Problem Children

Every now and then I get a rock that will not become what I originally envisioned. Recently, I had two such problem children. Everyone seems to love rings, they are usually the most meaningful, and the items that many people like to give as gifts, so I like to have a selection on hand.

Pink Kunzite Crystal & Emerald Cut Green Tourmaline

These two babies refused. Refused! After way too much exasperation, I let them tell me this: “We want to be part of something MORE”! Then, I dug around my vault to see what to do for their makeover.

I combined the emerald cut green tourmaline with some thin, raw tourmaline crystals, and added a smokey quartz “rosary” chain with a handmade hook. It became this necklace:

Emerald Cut Green Tourmaline Necklace with Raw Tourmaline Crystals & Smokey Quartz Rosary Chain

I thought the big pink kunzite crystal would look good with a nice, honkin’ (over 20 carats!) pink tourmaline briolette I had in my stash. Sometimes, things go from bad to worse…

Broken Briolette 🙁

I guess it was too much competition for the kunzite! Since I like rocks with interesting flaws, the danger is sometimes they don’t take kindly to being dropped. Sigh. What to do, what to do… a couple of smaller briolettes…maybe some sapphires… What about that rose cut sapphire/diamond thingy I’ve been hoarding?

Pink Kunzite Necklace with Pink Tourmaline Briolettes, Umba Sapphire Briolettes & Rose Cut Sapphire with Diamonds

Still needs a little something. MORE sapphires!

Pink Kunzite Necklace With Rose Cut Sapphire Surrounded by Diamonds, Umba Sapphire Briolettes & Pink Tourmaline Briolettes, Smokey Quartz/Silver Chain

Pink Kunzite Sapphire Diamond Necklace CloseUp

Both of these “problem” children are very different from each other, and interestingly, they both seem to work with the smokey quartz rosary chain. For more details, or to purchase, click on the photos of the finished pieces to go to the shop listings.

Happy 2014!