Labradorite, I love the glow!

Labradorite can produce a colorful play of light across cleavage planes and in sliced sections called labradorescence. The usually intense colors range from the typical blues and violets through greens, yellows and oranges. Some rare specimens display all these colors simultaneously. (scientific explanation below picture for those not bored to tears by this first paragraph).

With jewelry, it's all about color and flash. This stone has it all. Below are some pieces I made recently. I've included some Blue Topaz accent stones in some of the pieces. I love this combination.
More Views:
A  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698891/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
B  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698724/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
D  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698398/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-pendant
E  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698724/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
C and F are sold

The color display is from lamellar intergrowths inside the crystal. These intergrowths result from compatible chemistries at high temperatures becoming incompatible at lower temperatures and thus a separating and layering of these two phases. The resulting color effect is caused by a ray of light entering a layer and being refracted back and forth by deeper layers. This refracted ray is slowed by the extra travel through the layers and mixes with other rays to produce a light ray coming out that has a different wavelength than when it went in.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

The Peacock is Strutting His Stuff

I finished the peacock pendant I was working on as well as a few other pieces of jewelry. It features a Labradorite gemstone. Labradorite shimmers with blue iridescence similar to a peacock's plumage; also features three Peridot, and three blue Topaz accent stones. The silver metalwork also includes a 14K gold crown and a few gold pieces mixed into the silver granulation. In the background of this picture is the metalwork when it was nearly finished before setting the stones. I love the way these pieces come to life when the stones are set and the metal is polished.

 

Pictured below are some other pieces I made this week;  a Kingman Turquoise Pendant and Earrings, an Azurite Malacite Pendant and a Citrine Pendant with a Citrine Accent Stone. These pieces are now listed in my Etsy and Artfire stores. Visit the links below to see more views.

 

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies
My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com