Cuttlefish Cast Desert Scene Necklace with Spiny Oyster

Crafted by Nature’s Hand: Our desert-inspired necklace, cast using the ancient cuttlefish bone technique, captures the rugged beauty of arid landscapes. Imagine sun-kissed dunes, twisted cacti, and endless horizons—the essence of the Southwest suspended in silver. Each pendant tells a story of wind-swept sands and resilient life. Whether you’re a desert wanderer or simply drawn to its mystique, this necklace is a wearable ode to the wild. This also has spiny oyster, representing daytime, for just a bunch of added beauty! (There is a matching pendant, representing nighttime, in our listings!)

This pendant is made by Dave using spiny oyster we got from our supplier in Albuquerque, NM.  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.