Brecciated Polychrome Jasper Statement Pendant Necklace in Sterling Silver
This brecciated polychrome jasper has a gorgeous mix of earthy colors, with soft salmon pink, warm golden ochre, creamy ivory, and deep olive green flowing through the stone. Fine, dark fracture lines cut through the different colors, creating an almost abstract landscape. I particularly love the way the pink sweeps across the upper left corner, while the golden and olive tones run down toward the pointed bottom. It's a beautiful example of the natural artistry found in this unusual material.
The stone has a softly triangular shape, framed in a double-layered silver bezel with a darkened, textured border. Above it, I've created an open arch filled with clusters of polished silver granules in different sizes, almost like little constellations of silver suspended between the two curved borders. The contrast between the darkened recesses and bright silver gives the design wonderful depth, and the reverse has a textured pattern of its own. This is one of those pieces where the silverwork is every bit as interesting as the stone.
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, a fitting description for a material known for its remarkable variety of earthy hues.
The intricate fractured pattern comes from a geological process called brecciation. Rock breaks into angular fragments, and mineral-rich fluids later fill the spaces between them, cementing the pieces back together. Silica and other minerals preserve the fractured shapes, while iron oxides and other mineral impurities contribute the warm pinks, reds, yellows, browns, and greens. The result is a natural mosaic that reveals an entirely different arrangement of colors and patterns in every stone.
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 32 × 32 mm
✧ Metal: Sterling silver and fine silver
✧ Chain: Sterling silver diamond-link chain
✧ Length: Adjustable from 18 to 20 inches
✧ Design: Double-layered silver bezel with open arched silverwork and granule detailing
✧ 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.
