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Direct Links to popular gemstones and cabochons:

Amazonite
Amethyst
Ammonites
Astrophyllite
Atlanticite
Biggs Jasper
Black Onyx
Bloodstone
Blue Topaz
Bruneau Jasper
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Chinese writing
Collectors items
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Druzy, black 
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Opals, Boulder
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Parrot Wing
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Rock Crystal
Rutilated quartz
Seraphinite
Shells
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Spiderweb Obs Stone Sets
Sugilite
Tinguaite
Turquoise

Unakite        
Zebra Agate

Understand mm sizes:

Quick guide:

 1" = 25mm

1/2"=13mm

1/4"=6.5mm

Change can help:

1 quarter= 24.2 mm

1 dime= 18mm

Both coins: 42mm

 

Some of the best lapidarists eventually tire of cutting the standard cabochon shapes, and begin to develop their own designs. This page features some of the most exciting explorations into art gem carving, and I'm sure you'll agree that each is a unique approach that brings forth the "soul" of the stone. Click on photos to see these close up.


The Work of Hermann Petry

Few gem-cutting communities are as world-renowned as the Idar-Oberstein group out of Germany. I am proud to now offer the work of one of the top members of that group, Hermann Petry. An amazing gem designer with the skills to produce breathtaking pieces, Hermann Petry specializes in two main types of stone: Rutilated Quartz and Slate with Pyrite. He also cuts drusies. What makes his work so stunning is the way he combines textures: Polished surfaces slide into the natural roughness of the original mineral. I'm sure you'll agree that these pieces will make exceptional jewelry. Note: I've had many of the pieces photographed from different angles so you can get a better sense of the shape and cutting details of each piece.

Black Onyx and Druzy

These magnificent pieces illustrate the beauty of contrasting textures. 


Art-Carved Onyx and Druzy    

39.5 x 23 mm, 4.52 10 mm thick, polished back with natural markings.  

ART101     $110.00


 


Art-Carved Onyx and Druzy    

The center of this piece sits down low, and from this point the sides rise up, like an open book. Polished, flat back. 28 x 24.5 mm, 3 to 9 mm thick  

ART103     $90.00


 

 

Rutilated Quartz

It's hard to fully capture the beauty of these pieces. The rutiles float in crystalline quartz and catch the light as you turn the stone. Some of the natural imperfections throw off little rainbows. Unless otherwise noted, all of these quartz pieces have polished sides, front, back, and top. On the rectangular pieces, you can flip the stone to hide or to highlight the roughness of the deliberately unfinished bottom rim. The photos of the first piece illustrate the front, back, bottom and then top corner.


Hermann Petry Rutilated Quartz    
Spain
In this piece, the quartz has a touch of smoky color. 36 x 28.5mm. 8mm thick  

ART47     $195.00


 

 

 

 


Hermann Petry Rutilated Quartz    
Spain
38.5 x 20mm, 8mm thick  

ART48     $175.00


 

 

 

 


Hermann Petry Rutilated Quartz    
Spain
Hermann left all four sides of this piece unpolished, which makes them "stickier" to hold a bezel strip better. 26 x 25.5mm, 6mm thick, unpolished sides  

ART50     $105.00


 

 


Hermann Petry Rutilated Quartz    
Spain
The outer rim on the back of this piece is beveled inward, like a faceted stone. 30.5 x 28mm, 6mm thick  

ART51     $185.00  Sorry, Sold!


 

 

 

Slate and Pyrite

In these pieces, Petry creates a satin finish to the sides and back. Some fronts are polished, while others are left completely natural. Flashing pyrite crystals contrast with the charcoal roughness of the slate.


Hermann Petry Slate and Pyrite    
Poland
50.5 x 16.5mm, 7.5mm thick, polished front  

ART55     $115.00


 

 

 

 

 

 


Hermann Petry Slate and Pyrite    
Poland
59 x 11.5mm, 5mm thick, polished front  

ART56     $100.00


 

 

 

 

 

 


Hermann Petry Slate and Pyrite Pair  
Poland
20mm squares, 3mm thick, polished   ART57  $125.00 


 

 


The Work of Keith Horst

My good friend Keith Horst is a master gem-cutter with an instantly-recognizable style, very spare and elegant. Keith also teaches lapidary at the local college, but if you think you can cut pieces like the ones below, you'll need about thirty years of practice!

Black Onyx with Druzy     Brazil
61 x 22mm, 4.5mm thick  

ART38     $150.00


 

 

 

 

 


Black Onyx with Sard  
Brazil
The pattern of white (sard) lines throughout this piece is all natural. 44 x 34mm  

ART44     $58.00


 

 

 

 


Keith Horst Carved Natural Druzy Agate    
Brazil
50.5 x 19 mm  

ART68     $80.00  Sorry, Sold!


 

 

 

 

 


The Work of Greg Genovese

Greg is internationally known as a gifted cutter of top-quality druzy, which he obtains personally from mines in Brazil. I am thrilled to be able to present his work here.

