Category Archives: On the Workbench

Lightning Ridge Opal and Jewelry

A Lightning Ridge with an unusual patter enhanced with a Mercury Mist Topaz

We found some quite spectacular Opal Doublets from Lightning Ridge Australia this year in Tucson.

Depending on the lighting, this one turns color.

The lighting makes this change color from orange to green and everything in between.

You search and search at the worlds largest Rock, Mineral, Gem, and Fossil Show and occasionally you find the right quality combined with affordability. One of the things we located was a dealer selling high quality Lightning Ridge Black Opal, AND I was the first buyer at his booth and got first choice. I carefully searched a couple virgin boxes of cabochons, picking out the best of the lot.

A classic Lightning Ridge Neon Blue. A picture does not do justice to any of these opals.

Black Opal is a loose term as most of the opals are not black. In fact many are a darker blue background, but they can come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Lightning Ridge is inland in the east/central part of Australia approximately a 10 hour drive from Brisbane. Lightning Ridge mines have been producing quality opal since the early 1900s and the area continues to produce even today.

You just can’t take a good picture of these.

A very dark opal with much flash.

I mentioned in one of my Tucson Gem Show blogs looking over and recognizing another dealer acquaintance. We had great fun. He also had a couple promo boxes he was sorting through. I noticed the material he was choosing and fed him a few pieces from my box, as he fed me some stuff from his box. We had enjoyed the “dig”.

The picture does not show all the pinfire in this dark blue LR black opal.

Each stone I picked suggested how its’ eventual pendant wrap might be created. Every stone suggests whether it should be gold, silver, or Pink gold, or maybe the gemstone might like a two-tone treatment. Black opals are so striking and colorful that they do not require much as far as wrapping them; let the stone star, not the wire.

In the past shows I’ve found some very fine triplets, but these doublets were so much better.

For those that do not know the term “Triplet” refers to a thin layer of opal sandwiched between a clear cap and a dark backer. A “Doublet’ refers to a nice thicker layer of gem opal with a backer. The better Doublets are backed with Ironstone from the same area the stones came from.

I’ve created many works of opal art with more to do in the future. Opals were our biggest sellers at the “Agate Expo” international agate show last year, nd for good reason. We have very high quality with very reasonable prices. If you like any of these, or anything we blog about, get ahold of us. Our jewelry goes to our website, our retail outlets, and some we sell at art shows. We should be able to track down anything you want or suggest similar.

Druzy (Drusy) Quartz Jewelry

Treasures from Tucson Gem Shows

One of our first stops is to find a dealer with Druzy Quartz, with a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Druzy is natural Quartz pockets, mostly in Brazilian quartz, but these pockets are enhanced by various treatments, including dying, titanium vapor, and painting. Most of these start as plain white Quartz pockets, but when treated they are very colorful, bright and have metallic shine. The tiny quartz points pick up the titanium vapors and reflect light off the facets, creating a reflective surface with gives lots of bling to your jewelry. Many of our customers love treated Druzy and it certainly is showy. Here are several I’ve made since the shows.

None are posted on the website yet.

Our most popular color is Pink! But blues, greens, multicolors also have their enthusiasts. We also offer natural Druzy jewelry created from Amethyst or other attractive natural Druzy pieces. Treated Druzy is an affordable alternative to other gemstones and often appeals to folks who prefer a pretty bright color more than a naturally colored rock. Enjoy our Druzy Quartz pendants at our web page and here on the Snob Blog.

Datolite, Copper and Quartz Pendant

I’ve decided to write some mini-blogs to keep you up on activities at Snob Appeal Jewelry. I will be keeping you up to date about waht takes place in my shop, on my workbench, and in Bonnie’s Bead Room.

Last week I cut a beautiful Cabochon from a piece of Datolite I bought from a friend in the Keweenaw earlier in August. I don’t usually use White Datolite as there are many more colors of Datolite that are far more coveted. White is common and was found in most all the Copper Mines in the Keweenaw. It is impossible to determine what mine White Datolite came from. Most colored Datolite can be identified with what mine it may have come from.

