Tag: blue agate

“Bluest” Agate Bracelet

“Bluest” Agate Bracelet

This is the first bracelet I made in 2023. It is the “bluest blue” agate so far from The Carver. The stone is 100% natural and is not treated in any way. I was so taken by the deep blue banded coloration that I decided I just had to put it in a new bracelet. The stone’s rectangular shape “drove” my design—sleek, simple and angular. As I have often said, the setting design is only for one purpose: to highlight the shape, beauty and uniqueness of the cut stone. This bracelet is now available for purchase in the Shop! “Bluest” Agate Bracelet More views Click on each image to see an enlarged version

New Year Powder Blue Fortification Agate Bracelet

New Year Powder Blue Fortification Agate Bracelet

This bracelet and its powder blue agate stone were created just before Christmas 2019–the only bracelet I made in 2019. It is a great start for 2020 and is gemologically interesting. Though at first, this blue agate may merely seem beautiful and elegant, it is much more, particularly if you like rocks like I do! First, the lower right hand corner of the stone has a half moon shaped blue area of finely banded agate. This fine blue banding displays opalescence, e.g., its blue color and reflectivity subtly changes depending upon the intensity and type of light (natural, incandescent, fluorescent, LED, etc.). Second, the orientation of the stone to the light will change its reflectivity and brightness.  This is very much what you would see with certain types of precious opal.  Third, the fortification agate (named so because it has a shape with angular corners, like looking down from above […]

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Balmorhea Blue from The Carver

Balmorhea Blue from The Carver

This ‘deep pit’ blue agate from The Carver is reminiscent of the famous ‘Balmorhea Blue’ agate named for Balmorhea, Texas. Balmorhea is a west Texas town located approximately 60 miles north of Alpine, Texas, where The Carver is located.  Interestingly, Balmorhea, in addition to being famous for its blue agate, is also known as the ‘Venice of Texas’. Located in a near desert environment, a huge spring pours out of the ground and feeds a large swimming pool (which is a part of a state park), Balmorhea Lake, and provides water for canals (which run through the center of town). Balmorhea Blue agate is extremely rare as supplies of it have long ago been almost exhausted.  The ‘Carver blue’ agate appears in many of the ‘deep pit’ nodules/agates, some of which have weighed more than 15 pounds.  This is yet another odd but diverse part of The Carver agate field. […]

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