Mixed Metals & Natural Stones

This new designs features a mix of metals in techniques; at the center is a large brush antique brass metal pendant cut-out in geometric design with enamel gun-metal colors. 

Accenting either side are two large hand wired double coils in gun-metal non-tarnish wire. Adding to the design for a contrast of color for fall, carved jade in soft olive from dark to light colors and exotic Arizona ivoryite. 

Check out this and many other new designs featuring hand wire wrapped pendants and natural stone mixtures! 

All custom designed artisan jewelry featuring some of nature's most brilliant and historic creations!

Greek & Roman Luster of Bronzite

In striking shades of brown, with flecks of golden and silvery slivers, bronzite is a bronze-like sub-metallic luster variety of Enstatite. The bronzite variety of enstatite has a semi-metallic luster which is formed through weathering of the enstatite mineral. The gemstone consists of magnesium and magnesium iron silicates and has an orthorhombic crystal structure. These are considered to be the ferriferous variety of enstatite.

The purest bronzite comes from Brazil, but is also found in India, Western Australia, China, and South Africa. It can be found in meteorites, leading some to speculate this means that other worlds in our solar system must have a similar composition to that of the earth.

The ancient Romans used to grind bronzite into powder form to protect against mental illness and confusion and as an effective treatment to strengthen the nerves. They also wore the stone as a protective amulet. Bronzite was highly valued by the Greeks and Romans as a decorative stone because of its particular brilliance. 

 

This new design features several stones in an octagon cut and faceted rondelles with a high polish to bring out the golden flakes. It has been paired with matching metal pendant and earrings in red enamel; tons of hand twisted charm crystals, rare Arizona ivoryite and cloisonne beads.

A rich and classy necklace set, sure to capture attention!

    

Find your next rare gem among our collection of finely artisan crafted jewelry!

Research various books and websites; bronzite rough picture by R. Weller/Cochise College

The Snakeskin of Serpentine

Named for the snakeskin it is said to resemble, serpentine has been used in jewelry for thousands of years; mainly because it is suitable for carving and polishes to an attractive gleam. It is sometimes confused with jadette or nephrite, because of its similar coloration, and is sometimes been known as “Korean jade” or “new jade’, although it is softer and scratches more easily than jade.

The term serpentine encompasses a group of related minerals that are distributed across the globe. It is a secondary mineral formed from minerals such as olivine (known as gem peridot) and orthophroxene. It occurs in igneous rocks containing these minerals but typically in serpentinites, which have been formed by the serpentine minerals, the antigorites and the chrysotiles.

Legend says that is was used by the ancient Romans as a protective stone against the powers of darkness. According to the legend, beakers made from serpentine would shatter if they came into contact with poison. In the Middle Ages, medicine was kept in serpentine containers because this increased its healing powers and made it last longer.

As in ancient civilizations of America, serpentine was considered a guardian of vital energy and a protector of the soul against invisible powers. The stone is said to even out mood swings and calms the wearer in stressful, hectic situations; it is a protective stone that is said to bring peace.

This new design features a large oblong serpentine pendant in deep rich green with slivers of silver. The bail contains hand twisted charms in metallic and clear faceted crystals; Arizona ivoryite, more crystals and sterling silver spacers and toggle complete the set.

 

Browse our artisan crafted jewelry, featuring some of nature’s finest treasures!

*Research from various websites, mineral-stone-crystal books.

Interesting Rocks of Conglomerate Jasper

Conglomerates are basically round stones set in a matrix of finer sand and clay. The stones can be gravel, pebbles, cobbles, or chips of boulders. These stones have been tumbles along beaches, rivers or streams for countless years to round off all the sharp edges. That makes these stones very touch to survive all the battering and elements of Mother Nature; so conglomerates are usually a base stone of quartz, flint, chert and hard igneous rocks. Conglomerates in a way, mark an interruption in the slow, steady process of deposition of rocks and minerals.