White Datolite generally has very little “character”, but sometimes, as in the case of this piece, it has character to the max. Copper always adds character to Datolite no matter what color. White Datolite with Copper inclusions and Quartz is especially fine.

I cut this piece into a large bold teardrop shape (30 X 40 mm). Since the Datolite is so showy, the wrap needed to be simple and elegant. I love using Pink Gold whenever I have loads of native copper in a stone. Pink gold’s coloration matches Copper well, but you do not have the Oxidation with Pink Gold like you do with Copper. I combined Pink Gold and Argentiun Sterling for this piece.

Whenever you wrap a calibrated Cabochon, you have to be as identical on the right and left side as possible. Any variation from side to side are readily noticed, and this is why many wire wrappers avoid calibrated cabochons. This pendant could be worn by a man or woman.

I hope you enjoy these small blogs.

Larimar: From Junk Pail to Fine Jewelry

What will this Larimar Rough look like when cut and polished? That's the fun.

How will it look when I cut it? This could be good.

Earlier this month my blog featured a piece of rough Larimar (Pectolite) that I found in someone’s cast offs at Tucson two years ago.

Looking through old buckets of rocks behind a rock shop.

Some things found in a rock show tub.

Looking through spider-infested buckets behind a rock shop out west.

I enjoy the gamble of buying random stones I see around the major shows. You never really know how good one of these rocks will be until you cut it open. Ugly rocks may turn into treasures with careful cutting. I’m a real scavenger, finding these treasures hidden in obscure places, such as in back of a rock shop in old buckets, in old collections grandpa used to have, in a dusty piled-up garage, and scattered treasures at major rock shows. Bonnie is good at this also, and will often point out possible treasures. (I have to keep her away from Sonoran Sunrise though as she thinks every one of those are treasures.)

Let’s get back to the Larimar. Bonnie often comes to the shop area and I asked her to “weed” rocks. That requires bending and twisting. She is more agile than I, and she knows how to weed (retired librarian). She also finds treasures I forgot I had.

During a search for materials she could weed, she located a bucket of rocks I picked at a show (way off the beaten path) in Tucson. In the bucket was a fairly plain chunk of Larimar. If Bonnie finds something she thinks is worthy, she puts it in a “To Cut” pile and I work it into the saw queue. I eventually cut this Larimar and was I surprised and delighted. I got three nice slabs of very high quality gem material.

I cabbed the slab and wrapped up a wonderful pendant for some lucky person to adopt.

I have more stuff in the “To Cut” bucket, so stand by… I’ll get to it eventually and show you.

What’s on the Workbench?

Paintbrush Jasper-China

Bonnie mentioned that I have not blogged about “What’s on the Workbench ?” in some time. So this month let’s just have a look.

I usually consider my workbench as the place I make finished jewelry, but getting stones to the point they can be worthy takes time also. Many wire artists do not cut their own jewelry stones, but I think it’s important to control my jewelry from start to finish.

Where do I get all the beautiful stones I use in my jewelry? I get that question all the time. Over the many years I’ve been in the Lapidary business I’ve acquired many old collections from estates or old collections that were just wasting away in a basement, garage, or barn somewhere. Rocks are also bought at the rock and gem shows in Tucson, Quartzsite, or rock & mineral shops anywhere we travel.

Outside Mexican Crazy Lace Agate

Inside Mexican Crazy Lace Agate

Owyhee Jasper-Owyhee Mountains Oregon

Leland Blue Stone is actually slag glass form an old smelter in Leland, Michigan. It is a local favorite.

Deschutes Jasper. Oregon

I eventually make jewelry stones (cabochons) from the rough. I love that many times (actually most of the time) I just don’t know what’s inside a rock of interest. Let’s saw it and see the inside!

Biggs Jasper has great pictures. Notice the Dendrites?

What will this Larimar Rough look like when cut and polished? That’s the fun.

