Dragons, Diamonds & Pearls Earrings

I know, I know, they aren't "real" diamonds.  They are CZ's... which is to say they are still crystalized carbon, but they were created by man, not nature.  Still beautiful though!.  I love these earrings.  They are one my truly artistic designs.  I started with some wonderful brass dragon faces.  I punched holes in their mouths and at the crown of their heads.  I gave them a very light wash of silver metal paint, so the gold still shows through.  Then I antiqued them with black metal paint to show the details in their faces.  I finally coated them front and back with a clear coat to protect them.

To complement their silvery-gold tinged with black features, I selected three chains to hang from their mouths and hung black cubic zirconia pointer beads (they are a cross between a marquis and a full cut briolette in size).  The earrings have a total  weight of 5 Carats of these lovely black CZ diamonds.  I love the color that black CZ's have, it's a very rich gemmy black, more reflective than onyx.  The three chains are staggered, two are silver and one is gold, with the gold in the middle  I hung a medly of tiny cream colored freshwater pearls from them as well and connected the chains to the dragon's mouths via another tiny pearl.  They hang just a smidge over 2” from their sterling silver leverbacks.