Custom Goldstone Pendants

About 12 months ago I cut a small oval monkstone cabochon for a friend of mine at work. It was a fairly small stone, from memory perhaps 34mm x18mm, and it was cut at her request as it was one of her favourite stones. Her intention was to have the stone set by a jeweller.

Goldstone (sometimes referred to as monkstone) is a man made material with official origins dating back to seventeenth century Italy. The 'stone' sparkles or glitters as a result of the tiny metallic copper crystals within. The most common form of Goldstone is a reddish brown colour but it can also be found as a deep navy blue.

Unfortunately, not long after I cut the stone for her, her house was robbed and her jewellery box was taken. The stone I had cut for her was inside the jewellery box at the time. I only discovered this recently when she asked if I was able to cut her another piece. This pendant is the result:

Free From Teardrop Goldstone Cabochon Pendant

Although this picture isn't brilliant, you can see the sparkle or glitter within the cabochon. The material is made by melting together silica, copper oxide, and other metal oxides. This mixture is melted down in a vat to chemically reduce the copper ions to elemental copper. The vat is then sealed and the material is allowed to remain liquid long enough for the crystals to form. Once opened, the material hardens into what is seen above. You can find more information on Goldstone here.

Subsequently, my friend has asked for another couple of pieces which I have now cut for her.

This is a blue goldstone heart finished with a sterling silver bail:

Blue Goldstone Free Form Heart Cabochon Pendant

And this is an 18mm round Amethyst cabochon which she is giving to her daughter in law for Christmas:

18mm round Amethyst Cabochon Pendant

The amethyst is set into a small silver plated bezel setting.

For more pendants and cabochons please check out my facebook page and Storenvy store. You can also follow my blog to keep updated with all my lapidary work!

Bye for now!