Anyone that works with rocks generally knows what kind of rock they have, but the surprise occurs when that rock is sliced. Sometimes that rock is a Heaverite (just heave-her right out on the scrap pile). Bonnie’s flower garden is sometimes the beneficiary of these rocks, other times they just pile up outside the barn waiting for some visiting kids to take them home. The times that really are exciting is when the rocks are much better inside than I ever could have imagined from the outside. On occasion a rock may be just exceptional. I love these. Snob Appeal Jewelry is well known for the rare, unusual, and exceptional. I love it when someone buys a truly amazing piece.

Distinctive Picture Jaspers amaze me. A recent Paint Brush Jasper had a really outstanding scene. Classic picture jaspers like the famous Oregon jaspers from Biggs Junction, Owyhee, and Deschutes are famous and popular.

Turquoise and Petoskey Stone. Bonnie has been busy too.

Many, many of the stones I cut can have unique pictures in them, so I’m showing you a few. . Dendrites in jaspers resemble trees, shrubs, and plants and make the scenes in these Jaspers very realistic.

A Dendrite is a crystal structure with a tree-like branching form, adding realistic-looking details to the picture jasper stone. These are not a fossils, as many believe. Manganese is a common mineral that crystalizes into dendrites in picture jaspers.

Many projects are in the works here at SAJ. I find myself with too many ideas for the time I have. If you watch cartoon movies, you’ll know what I mean when I say I see that little fish saying in my ear “Just keep cutting-just keep cutting”; so that is what I do. I’m busy, but enjoy it as long as I don’t have a deadline.

If you enjoy looking at my recent projects share your favorite on Facebook!.

Looking back at 2014 Jewelry (and one 2015 Baby)

snob-appeal-jewelrytuxedo My New Years Pendant this year was inspired by both a dream I had and something that matches our company colors of Red, Black, and White. I pictured this exact ending in my dream. Tuxedo Agate is a dyed Brazilian Agate. The dyeing procedure is the same as is used in the manufacture of Black Onyx. I’m betting you did not know that most Black Onyx was dyed. I combined a piece of Onyx with a great piece of Tuxedo Agate and enhanced the pendant with Rhodolite Garnets. The wire is Argentium Sterling. A few hours of careful work produced a pendant I’m quite proud of. I expect this pendant, as well as the rest of the new pendants in this blog will be for sale in the near future.

As the end of 2014 comes to an end, we want to thank all our faithful customers for a record setting year. The Holiday rush is over and thankfully all orders have been delivered. Many Snob Appeal Jewelry patrons will be happy when Christmas morning comes.

Greenstones are our best sellers. these special ones are from old stock from Isle Royale.

I think back to the wonderful family I met at a Hotel in Munising this summer. We were returning from a trip to the Keweenaw and I had some extra copper, and other rocks I collected. The kids were delighted when I gave them some for their collections. Dad got a business card, and months later I got a call from their mother before Christmas. She wanted Greenstones to add to her children’s collections. I provided some nice stones at a modest price and filled a flat rate box with many more rocks that should make these young rockhounds very happy on Christmas morning. Sometimes rocks in the socks can be a good thing (but no coal!). Things like this just give me a good dose of feeling “Festive”.

Datolite in matrix from the Isle Royale #6 in Houghton County.

Snob Appeal Jewelry is known for our Isle Royale Greenstone (chlorastrolite), Lake Superior Agates, Pink Petoskey Stones, and all Michigan gemstones including Thomsonite, Mohawkite, and Prehnite. Fordite and Firebrick are two man-made substances with unique connections to Michigan history, that were industry left-overs and now are usable for interesting jewelry.

Mosaic Turquoise is a composite material that is very striking in its' coloration.

Although Greenstones are becoming more and more scarce, we continue to seek out old collections and collect in secret locations in the Keweenaw in order to keep our stock supplied. Over the past year a few small stashes have wrenched themselves free, and found their way into our collection. Look for a limited supply of new gemstones from up north to appear in new jewelry pieces.

