Sterling Silver Gotland Replica Necklace

Materials: Sterling silver, 0ptical quality crystal quartz , glass beads (handmade), leather cord.

Size: The central Gotland crystal measures around 16mm diameter. Both smaller ones measure 11mm diameter. Leather cord is adjustable and will fit all sizes.

This striking necklace embodies the true Viking spirit! It celebrates ancient beauty based around fierce and contrasting colors of black, red, and white.

The necklace includes THREE sterling silver encased Gotland crystal ball pendants strung alongside traditionally handmade glass beads, which were annealed for durability. The beads represent a diversity of designs, from stripes to dots and zig-zags, and are all replicas from Viking and Iron Age archaeological finds.

The pendants were designed after Gotland crystals, which were discovered in Fröjel (Gotland, Sweden) and the purpose of the original crystals is unknown. Speculations range from help with vision, to navigation, sky viewing, and even starting fires or divination.

What we do know is that optically, the largest of the original crystals are comparable to modern aspheric lenses! So some of them were definitely used for some type of optical purpose - perhaps even in early telescopes.

Please feel free to message me with any questions you may have! The Gotland pendants were made in affiliation with Viking Kristall.

**Want to design your own necklace?? My shop sells individual handcrafted beads of all colors, and shipping will always be combined. Create your own anciently beautiful design!


More about Glass Beads:

Silver shines and gold gleams, but glass was also one of the most valued treasures of the ancient world! Celtic, Scandinavian, and Mediterranean cultures extensively created and traded these colorful accessories with each other.

After the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 B.C., glass became more scarce, and thus in higher in demand and worth more. Shards were painstakingly collected and pillaged so they could be recycled into new beads.

Single beads were buried with Viking warriors next to their weapons, and some were strung around their necks alongside their Mjölnir amulets. And they were special enough to be passed down for generations.

What about colors?

During the Viking Age, the most popular glass bead colors in male graves seemed to be red, green, and white (in that order). They were used for trade, ritual, and as status symbols.

Upon settling Iceland, blue and green glass beads were produced extensively. Even ancient Egyptian glass beads of brilliant blue were worn by Bronze-Age Scandinavians. (And are thought to be created by King Tutankhamun’s jeweler himself!)

Of course, Viking women collected and wore many glass beads of all colors. They adorned their belts with them, wore them in strings as necklaces, or (most commonly) hung them between their turtle brooches.

Embellishments of bead shapes and patterns of contrasting dots, lines, and zig-zags all added to the diversity and beauty of these precious objects. Sometimes the Vikings even added gold and silver foiling!