The great majority of conglomerates are described as petromict or polymict. This means they contain a wide mix of different stones from a variety of sources, such as basalts, slates and limestones. The matrix can be silicates, calcites or iron oxides. They are mainly river deposits washed down from areas of high relief and dumped in alluvial fans. The colors of conglomerates are as varies as the rocks and minerals their stones come from. The stones are often marked by different colors from the matrix.

In this design I’ve used a red conglomerate jasper pendant that is found and mined in New Mexico; the strands of the necklace are of red star jasper and rare Arizona ivoryite with a splash of blue crystals to bring out the blue matrix in the pendant.

  

  

Browse our jewelry collections of unusual and uniquely artisan crafted pieces online….at our Timeless Designs Ruby Lane Shop!

Trendy Southwestern Mix

Working with stones I sometimes get a desire to do multiple strand necklaces; not often, but there are times when the stones and design just come together. In this creation, I started with rare ivoryite stones from the Arizona mines; accented with silver spacers and did half the necklace in raw stabilized turquoise chips beautiful earthy tones and the base of the necklace are tiny marbled onyx tubes.


Ivoryite is a wonderful and versatile stone to work with; it is a very unique variety of extremely fine grained mineral called magnesite; it is a natural mineral and not man-made as most people think. Quarried by hand, this stone looks and feels like soft silky ivory; it can be worked with metal tools, but cuts effortlessly with diamond tools making it excellent material for inlay, cabochons and small carvings.

Find your wearable earth, custom design jewelry at our online shop!

Turquoise: Spiritual attunement, cleansing, healing, protection, valor, soothing, peace of mind, guidance through the unknown, romantic spontaneity.
Onyx: Self-control, decision making, intuition, recognition of personal strengths.

Dramatic Black & White Design Affect

A mix of rare and exquisite creamy ivoryite stones from the Arizona mines are strung for a dramatic design against banded black agate stones. The agate coin stones have striking banding in an almost off-white color with a hint of brown; some of the stones when held up to the light are almost translucent. Between the stones are pewter star spacers and the triangular agate pendant is hung with a silver twisted swirl bail.

Agates: Balancing physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies; perceptiveness, strength, inspiration, awakening talents.

Dramatic, unusual, chic, or trendy --- find your style among our custom jewelry designs!

Classy & Chic Artistic Jasper Designs

Artistic jasper is an incredibly beautiful stone; the array of colors is stunning with the creations of nature. The stones are mostly a shade of pink, but can have additional jasper coloring. These three designs are made from Japanese artistic jasper and include stones in ivoryite, black quartz, and faceted crystals in pink, copper, topaz, and black.






Jaspers: Protection, nurturing, joy, awareness; balancing of physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies.

























Uniquely handcrafted designs from nature; see our collections to purchase your next custom piece.

Starting Out the New Year

Just a couple of new pieces to share, we’ll be adding more and more through-out the coming weeks. And quite a bit more after our coming trip to Tucson! So bookmark the blog and website to keep up with the new custom stone wire jewelry design to add to your collection.




Kingman Turquoise petals Ivoryite Golden Yellow Opal Pendant (Sold - to the right)








(to the left)Stromatolite Fossil Pendant Melon Shell Crystals Sandy Jasper Set

These and many other custom design pieces are available for purchase on the website.

Shades of Purple Oyster

Many shades of purple from light to dark and a little creamy white; two exotic and rare natural stones of purple Oyster square chips and hidden among them are Arizona Ivoryite stones. The hoop style earrings are from the same natural stones, included to complete the set.

Find many other unique treasures for purchase at Timeless Designs.

Two Exotic Gemstones

This brand new design is sure to be a bold eye catcher! It brings together two exotic and rare gemstone mixes in finely cut purple Spiny Oyster disks highlighted by Arizona Ivoryite; wear it short or long with the Sterling Silver toggle extender and silver hoop style earrings.

See our selection of uniquely handcrafted gemstone jewelry at Timeless Designs!