of mine has corroded first. It came home completely unchanged. The chain still slides freely, the cross has not developed any dark spots, and the red stone is as bright as the day it arrived. Salt water, chlorine and sunscreen all together and there is genuinely nothing to report.

I have gone through several gold cross pendants over the years and every one has ended up with that grimy dark film in the recesses of the detailing, usually starting around month two. Once it sets in you cannot scrub it out and the piece just looks dirty. I have worn this one virtually every day since February through summer, sweat, perfume and moisturizer. Under a lamp last night I went over the whole pendant front and back including the textured border around the stone. Still clean bright gold everywhere with no darkening in any of the grooves, and I have never once polished it.

I have not been able to wear a necklace for years without a raised itchy line appearing exactly where the chain sits, sometimes within a couple of hours. Necklaces are worse than rings for me because the metal sits in the sweat at the back of the neck all day. I bought this expecting to gift it on and instead I have barely taken it off since February. My neck has stayed completely clear the whole time, including through hot weather and workouts where it is damp for hours. Not a single bump, and no reaction where the pendant rests against my chest either. My sister has the same problem and hers arrived last week.

At the shortest setting it still sits slightly lower than I wanted for layering under a collar. Easy fix with a different top and the extender range is generous overall. Pendant detail is excellent.

My son grabs this necklace multiple times a day and pulls hard. I keep expecting the chain to snap or the bail to open. It has held through all of it without stretching.

She said it reminded her of one she wore as a girl and lost decades ago. I did not expect that reaction from a modest gift. It has been on her every day since Easter.