Byzantine Eye

This is a pair of chainmail earrings in a pattern called Byzantine Eye, a variant on the ancient and well-loved Byzantine chain pattern. I make every piece by hand. Starting with genuine sterling silver wire, I coil and cut each ring, and weave them together myself. Amethyst, a violet variety of quartz that the Greeks believed could prevent intoxication. Its is found in many places in the world; including my adopted home of Georgia, and Michigan, where I was born and raised. Bronzite is an iron-bearing variety of magnesium silicate, that has a sheen similar to tiger's eye. Carnelian can vary in color from light orange to nearly black, though I use a red variety for my work. It is a form of chalcedony, and has been used by humans for jewelry since the Early Neolithic period. Lapis Lazuli is a 'rock' in the geologic sense in that it is made up of a collection of minerals, sometimes as many as twenty different types. the most dominant one is lazurite, which gives the stone its deep blue color. Labradorite is of the feldspar family and named after the Labrador half of the Canadian province Newfoundland and Labrador, where it weas first discovered. It displays an iridescent optical effect similar to opal but unique, called 'labradorescence'. Peridot is the birthstone for the month of August. It is the gemstone quality variety of the more common mineral olivine, and is usually found near volcanic activity or in meteorite strike sites. Please make sure to note your stone choice in the shopping cart!