This handcrafted pendant features a raw piece of natural moldavite, wrapped in coils & weaves of Sterling silver wire with sparkling Herkimer diamonds. The wire was oxidized to bring out the rich texture of the weave, then hand-polished to an aged finish. This moldavite stone was not cut, so as to retain all it's natural features and properties. The pendant measures 30x23x17mm (1.2"x 0.9"x 0.7") and comes suspended on your choice of chain.
Moldavite was named for the town of Moldauthein, in the Czech Republic, where it was first discovered. The origins of moldavite remains hotly debated by the scientific community. However, the most popular theory proposes a meteoritic origin (making this a tektite/meteorite impactite), based on evidence such as extremely low water content, unique pitting/wrinkling if the surface characteristic of meteorites, and isotope analysis, comparing it to other known tektites. So, moldavite is essentially splatters of molten terrestrial rock, blown from the surface of the Earth by a comet or meteor impact that cooled as it fell back down, falling mostly in Bohemia.
Herkimer diamonds are double-terminated quartz crystal from exposed outcrops of dolostone in/around Herkimer County, NY & Mohawk River Valley. Crystals originating in NY are known for their extreme clarity.
This piece comes in a luxurious, black velvet jeweler's box, contained in a cardboard outer shell; perfect for gift-giving. This is an heirloom-quality piece you can treasure for many years to come. This ships fully-insured with international tracking, for your convenience & peace of mind.
*Coins are shown for scale and will not be included with this item.
**Comes with a signed certificate of authenticity, filled in and signed by the artist; photo of the piece and materials are listed on the reverse side of the card.