We also invite you to explore our natural stone pendants of Crazy Lace Agate, Malachite, Ocean Jasper, and my favorite shimmery Pietersite. Another jewelry stone with lots of glamour is the very gorgeous and special man-created Victoria Stone. These are some of my favorite stones to work with.

We are not attending any of the western shows this winter. Over the years this has allowed us to create jewelry from so many beautiful gemstones from across the world. Some of our most colorful favorites are Rhodochrosite, Charoite, and Queensland Agates. We love going to Tucson and Quartzite, but I need time this winter to cut rocks and make jewelry in preparation for the Agate Expo in 2016.

Variscite from Fairfield, Utah with facetted Rose Quartz

Recent purchases of major rock collections have also added to our stock, and these also have to be dealt with. Look forward for some jaw-dropping jewelry in 2015.

Bonnie has been hinting how she'd like a pendant made from some Sonoran Sunset. She finally got this one for Christmas.

I’m pleased to announce that a complete re-vamp of our website is underway to make our website more compatible with mobile devices. There will be new interfaces and amazing technological advances, making Snobappealjewelry.com one of the premiere places for jewelry shopping on the web. We hope you will shop with us again in the New Year!

Lake Superior Agate Pendants and other Unusual Stones-On the Workbench

I’ve been cutting lots of recently acquired Lake Superior Agates since we arrived back from our winter in Arizona.

I suspect a couple fans will want this one.

A marvelous pastel Lake Superior Agate Pendant

I have to admit a recent Laker Pendant was put together right after cutting and polishing the stone. Sometimes a certain stone just make me eager to make something of it. The Laker I am speaking about has unusual banding and color; a tight reddish/brown fortification pattern in the top, and an entirely different pattern of wide white and peach banding on the bottom. The agate outdoes itself with this beautiful pink/peach. Pink Gold and Gold Gold wires enhance this nice stone.I named it Color-Wicking Lake Superior Agate Pendant.

Unusual Lakers like stirred Mocha

The second great Laker is an unusual dark carnelian with a pattern that looks like it was stirred in. The brown base agate bleeds though the white pattern creating a very rare yellow. The opposite side of the agate is eye-like.

Luna Agate found over 50 years ago.

Copper Crystal Cluster in float copper. A really amazing cabochon ready to be jewelry.

Picture Petrified Wood.

As a bonus I show you a couple of cabochons of Picture Petrified wood from near Holbrook, Arizona. Also a few other cabochons that will soon be jewelry.

I have been very busy cutting stones and sorting through my treasures from the Tucson shows. I’ll share my favorites as I get more!

Variscite from Utah is a beautiful pastel.

Another blog is in the works for the near future on the 20 0r so new mini Greenstone Pendants I have recently made. Thanks to all our blog readers.

Greenstone, Datolite, and Michigan Wire Wrapped Jewelry

In preparation for upcoming shows in the Upper Peninsula I have been working on some U.P. Gemstones and Jewelry.

Centennial Blue Datoite (and one from the Isle Royal Mine)

First was the cutting of very rare blue Datolite for the Centennial Mine north of Calumet. The mine hoist is still there, but the piles are gone and Centennial #2 is completely flooded. Any Datolite still found from this mine has been hoarded from the 60’s.

Blue Centennial generally contains microscopic grains of copper shining through the blue Datolite. Over the last few years Centennal Blue has been almost impossible to buy from anyone.

Copper Included Datolite is very popular in the U.P.

I’ve been holding on to assorted Datolite containing Copper Inclusions. I finally cut and polished the majority of the pieces I have. These always make popular jewelry for my Upper Michigan customers. Even those snobbish jewelry buyers love Datolite with Copper.

Copper Datolite with Greenstone...BAM!!!

Could it be a new ring?

