Cuttlefish Cast Desert Scene Necklace with Opalite

Crafted by Nature’s Hand: Our desert-inspired pendant, cast using the ancient cuttlefish bone technique, captures the stark beauty of arid landscapes. Imagine windswept dunes, twisted cacti, and endless horizons—the essence of the Southwest suspended in silver. At its heart, an iridescent Opalite gemstone dances with moonlit hues, evoking both mystery and tranquility. Whether you’re an adventurer or a dreamer, this pendant is a wearable ode to the desert’s timeless allure. This also has opalite that we dug in Prineville, OR, representing nighttime, for just a bunch of added beauty! (There is a matching pendant, representing daytime, in our listings!)

This pendant is made by Dave using opalite we dug in Prineville, OR.  We also use only sterling silver on all our pieces.

Cuttlefish casting is a process for making unique pieces that you dream up.  Dave takes 2 sides of cuttlefish bone and sands them perfectly flat.  He then takes 1 side and carves whatever he’s imagining into it.  Sometimes, he makes bezels beforehand and sticks those into the carving where they will eventually hold a stone.  He then wires them together with the carved side up against the flat side.  There is a “pour hole” that’s called a sprew in the top of the cuttlefish and that’s where you pour your melted silver.  We heat up the silver to 1760*F and then pour it into the top of the mold.  Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.  The molds are a one-shot deal so you always hope they turn out.  He then works them up by cutting off any little “spills” from the sides of the item, polishing it, “blacking” it if it needs it, making a bail for a chain or strand, and then you have the finished product.