"Bug on a Rock" Gold Insect on Agate; Ruby, Sapphire Accents Chalcedony Chain

This one-of-a-kind pendant by Eytan Brandes features a freeform slice of gold, set with a diamond, over a freeform slice of goshenite. Goshenite is a variety of beryl -- basically aquamarine without color. We acquired a little pile of this stuff -- the palest of pale blue and oddly cut -- and were at a loss as to what to do with it until Eytan hit on the idea of setting one of them in a bezel with an oxidized (blackened) inside pan. We love the end result. The swirly pattern of the oxidization plus the faceting plus the minute coloration of the stone combine to give this humble gem a truly unique, shimmery look -- worthy, even, of a hearty "Gosh!" (if anyone actually said "gosh" anymore...) By contrast, the diamond, bezel-set to float in the opening of Eytan's 18 karat gold shard, involves absolutely no hanky-panky. It's an earth-mined, natural and untreated stone weighing 0.04 carats -- a small but high quality sparkler (Eytan rates it G-H color and VS2 clarity). The hand-wrought pulled wire bale is roughly oval-shaped and oversized, since Eytan envisioned his pendant would be paired with beads (which generally require a bigger bale than a chain), but removable. We think our choker-length strand of faceted but rough sapphire...

This freeform clip-on enhancer pendant showcases a faceted slice of pietersite. One of our favorite opaque stones, pietersite (named after the dude who first identified it in 1962) ...

Finely detailed vintage Art Deco era insect necklace (circa 1920s to 1930s), crafted in 14 karat yellow gold. Pear cut opal measures 7.5mm x 58mm, accented with an estimated 0.10 ...

A vintage gem set bee pendant, with an oval cabochon cut opal, set in the abdomen and a round, cabochon-cut amethyst set in the thorax, with articulating openwork wings, set with eig...