I also cut three remarkable little Cabochons for a future ring for myself. The ring will sport a Yellow Keweenaw Point Datolite with copper, A Copper Agate from the Kearsarge Lode, and a copper Included Greenstone. This ring will be over the top when it is finished. I’ve got to cut the wax for the ring and I have a friend that will cast it for me. Notice the “Thumbs Up” from the Yellow Datolite.

We’re headed up north for rock hunting and shows shortly. Check our home page for upcoming events. It’s always fun for us to see all our friends in the Keweenaw. Come see us at Copper World in Calumet and art shows in Eagle harbor and Copper Harbor or on a rockpile nearby.

A Lake Superior Agate of the "Paint" variety was a quick sell off our Facebook Page.

Rhodochrosite on the Workbench

We have been very busy making new jewelry for the past few weeks. The Pink Petoskey (Pink Pet) activity has also taken up time with making cabochons, wrapping them, and polishing Pink Pets for web sales. At last count there are over 30 polished Pink Pets on this site; take a look. The May/June issue of Rocks and Minerals Magazine features an article by myself and Dr. George Robinson on the illusive Pink Petoskey Stones of Northern Michigan.

I called this pendant "Brazen Vista". I think you can see why.

I daily look through my cabochon collection and choose possibilities for wire wrapping. My mood changes from day to day, so whatever inspires me, I select. Yesterday a lovely rosy pink Rhodochrosite grabbed my attention.

I knew this pendant would be a challenge because it was a rectangle. Squares and rectangles are a challenge for several reasons. The cab has to be very precisely calibrated from side to side and top to bottom or you will notice the imbalance immediately. Secondly, the wire wrapping has to be dead on from side to side and top to bottom. Thirdly, wire cannot be “pulled” around corners, so squares and rectangles must be made one side at a time. Advanced skills are required for this type of wrapping. This is why you do not see many wire wrappers doing squares, rectangles, or round shapes. This type of wire wrapping is very detailed and time consuming.

I have been looking at this large (2″ X 1 -1/4 “) Rhodochrosite cab for a few years off and on. In recent years Brown Rhodochrosite has become more expensive than normal pink Rhodocrosite. Years ago the miners in Argentina threw away Rhodocrosite containing browns as unacceptable. The value of this gemstone has substantially increased for the past several years. It is difficult to find nice Brown Rhodochrosite without pits, and this quality costs $$$. The brown coloration is a result of impurities in the stone. So finally this stone has a chance to shine.

Here are a couple other items from my workbench this week.
Bonnies new Pink Pet.

Bonnie claimed a recent Pink Petoskey Stone Pendant as her own. She normally likes all the stuff I make, and is honest in her opinions of my wire wrapping. Sometimes she just really likes a piece, and this was the case here. Click on this link to Pink Petoskey Stone Pendants as I do have lots of other Petoskey Stone jewelry available for purchase, just not this one!

Beth's new treasure. Thanks for being patient.

My good friend John gave me a geode slice a few months ago after we came back from the Tucson rock shows. During the Tucson unpacking frenzy I misplaced the stone and forgot about it until John asked me about it. This put me on a full alert to find it. I found a little silver cloth bag on my bookshelf, looked inside, and found the stone. I should have been looking for a silver bag instead of a stone. It was right where I put it, as Bonnie would say.

I had talked to John, previously, about putting a gemstone in the crystal cave of the stone, but was inspired when three Topaz’ fit perfectly in the pocket. Beth (John’s wife) loves her new piece of jewelry. Again, this piece is spoken for, but perhaps you would like to look at some other gems by following these links: Crazy Lace Agate Pendants, Ocean Jasper, Pietersite, or the every sparkly Victoria Stone.

Snoopy and the Red Agate

I haven’t written an “On the Workbench” blog in some time, but I thought I would let you see what I’ve done with some of the stuff I brought back from the shows in Arizona. Check the back blogs to review.

Bumblebee Jasper is not really a Jasper. Finding bright orange Bumblebee is uncommon.

