Beads for Collectors and Designers - RitaOkrent.com

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Beads for Collectors and Designers - RitaOkrent.com

Please come visit our website at www.ritaokrent.com to see the latest listings in Rita's collection! Liu, Ph.D. Rita passed away in 2005. Thank you!

Rita became interested in making jewelry in the early 1970s when she took a silversmithing class through the local community college. By the mid-1970’s, she had developed an interest in ethnic beads and artifacts and began designing necklaces. In 1977-1978, Rita and the family lived abroad as Rita’s husband, David, a professor at UCLA, was on sabbatical leave. Rita always had a good eye for intere

sting items, but on this extended 14-month trip she was able to explore and buy from dealers in the souks of Israel and Egypt, flea markets in London, Paris and Vienna and from sellers in Hong Kong, India, Taiwan and China. On each trip, she searched for ancient and antique beads and pendants, for small antiquities and for unusual collectibles. Upon returning to the U.S., Rita established her collection and designed necklaces using ancient and antique materials such as amazonite, amber, amethyst, coral, faience, glass, horn, ivory, jade, jet, shell and silver. She often combined these beads with a central pendant or several pendants, in designing ethnic, one-of-a-kind necklaces. She worked with a colleague to design her own hand-made, sterling silver hook-and-eye clasps, which we still make available in our Clasps section. She continued to develop her bead expertise and became an active member and President of the Los Angeles-area Bead Society. She held jewelry shows from her home showroom and at the Los Angeles Gift Show, as well as consigning items to local stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue. Rita’s work was featured in Ornament Magazine and she contributed to the book, “Collectible Beads” by Robert K. Rita traded with merchants from Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and other parts of Africa for more than twenty-five years, providing her with a broad collection of African Trade beads, as well as unusual African wall hangings and wood and ivory carvings and masks. Rita’s collection grew as she continued to travel and live abroad over the years, including trips to Syria, Egypt, Israel, and Morocco. Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, Rita’s reputation continued to grow as a designer of original necklaces and as a dealer of ethnic and antique beads and artifacts. Rita’s husband, David, maintained the website starting in 1999. The website and collection are now managed by their daughter, Jocelyne, based in San Diego County, California. The beauty of Rita’s original creations and of her rich and outstanding collection are reflected at our website, www.ritaokrent.com. Our customers, both collectors and designers, come to us from around the world. We appreciate your business. Please come shop at our Etsy store, RitaOkrentCollection and at our website, RitaOkrent.com.

05/30/2026

Delighted to be hosting this weekend’s Virtual Souk (on Facebook), Sunday May 31, 11 am U.S. Pacific time. See you there! 💜❤️🩷

05/28/2026

Come shop with us at the Virtual Souk on Facebook this Sunday May 31, 11 a.m. Pacific Time!

05/25/2026

Rita designed our handmade sterling silver hook-and-double eye clasps and soon discovered that other designers loved them too. They are sturdy and practical, and add elegance to the closure of any necklace. They are durable and easy to grasp, and do not bend with use. Available at RitaOkrent.com.❤️

Sterling Silver Clasps Available in S (18mm), M (22mm), and L (26mm).
(Each clasp has two distinct elements, the hook and the double eye. Size references the clasp only, and does not include the double eye connector ring below the clasp in the measurement. )

05/17/2026

Some pics from our recent shows!🫶

05/16/2026

05/10/2026

Missing our mom, Rita Okrent, on Mother's Day!❤

04/23/2026

This Saturday come on out to the exquisite Bowers Museum in Santa Ana and shop with us in person at the Art of Adorning! SATURDAY | APRIL 25 | 10 AM – 4 PM
KEY COURTYARD | ARTISAN SALE

Don’t miss Orange County’s premier and most expansive showcase of crafted jewelry, beads, clothing, artifacts, components, craft tools, and supplies.

Museum members are invited to come an hour early at 9 AM to enjoy shopping before the crowds arrive!

This is a free, ticketless event. Please note: Museum admission is not included.

04/14/2026

Two opportunities to shop with us in person this month: at the Escondido Bead & Design Show April 17-19 and at the Art of Adorning at the Bowers Museum on April 25! Can’t wait to meet you!❤️

04/02/2026

Can’t wait to see you there!!🩷🪬💜❤️🧡😚

03/27/2026

So much variety in our gorgeous ancient glass eye bead collection! Available in all our shops. Looking for a specific size or color? Get in touch via chat, DM, email or message and we’ll work with you to select what you need for your necklace, earring or bracelet designs!

Address

San Diego, CA

Website

http://www.ritaokrent.com/

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