Description

Spiny Oyster Turquoise is a composite gemstone made with shell from the Spiny Oyster combined with Turquoise to create a unique lapidary material. Pieces of turquoise are bonded together (compressed) with spiny oyster shell to form the gemstone. Spiny oysters are also known as spondylids, spondylus, and thorny oysters. The Atlantic Thorny Oyster is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, where it’s found at depths between 9 and 45 meters. Spiny Oyster shell is harvested from the Gulf of California. It comes in variety of bright oranges, deep purples, pinks, rich reds, yellows, brown and white shades. The shells are a byproduct from the seafood trade. The color of the oyster shells is influenced by the genetics, environment and the diet of the mollusks. Turquoise may be infused with copper or bronze, hence the metallic matrix present in many of the colors. The material is called Copper Oyster Turquoise or Chocolate Oyster Turquoise.

Freeform Purple Oyster Turquoise measures 19mm x 27mm set in Sterling silver.