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This shop is divided into two sections: Bracelets, Pendants, and Designer Gemstones

About the Bracelets

These sterling silver bracelets are individually designed and handmade by J. L. Carver in Alpine, Texas.

Each bracelet contains gems found by J, L. Carver on ‘The Carver’ agate field in far West Texas.   Each stone has been cut, shaped and polished by 50 year lapidist J. L. Carver.  These stones are ‘designer gemstones’ which means that the stones are free-form, e.g. , their size, thickness and shape are determined by the unique characteristics of the stone from which each gemstone is cut.  This makes each stone totally unique in its size, shape and thickness.

Sterling silver bracelets are individually made for each stone in order to enhance the beauty of the stone.  Stones are never cut to fit a bracelet.  The bracelet is designed to emphasize the stone.  Stones and silver work are designed and handmade by J. L. Carver and may contain minor imperfections which make each bracelet totally unique.  Each bracelet is one of a kind and has a hand etched production number on the back.  As of this writing, March 2018, only 27 bracelets have been made for sale.   In addition, each bracelet has the J. L. Carver service mark.  The bracelets are not sized but are of a style allowing you to gently compress the bracelet to fit your wrist.


About the Pendants

Pendants are cut and polished stones which are set in sterling silver or goldfill. The pendants use much less precious metal than the bracelet settings and are, therefore, more affordable. The pendants also allow for more unusual setting designs and can accommodate more variable stone shapes.  We do not provide chains as the length, style, and weight of the chain is the buyer’s choice. Some of these pendants, where noted, could be worn with leather instead of a chain.


About the Designer Gemstones

These designer gemstones are free-form designer cabochons from ‘The Carver.’ Free-form means that I have shaped and polished the pictured stone to maximize the natural beauty of the stone….the stone is not cut and polished to a specific shape, e.g., oval, square or round, or to a specific size.  Most cabs are of a uniform shape (oval or round and sometimes rectangular or square) and usually these are cut to a size predetermined  to fit easily and exactly into a stock (mass produced) jewelry setting for a ring, bracelet, pendant, belt buckle, etc.  Stock settings are machine made, inexpensive, and widely used to make jewelry  designed to take a single specifically shaped and sized cab.  The free-form designer cab is a stone cut without a specific standardized shape or size and needs a metal (usually either silver or gold) setting individually designed and constructed to fit the specific size and shape of the free-form stone.  This is why these type of stones are called designer cabs.  Creating and then constructing a setting designed to fit a free-form cab is time consuming and explains why free-form designer jewelry is usually much more expensive than jewelry in mass produced settings.  Free-form stones in custom settings are typically one of a kind.

Why do I make free-form stones rather than calibrated stones for mass produced settings?  For me, it is about capturing the maximum beauty or uniqueness of a particular stone.  Because ‘The Carver’ contains such a diverse stock of unique stones, I am more inclined to make a unique or unusual stone than one that is only pretty.  The coloration, patterns and neat, cool-looking features in a stone  will determine both the size and shape of the final stone.  Forcing a particular shape onto a uniquely patterned stone might destroy the uniqueness of the stone or the ability to highlight the pattern.  Cutting a free-form designer stone is about artistic selection, imagination, and knowing how to ‘tease’ the maximum beauty and uniqueness from a rough stone.  When first cutting a rough stone, I often have no idea of what colors, patterns or uniqueness may appear.  Once cut, I look for those features and then shape the stone to highlight the feature(s).   If you look closely at my bracelet gallery, you will see that each bracelet has a different type of stone, color, size, shape, and each has a sterling silver setting designed for each individual stone.  Free-form designer jewelry may be more expensive but it is truly a ONE OF A KIND piece of art…..beautiful and unique.

Read more information and ask a question about designer gemstones


Terms of Sale

If dissatisfied with product in any way, it may be returned within 14 days of priority mail delivery date for full refund of purchase price.

Warranty

Each stone is from ‘The Carver’ West Texas agate field, hand cut and polished by J. L. Carver, then set in sterling silver designed and handcrafted by J. L. Carver in Alpine, TX.  The bracelets are as they appear in the photos, although the color of the stones may vary due to computer monitor color variations.  All stones are completely natural with no artificial treatment or coloration.

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