Professional PMC:
Belize Pendant and Earring Set
by Bridgette L. Rallo
 The natural world is full of splendor: No human artist is a real match for Mother Nature. That being said, there’s no reason why we can’t learn at her knee. Nature school begins with observation and observation leads to the inescapable conclusion that the world outside is full of endless layers of variety.
As jewelers, we’re lucky because our raw materials are all products of nature in an almost pristine form. The stones we polish and set, and the shining metals we heat, hammer and shape are all natural gifts. We are close to the earth.
For this lesson, I’ve selected a magnificent Rainforest Jasper cabochon and tried to design a setting for it that evokes a little slice of unspoiled life. The tiny, golden-eyed frog hovering above the cabochon on the pendant adds a third dimension, a small layer of complexity, which is something that you just might see on a walk in the rainforest if you’re in the right place at the right time. The dangling frog earrings with their “V” shaped ear wires add movement and whimsy to the overall effect.
It’s a difficult project that will challenge you and take time to complete. The work is painstaking and there’s no way around it. But, if you take your time and do the best work you’re capable of, you’ll be rewarded with a show stopping set of jewelry that every “green” enthusiast will admire.
The gorgeous Rainforest Jasper cab I used in this piece is the kind of stone you look for, sometimes for months or years, before you find it. I bought this one from Designer Cabochons, a wonderful gem site owned by an extremely talented British lapidary couple, Jane and Alex. They do have a few other Rainforest cabs for sale and may be able to custom cut what you’re looking for if you email them. A good, saturated green color is important in the Belize design. Rainforest is a variable form of Rhyolite and can run to orange, so don’t by a cab if you haven’t seen a photo of it and make sure that the cab you do buy is over 35mm in either length or width (mine is 52mm long).
Another supplier whom I know has Rainforest cabochons on her site is Judy Kiriazis of Heart of Stone Studio. This is another of my favorite sites; Judy has an amazing variety of stones for sale at any given time and you can also email her with requests.
If you can’t find a Rainforest Jasper cab that you like, consider other green colored stones as an alternative. There are wonderful green-based cabs of Ocean Jasper out there, as well as Parrot Wing, Green Imperial and Bog Jaspers. Malachite is another good choice: it’s a beautiful green, has great markings and is a traditional stone in Pre-Columbian designs, many of which feature frogs. If all else  fails, you can always use a green dichroic glass cab. Select one that has interesting, natural looking patterns.
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