Reversible Blue Banded Agate Sterling Pendant

The May 2008 Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine had an amazing Kentucky agate that I was just drooling over (see current cover to the right)....when I quickly flipped the page to read the artist's design notes, I had a "lightbulb" moment.


John Leeds demonstrated how you can use jump rings tacked to a bezel for an open back. While he used "half" jump rings and an actual bezel, I was inspired to use the jump ring idea. I created large jump rings from round sterling wire and soldered them together using the outer edges of the slice as my guide.

I didn't use a bezel but created "prong settings" with round sterling silver wire so that my slice can be worn either way....yep, it is reversible.

With the "prongs" you see the banding more and the open back lets light through this fairly thin slice (4mm).

The bail was created from fine silver bezel wire that was wrapped around a tear shaped mandrel several times.

I just love the way it turned out!