This elegant sapphire glass bead ladder rosary is part of the Ave Maria collection.  Each rosary bead is a deep blue sapphire color.  Ladder rosaries are different in construction from most other rosaries.  When held up, it does indeed look like a ladder with the beads being the rungs.  The ladder rosary is made by connecting the beads to the chains on both ends of the beads rather than threading the chain through the center of the bead.

The story goes that the Ladder Rosary was originally from Mexico.  St. Dominick had a vision where he saw souls climbing to heaven on a rosary.  Another version is that St. Francis De Sales had a vision of 2 ladders leading to Heaven, one to Jesus and one to Mary.  The one to Mary was easier to climb.  Jesus told St. Francis to "Tell your sons to come by the other ladders."  This is thought to have meant that the easiest way to heaven is through prayers to Mary. 

The rosary is 20 inches long, the beads are 7mm glass aurora borealis, and the rosary chain is silver plated.  It comes in a gift box with a Holy Card