Fordite Pendant in Sterling Silver

After posting about Fordite way back in August 2013, Sue from Fordite Fanatics UK sent a fordite cabochon my way.  I was surprised and delighted - I really wanted to showcase the cab well and it took a while to come up with a design that I liked.

Fordite set in sterling silver with garnet accents.

I knew I wanted to bring in garnet because I love garnet, and because the fordite has so many colors in it that I wanted to bring out one to the forefront.  I might add some more garnet to the chain, I haven't decided.

I do think that I will keep this one for myself, though.  Fordite is becoming difficult to acquire and this is a rather pretty piece!

Happy Creating and thank again, Sue!

SSS

Have You Heard of Fordite?

Fordite Pendant by Beads by Alison

I sure hadn't, and I'm even from that part of the world!  I was introduced to this beautiful, manmade material through a beading challenge on Bead Soup Cafe.  Alison of Beads by Alison made a stunning sterling silver and fordite cabochon pendant - and my breath was taken away!  I had to look up what it was, where I could get it, and start planning my own design using this novel and sweet looking material.....

Fordite Cabs by Azbluerockers

What I found out about Fordite:

• It is also called "Detroit Agate" and "motor agate"
• there is nothing natural about this material - it is completely manmade!
• It is created by layers and layers and layers of auto body paint overspray collecting on steel during old style production
• There are limited quantities of genuine fordite because new painting processes are being used now
• Sometimes someone will come across a bucket of raw fordite that an employee had collected - trinkets and nicknacks were carved out of the stuff years ago and given to family and friends
• Fordite is often recycled into jewelry components now - or collected and shown off!

 

 Fordite Cabochon by Fordite.com

For more on the history of fordite, you can read here:

• Fordite.com 

You can find your own piece of fordite on Etsy, Ebay, Azbluerockers, Fordite, and Fordite Cabochons (U.K.), to name a few!

I haven't made a purchase yet, but I hope to soon!  This colorful and unique material has great promise for a stunning jewelry design....

Happy Creating,
PZ