The gorgeous red oval moss agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 32mm long. It is reserved for a lovely client.
Moss agate is dendritic, meaning it has tree or fern-like inclusions (from the Greek dendron, meaning tree). The inclusions in this piece are iron oxide.
Moss agate is known as the agate of warriors, and of gardeners and agriculture. Moss agate helps balance emotional energy. It helps the user to let go of anger and bitterness. It is believed to enhance concentration, persistence, endurance and success in one’s endeavors. It is thought to assist with sensitivities to weather and pollution. Midwives use it to assist in successful birthing.
The beautiful carnelian gemstone cabochon shown here is 31mm long. It is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.
Carnelian is a variety of the silica mineral chalcedony, which has been coloured by impurities of iron oxide. The colour can vary greatly, ranging from pale orange to an intense almost-black. It is commonly found in Brazil, India, Siberia, and Germany. Botryoidal, from the Greek meaning ‘bunch of grapes’, describles the crystal formation on the top of the stone.
Black Agatized Coral Teardrop CabochonBlack Agatized Coral Teardrop Cabochon
The amazing black coral gemstone cabochon shown here is 37mm long. It is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.
Fossil or agatized coral is formed when ancient coral is gradually replaced with agate. The fossilized coral appears as small flower-like shapes on the stone. Fossil coral can be found in brown, gray, black, white, yellow and red. Most specimens are found in Indonesia and the USA (Florida and Georgia).
Coral has been prized as a gem for thousands of years. It is believed to offer protection and to assist with infertility.
The amazing green jasper gemstone cabochons shown here are 51mm long, and are available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.
This beautiful jasper comes from Minas Gerais, which is in Brazil. The colour and striping is unlike any jasper I’ve seen before!
Jasper is believed to encourage personal bravery and help people gain independence. It is thought to help cure gynecological problems and to strengthen the stomach. Some believe it can help bring rain, and it has been used as a protection against evil spirits and snake and spider bites.
The gorgeous chrysocolla gemstone cabochon shown here is 35mm long, and is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.
Malachite and chrysocolla both have a high copper content, which is what gives it that fabulous blue/green colouring. The name comes from the Greek chrysos, (gold), and kolla, (glue).
Chrysocolla and malachite commonly form together, and produce some fantastic gemstones!
It is believed to have a calming influence, and also to attract love. It is supposed to help heal burns, fever, and detoxify the liver.
The lovely soft green moss agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 35mm in diameter. It is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.
Moss agate is dendritic, meaning it has tree or fern-like inclusions (from the Greek dendron, meaning tree). The inclusions in this piece are chlorite.
Moss agate is known as the agate of warriors, and of gardeners and agriculture. Moss agate helps balance emotional energy. It helps the user to let go of anger and bitterness. It is believed to enhance concentration, persistence, endurance and success in one’s endeavors. It is thought to assist with sensitivities to weather and pollution. Midwives use it to assist in successful birthing.
I love all the cabochons I source, and it is a bit of an obsession with me! I’d love to keep them all, but that’s just silly – so one of the many joys of being a silversmith is sharing these gorgeous finds with nice people.
Once in a while, though, I come across a cabochon that I just can’t part with. This botroidal carnelian is one of those.
It’s a great ring to wear with earth tones, which I’ve been more drawn to lately.
If you’d like a custom made gemstone ring of your own, check out my gemstone collection, and let me know which one you’d like to wear!
Lots of people like to know the process behind the creations I produce, and I sometimes forget – just because I know how I do this, doesn’t mean everyone does! These lovely dangly gemstone earrings were a wedding gift from my friend and client Natasha to a dear friend of hers.
Natasha found these sparkly amethyst, Rose de France and aquamarine rose cut cabochons in my gemstone collection.
First I shaped the bezels. A bezel is the part that goes around the stone and holds it in place on the piece. I take a strip of silver, bend it into shape with my half round pliers, and solder the join. Once the bezels have been immersed in pickle (an acid solution) to remove the buildup of borax and the oxidisation, I rinse and dry them and hammer them into shape with a mallet on my ring mandrel.
I solder the bezels onto a silver backing plate. After I pickle, file and emery the bezel settings, I check that the stones all fit nicely into their little housings.
Then it’s time to add some links to join the bezels together. I create the links, line them up and solder them on.
I add the ear wires. As always, I am amazed that something that looks so unappealing will soon become something beautiful!
After some more cleaning up, I mount the earrings in sealing wax to hold them still while I set the stones with my engraving ball and chasing hammer.
After yet more emerying and finishing, the earrings are ready to go off to their new home!
In case you want more, I have written before here, herehere and here about my processes. Happy reading!