Black Agate with Druzy

All of these stunning pieces are undrilled. They have matte, satin-finish backs. Note that some are relatively thin, while others have upsweeping, rounded fronts.

Greg Genovese Black Agate Druzy     Brazil
61.5 x 20.5mm, 5mm thick, matte finish  

ART78     $175.00


 

 

 

 

 

 


Greg Genovese Black Agate Druzy    
Brazil
61 x 19mm, 5mm thick, matte finish  

ART79     $170.00


 

 

 

 

 

 


Greg Genovese Black Agate Druzy    
Brazil
The two smooth sides round up to embrace the deep cleft of druzy. 40.5 x 34.5mm, 9.5mm max thickness  

ART80     $190.00, matte finish


 

 

 

 


Greg Genovese Black Agate Druzy    
Brazil
Another fabulous piece, with cone-shaped agate split by sparkling druzy crystals. 41.5 x 26mm, 8.6mm max thickness, polished front  

ART81     $160.00  Sorry, Sold!


 

 

 

 


Greg Genovese Black Agate Druzy    
Brazil
Here, the left side curves protectively over the druzy surface. 31 x 25.5mm, 9.5mm max thickness, matte finish  

ART82     $150.00


 

 

Drilled Agate Druzy Pendants

These gorgeous, all-natural-color pendants are one-of-a-kind, designed and cut by Greg Genovese. They are laterally drilled, so you won't see the holes in the pictures. The stones are arranged to show how they would hang. One important note: The holes are small--They will accommodate an 18-gauge wire but not cord or most chain.

Greg Genovese Drilled Agate Druzy Pendant     Brazil
34 x 25 mm  

ART63     $170.00


 

 

 

 

Greg Genovese Drilled Agate Druzy Pendant     Brazil
47 x 21 mm  

ART61     $170.00


 

 

 

 

 

Greg Genovese Drilled Agate Druzy Pendant     Brazil
36 x 20 mm  

ART59     $150.00


 

 

 


Greg Genovese Drilled Agate Druzy Pendant    
Brazil
47 x 15.5 mm  

ART60     $130.00


 

 

 

 


 

Greg Genovese Drilled Agate Druzy Pendant     Brazil
35 x 14 mm  

ART64     $90.00


 

 

 

 


Other Art-Carved Pieces

Pinecone carvings

Owyhee Canyon Jasper Pinecone Drilled Pendant   Idaho
28 x 8 mm polished, laterally drilled

ART29    $40.00


 
 

 


Botswana Agate Pinecone Drilled Pendant     Africa
27 x 10 mm, matte finish

 ART31    $60.00



 


Carvings from the Pacific Rim

These pieces were designed by a friend of mine and hand-carved by artisans in his workshop in Indonesia. They are works of art!

Bali-carved Purple Chalcedony     Indonesia
This is a hefty, stunning piece of gem-quality chalcedony. Note its pillowy height. 22 x 14.5 x 11mm thick  

ART105     $275.00


 

 


Bali-carved Purple chalcedony    
Indonesia
21 x 15.5 x 7.3mm thick  

ART106     $140.00



 

Bali-carved Carnelian     Indonesia
28.5 x 15mm  

ART107     $120.00


 

 

 


South Pacific Carved Chalcedony    
Java
25.5 x 10 x 7.5 mm thick  

ART87     $72.00


 

 


South Pacific Carved Chalcedony    
Java
23 x 10 x 7 mm thick  

ART88     $60.00


 

Bali-Carved Leaves

These gorgeous, one-of-a-kind leaves were cut from pearl-bearing oyster shell. Some of them contain large Mabe pearls as part of the design, and all have the opalescent colors of natural pearl. The backs are all dark polished shell material--please note: Some of the backs are naturally curved, while others have been ground to have a flat back that curves upwards to the side edges.

Bali-carved Mabe Pearl     Indonesia
58 x 35mm, curved back  

ART109     $150.00


 

 

 

 

 


Bali-carved Mabe Pearl    
Indonesia
59 x 33mm, flat back  

ART110     $120.00   Sorry, Sold!


 

 

 

 

 


Bali-carved Pearl Shell    
Indonesia
58.5 x 29.5mm, flat back  

ART111     $140.00


 

 

 

 

 


Bali-carved Pearl Shell    
Indonesia
64 x 23mm, curved back  

ART112     $140.00


 

 

 

 

 

 

Stone Leaves from Bali

Hand-carved Quartz/Blue Chalcedony Leaf  Bali
The chalcedony striations are a lavender/blue. 39.5 x 23.5mm  click on photo to enlarge

ART17    $70.00



 

 


A note on "Black Onyx":  Real Black Onyx has become fairly rare in the gem world, and the term "Black Onyx" now usually refers to dyed agate. The dye is permanent and permeates the entire stone, not just the surface. All of the black stones on this page were dyed EXCEPT for the Psilomelane Druzy (ART9) and the Agate with Sagenite (ART4), both of which are their natural colors. The white stripes of sard in ART6 are also natural.


Next page: Blacks     Previous page: More Abstract Art 

Directory of gems by type, plus shopping tips: Designer Gems

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