I love unusual gemstones and minerals - a legacy of my geologist father - and these vivid green malachite stalactite studs are special. Malachite stalactites grow from the ceiling in mine voids or small cave-like spaces in copper ore deposits and while small, are spectacular. Distinct growth bands in differing shades of green, rather like tree rings, are visible in cross section - as seen in these. They are found in only a few places in the world, these being from Guandong in southern China, from a mine that produces striking chatoyant or "Cat's Eye" stalactites. You can see the beautiful cat's eye shimmer as the studs move in the light.
I have just two pairs of these stalactite slices and decided to set each pair differently. One has discreetly sparkling diamonds, the other lime green tsavorite garnets; both encircled by granulation in rich, warm high karat gold highlighting the green shimmer. These little color bursts are truly versatile; they go with everyone and everything.
Two-of-a-kind.