One of the things that seemed all over Tucson this year was Bumblebee Jasper. This orange and black (but usually yellow and black) rock comes from Volcanic vents on the island of Bali in Indonesia. It is a mis-nomer to refer to Bumblebee as Jasper. It is neither Jasper, nor is it an Agate. The rock is in reality an Anhydrite/Sulfur/Hematite with welded volcanic tuft (ash). This stuff varies widely in hardness and contains many hole and flaws, so it is tricky to make a decent gemstone. It is also hard to find bright orange. The pendant I made looks like an evil mask. The stone was so flashy it did not need a fancy wrap.

Keswick Agate

I cut a Keswick Agate from Keswick, Iowa, leaving quite a bit of ordinary Quartz on the side. This was intentional. I envisioned using some of my wire over the Quartz to really enhance the eye-like pattern of the Agate. A plain wrap, like I did on the Bumblebee, would not work with the Keswick. Keswick Agate is difficult to obtain and good Keswick is hard to find.

Picture Petrified Wood from near Holbrook, Arizona

Picture Petrified Wood comes from near Holbrook, Arizona. One of our oldest and dearest friends sells Petoskey Stones in Tucson. She wanted a pendant and swapped me some of her Dendritic Picture Wood for making this pendant for her.

Faceted Aquamarine and Amethyst; simply wrapped;simply beautiful.

I wrapped a really fine faceted Aquamarine as well as another of Amethyst. I wrapped these so they can flip over while being worn.

Thomsonite of this quality is always popular.

The Keweenaw Peninsula and Grand Marais, Minnesota both supply the beautiful Ziolite, Thomsonite. Dark eyed Thomsonite from the north shore is the most coveted. I was just mindlessly looking around the AGTA (American Gem Trade Association) show and happened to glance down a side isle and spot a couple trays in the bottom of a display case. My eye immediately focused in on a Thompsonite. I could not believe such a gemstone would exist in a show full of common Diamonds, Rubies, and Sapphires. This one even has copper inclusions.

I asked the lady at the booth if I could look at the two trays. In a humorous manner she said, “Oh, you want to look in my junk box?” I for sure wanted to get at that “junkbox”, and found several other treasures as well as this Thomsonite.

When the dealer dropped and broke one of my Malachite slices, I immediately thought of earrings to go with the bullseye pendant.

I could not help but purchase a perfect slice of Bullseye Malachite. I dislike cutting this stuff, but put my mask and gloves on, and went to it. What a great Pendant I made from the cab. The earrings came from the second slice off the same rock, but the owner of the business dropped it on the floor at checkout, and the slab broke in half. He gave me the two pieces, so I used them. I hate wasting good material.

Snoopy?

Speaking of Malachite, I saw Snoopy in a piece. Cool stuff.

Watermelon Tourmaline

Not much bigger than a dime, two other fantastic little pendants of Watermelon Tourmaline and Montana Agate called me. I have seldom seen a small agate with such a fantastic natural picture. Watermelon Tourmaline is the most coveted breed of this gemstone. Good Tourmaline, like this one, are always popular, no matter the price.

A small Montana Agate with a "big sky" picture.

Yellow Cat

Cardinal Candy: Another rare red Yellow Cat.

Yellow Cat Petrified wood is from remote regions of Utah, and was used by Tiffany back in the day. Yellow Cat is the brightest red of any petrified wood. It is really an amazing and scarce agate. I was very excited to see some at one of the Tucson Shows. The dealer told me people walked by his supply all day; not recognizing it for what it was. I am happy my mind is full of knowledge on many rare rocks.

You hardly ever see Blue Lace Agate Drusy.

Bonnie is especially fond of Blue Lace Agate. Imagine her thrill when I found some Blue Lace Drusy. Drusy means it contains pockets full of millions of tiny Quartz Crystals. This one I made into a designer cut beauty.

The workbench and the shop are still busy. I am so pleased with all the jewelry grade rocks I obtained out west, and am still exceedingly busy and thrilled about making a new crop of jewelry. I also enjoy sharing with you guys.