This lovely pendant necklace by James Banks uses a number of Japanese metal techniques, to stunning effect.

It is made of platinum, 18K yellow gold, 14K rose gold, shakudo, shibuichi, brass, copper and rubies, suspended on an 18K chain. Shakudo is a gold/copper allow, composed of  4–10% gold and 96–90% copper; it can be lacquered to present a blue patina. Shibuichi is an alloy of one part silver to three parts copper which presents a silvery gray patina when treated. I love the colours, the delicacy and the movement of this piece.

It sells for USD $8000 at Los Angeles’s Roseark, which also has other designs by Banks in the same vein for less.