The 8 mm bead is the biggest Athena Designs makes in this style, and the difference shows the moment it is on. Where the smaller sizes disappear into a stack, this one is the piece people notice: a full round of polished gold plated beads with real weight to it.

It still goes on the way the rest of the family does. The beads are strung on stretch filament, so there is no clasp, no catch and nothing to fasten one-handed. Wear it alone for a clean, deliberate look, or put the 6 mm beside it and let the two sizes play off each other.

Athena Designs has designed and curated fine fashion jewellery in Los Angeles since 2000.