Rose Quartz Skull intaglio necklace
This was an experimental piece for me, for two reasons:
The dome of this cabochon is higher than the stones I usually reverse-carve into. The higher the dome, the smaller the design needs to be, as the arc has a magnifying effect on the underside that can blow out a design, so it needs to be compact with a significant border. In this case, my carving space was reduced to 3mm x 4mm.
The challenge to this new stone was the fact that rose quartz naturally has some smoky inclusions. Had I not picked this gem out in person, I don't think I would have chanced my luck, as rose quartz can sometimes verge on opaque and any design on the underside risks being lost.
As such, you need to turn the stone - it's best viewed in-movement, so see beyond the haze. I'm happy with the effect and the pink gem is a lovely, gentle hue.
As with my wax work, all stone carving is done by me in my Newcastle upon Tyne studio in the UK. I use diamond-coated discs and burrs, and the process gives me the most colourful headache.
This piece is completely one-of-a-kind.
Details:
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Material: 925 Sterling Silver and rose quartz
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Pendant Dimensions: Approx. 1.6 cm tall x 1.1 cm wide (0.6″ x 0.4″)
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Chain: 46cm (18″) sterling silver belcher chain
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Origin: Handcrafted and produced in the UK
Made in England