The inspiration:
Ethereal sparkle, floating like tiny fairy lights or captured shooting stars. Dainty, minimalist earrings whose sparkle can brighten every day.

The materials:
Sparkly, natural water-clear Herkimer quartz points held in delicate, sterling silver cages on custom sterling earwires.

The history:
The quartz family is vast, including stones such as agate, chalcedony, carnelian, amethyst, citrine, jasper, chrysoprase and Herkimer diamond and has been favoured for human ornamentation since the Bronze age.

Herkimer diamonds are a highly prized form of quartz, found only in Herkimer county in northern New York and throughout the Mohawk River valley. These "diamonds" are actually double-terminated crystal points with a high degree of clarity, and 18 naturally occurring faces, creating a bright, flashing sparkle.

The process:
These sparkling clear Herkimer diamonds float within a delicate, teardrop-shaped cage made of .5mm diameter sterling wire. The crystals are not fixed in any way, but are free to move and tremble within their cages, ensuring a wonderful play of light. A tiny sterling jump ring connects the cage to its handmade, ornate earwire made of 20g sterling silver (.8 mm dia/standard width for western ear-piercings.) A pair of clear silicone stoppers is included to keep them securely on your ears. These earrings are bright silver, polished to a high shine.

The details:

• Earring length: 35 mm

• Earring width: 7 mm

• Stone cut & size: natural herkimer quartz points (doubly-terminated), approximately 5 mm dia

• Stone source: Casabah Gems, Ontario

My promise:
All of my jewelry is made by me, by hand, in my little home studio and will be shipped to you as shown, beautifully packaged and ready for gift-giving to someone special (like yourself!) I am a life-long artist and designer, and I take great care and pride in creating one of a kind jewels that evolve from my own design, emotion and inspiration, rather than trend, imitation or artifice. It means the world to me that you've witnessed my work - thank you for being here, and for shopping and supporting handmade!