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amazonite — Moonglow
Published: 2007-04-16 02:39:36 +0000 UTC; Views: 861; Favourites: 26; Downloads: 4
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Description
This is another older piece I made long, long ago. (I kept thinking I'd posted it, but after a few checks of the ol' gallery, it's not there...so I think I'm safe.)
I got this stone around the time overseas dealers started realizing they could make a lot more cash at the U.S. shows (or at least the ones here in Colorado) by bringing in already-cut stones instead of rough. (Of course now every one is bringing in finished jewelry, which is very sad!)
Not being able find rough moonstone was frustrating. After all, I'm very lucky to have mostly unlimited access to 's wonderful lapidary work. Since we couldn't find any rough pieces to cut, he let me get a few finished stones to play with. I sold all but the stone in this piece and figured, hey - I can keep one for me.
This isn't the original setting I made for this. My first attempt was with some dreadfully hard and thick square wire that I had terrible trouble shaping, and it looked... well... like I had problems with it. So the icky wire was scrapped and it got, IMO, a more flattering frame.
Sorry about the oblique angle of the photo. When we photographed it, you couldn't see the optical effects.
"Rainbow moonstone" (feldspar var. labradorite), sterling silver
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Comments: 15
this is a beautiful piece, very well done. im studying gemology and lapidary, and the only material i have to work with is the rough i find in the fields around here. I live in ohio. Where would you recomend getting moonstone rough? i dont think it can be found naturally in ohio, not much can besides granite quartz quartzite and flint
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Thank you for the lovely comment!
Unfortunately I think the best way you can get gem grade moonstone these days is to get it through a dealer...yes, I know, not the most entertaining option, but an option nonetheless. Most of the gem moonstone coming out these days is from India and other points far east, and almost all of it is already polished because the dealers can get more $$ for it rather than hauling around rough. This particular piece is from India; I found the stone at a gem and mineral show.
Since you're cutting your own pieces, something you may want to do is to hook up with a gem and mineral society in your area. These clubs often have great field trips and talks that can get you pointed in the direction to find some wonderful stones in your area. You may also want to check out books such as the Coast to Coast Gem Atlas by Bob and Cy Johnson and Fee Mining and Mineral Adventures in the Eastern U.S. by James Martin Monaco & Jeannette Hathaway Monaco.
Good luck with your lapidary!
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thanx so much for the advice! im a bit noobish with all this, but i really enjoy it. most of the pleasure for me is finding the stones, soo when i make things with them, they hold more meaning to me. I believe there is a rock club at brukner nature center, ill go there. Thanx again!
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I think this is one of your best pieces(:Very clean, elegant and it compliments the stone perfectly. Nice job
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Thank you! It's still one of my favorite pieces...and one of those ones people seem to want to buy off my neck when I wear it. Of course I turn them down!
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