Shell Casing with Raw Fluorite and Electroformed Copper

This is super fun piece made with a used 9mm shell casing. I sourced a piece of raw green fluorite from the Utah West desert myself and combined them together with copper. It comes on a 16-inch antiqued copper ball chain - meant to be pretty close up around the neck. To seal the two parts together, I sculpted a clay epoxy between the shell and the fluorite and let it harden for 24 hours. I then painted the clay with a conductive paint. The piece went into a copper chemical solution where electricity slowly encouraged copper to plate onto the item over the course of several hours. Finally, a patina was added to mimic time wearing at the copper, then highlights are polished out and the entire piece was sealed for protection. Although sealed, copper shouldn't be submersed in or exposed to water or harsh elements. If the copper rests against skin, skin can sometimes turn green when there is moisture present - this is normal and will go away once the copper is no longer present. Note that I haven't had this happen with necklaces myself, only rings since hands are much more moist. Copper can continue to patina, aging naturally over time. Treat your new statement necklace with care and it will become a lasting heirloom. All purchases are sent in a gift bag.