Byzantine necklace and bracelet

Just noticed that it's been a year since I updated my blog.  I've made one or two silver items since last October but haven't been as active as I should - mainly due to the price of silver.  
This necklace and bracelet was requested by a former colleague.  It's Sterling Silver, stamped with my maker's mark and the Sheffield Assay Office hallmark.   
The necklace is of finer gauge than the bracelet as I felt it would appear less chunky, but I needn't have worried; I've seen one or two recently that wouldn't have been out of place on a ship's anchor.
The bracelet is 7.5" and the necklace 21" if memory serves me right.  I enjoyed making this, despite having to cut and link over 900 jump rings.  It would be a different matter if I were working to a deadline. 

Blue sampler bracelet

A sampler bracelet in silver, with turquoise blue Pandora-style glass beads.  I used a variety of techniques in this bracelet, one being employed in the plaited and coiled silver focal bead, the other in the "blackberry" next to the hook fastening. There is a lot of silver in the focal bead which makes the bracelet quite heavy.  I'm not happy with the Greek key feature on the left; it'll be replaced by something to balance the opposite side.

Cool green, purple and silver bracelet

Hand-made silver bracelet with beads as a focal point, including green Pandora-style beads, purple glass and Thai hill-tribe ribbed beads.  A soldered flower, tube spacers, and wrapped "coil" beads were added.  This last bead used rather more silver wire than I'd hoped but it's a process I'll try again - perhaps as a whole bangle rather than just a bead. The fastening is adjustable via a scrolled hook and swan-loop feature or adjoining jump rings.

Byzantine bracelet

My first attempt at the Byzantine pattern using sterling silver jump rings.

The first bracelet I made was a box pattern using too fine a gauge silver wire. It looked the part and was very light and slinky, but lacked durability, eventually catching on a desk and falling apart. Lesson learned - make sure the gauge is appropriate.

For this bracelet I followed instructions in Madeline Coles' book "Two-in-One Manual; Jewellery". The pages are cut in half horizontally; projects appear at the top of each page and techniques are demonstrated on the bottom half. By flipping the pages you can match up the project with the appropriate technique. I found this helpful as a beginner.

There are lots more chain maille designs on the internet - a fascinating and absorbing subject.