Annabelle Peterson, Navajo -
Sterling Silver | ||||||||
C
- imitation opal, jet / orange spiny oyster About Native American authenticity.
Holes are designed so the heart hangs at an angle.
| Annabelle
Peterson, Navajo Sterling Silver Reversible Inlay Pendants #NP734 | |||||||
C
- $85 plus s/h | ||||||||
Dime in photo above shows scale of pendants.
Each pendant comes with a 17" sterling silver chain. | ||||||||
What is Spiny Oyster?Spiny oyster, not surprisingly, is an oyster that is covered with spines. Like coral or mother-of-pearl, the shell of spiny oyster is considered an organic gemstone. The portion of the shell used to make jewelry is aragonite, which consists of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Aragonite has the same chemical formula as calcite. Spiny oysters are found along the Atlantic coast of Baja California and Baja Mexico. Common colors vary from orange, found in shallow waters, to red and purple from deeper waters. The shell is also found in white, yellow, pink and brown. Polished shell has definite striations and color variation. Red spiny oyster has been used as a subsititute for coral. |
ABOUT OPALOpal is a naturally blue stone with interior fracturing of light which results in a play of color. Opal is October's birthstone and is believed to make the wearer less self-conscious, thereby encouraging spontaneous action and awakening one's psyche. Natural opal(also known as precious opal) contains between 3-10% water but can be as high as 20% and this can make the stones less stable. Lab opalis considered a true synthetic or created opal – produced in controlled laboratory conditions and with the same chemical composition as natural opal but with a very low moisture content making it more durable. Lab opal has much fracturing of light and brilliant colors including blue, pink, purple, red and green.. Imitation opal(artificial or simulated opal) is different chemically from natural and lab opal. It is made up of 80% silica and 20% resin and is an economical option to both precious and lab opal. It is the opal most commonly used in Native American jewelry. |
