Brecciated Polychrome Jasper Hinged Pendant Necklace in Sterling Silver
This brecciated polychrome jasper has such an interesting combination of colors and patterns. Golden ochre and warm honey tones fill the upper portion of the stone, gradually giving way to smoky olive green, creamy ivory, and little patches of terracotta and dusty pink near the pointed tip. Fine, dark fracture lines run through the different colors, creating an intricate pattern that looks almost like pieces of an ancient mosaic. I especially love the long, tapered shape and the way the colors seem to shift and overlap within it.
The stone is framed in a double-layered silver bezel with a darkened, textured border that follows its elongated shape. At the top, I've added a hinged bail that allows the pendant to move independently from the chain, a detail that adds both movement and a little mechanical interest to the design. The reverse has its own deeply textured geometric pattern, making the back just as interesting as the front.
Polychrome jasper, also known as Desert Jasper, comes from Madagascar, where it was introduced to the gemstone market in the mid-2000s. Its name means many colors, and the remarkable variety of earthy hues is one of the things that makes this material so appealing.
The distinctive fractured pattern comes from a geological process called brecciation. Rock breaks into angular fragments, and mineral-rich fluids subsequently fill the spaces between them, cementing the pieces together. Silica and other minerals preserve the irregular fragments and create the contrasting veins that run through the stone. Iron oxides and other mineral impurities contribute the beautiful range of reds, pinks, yellows, greens, and browns. Every polished piece reveals a different arrangement of those ancient fractures, making each one entirely unique.
In traditional crystal lore, polychrome jasper is associated with creativity, vitality, grounding, and a renewed enthusiasm for life.
✧ Stone: Natural brecciated polychrome jasper from Madagascar
✧ Pendant Size: Approximately 45 × 16 mm
✧ Metal: Sterling silver and fine silver
✧ Chain: Fancy oval-link sterling silver chain
✧ Length: Adjustable from 18 to 20 inches
✧ Design: Hinged bail with double-layered silver bezel
✧ Finish: Polished silver with darkened textured details
✧ Back: Textured silver reverse
✧ Closure: Sterling silver lobster claw clasp
One-of-a-kind and made with care in my studio.
