Dark Sage Green with Black Jade Earrings – Small Fans

Description

This jade is really pretty and unusual, it is from Wyoming and it is a dark sage green with black branchlike patterning (I was happily surprised that it shows some translucence in strong sunlight). It is strong and so I was able to slice it thinly for delicate earrings. I start with a large chunk of jade and after dozens of steps I finally result in the final small wearable piece of artwork.

I made a small hammered silver hook for the top that I very carefully attached with a handmade silver rivet to a handmade ear wire. I like to keep the metalwork to a small flourish that accents the jade, it glitters in the light.

Nephrite jade is one of the toughest gemstones in the world because its crystalline growth pattern is long strands so we gemstone cutters can cut it very thinly and it stays very strong, most rock and gem crystal structures will not allow for this and crumble.

Medium in size, about 1 1/4″ in length.

Nephrite Jade (Wyoming), Sterling Silver