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[auscarver]

My latest carving. Australian rhodonite self collected quite a few years ago. My first spiral carving and I like a challenge and this was one. Spiral bead making. Bring on opal and jade in a spiral.

[lithicbeads]

Lovely.Nice idea.

[auscarver]

Thanks. I think there may be more of these to come. I may incorporate the spiral into a shell design in opal or jade. Just need to find some opal worthy of the time spent.

[Enchantra]

OK that dear Sir is bloody amazing!  Yes please do bring on spirals in Jade and Opal, I'm almost salivating as I wait to see them!

[R.U. Sirius]

I really like this idea because by cutting more you are not wasting more material - you are creating more surface area to show off the character of the stone. In case of translucent materials like rhodonite and jade it gives us more of the dynamic glow to enjoy, but I think it could work especially well with opal. If done right, you will be creating more colour play and more interest than what you would have available on a plain bead of the same size.

[auscarver]

Thanks for the great feedback. I do think it’s a great design for translucent gems as it gets more light in to show the colour. I was thinking I may use this design in the Australian opal awards this year at lightning ridge. I have done well there a couple of times. But with that show it’s all about keeping as much opal as possible, they may not like the amount of gem this removes.