My Savannah River Agate Collection started with a conversation. I had just finished giving a talk about my work to the Aiken Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Society at USC Aiken when a member of the group approached me. He told me his name was Steve Rosier and he had spent his life collecting Savannah River Agate like his father before him. He wondered if Savannah River Agate had any potential for jewelry and wanted to give me some rough pieces to experiment with. He said he’d been waiting for the right person, someone who would appreciate and honor the material. We made plans for him to visit my studio.
On the day of his visit, Steve showed up with the back of his truck loaded with shovels, hand tools, buckets, and boxes. He showed me pieces he had brought from his collection and explained what he looked for when hunting for the material. We picked out a few pieces that looked promising, ones with small “windows” in the rough kaolin clay exterior skin that would allow you to see colorful agate underneath. I took the pieces to my lapidary machine and carefully ground away to increase the size of the viewing window and then worked through the different grits of polishing wheels until the agate had a shiny, glassy finish. Steve and I were grinning ear to ear! It was absolutely beautiful!
That moment was the beginning of an incredible journey over the last several months of cutting and hand polishing Savannah River Agate stones and being inspired by them to craft jewelry pieces that celebrate its unique beauty and the wildlife and plant life our Savannah River supports. These jewelry pieces are hand-fabricated from 14K rose and yellow gold and silver sheet and wire and include top-quality genuine gemstone and diamond accents.
I am so excited about and proud of these pieces, and can’t wait to share their stories with you!
“Quiet Moments at the River’s Edge”
Savannah River Agate, Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, Silver
The Savannah River Agate stone featured in this necklace was hand cut and polished from a rough rock specimen. Within the stone several small fossils and druzy pockets full of crystals can be found. The 14K Rose Gold bail’s shape was inspired by the tall grasses that grow alongside the river. I choose to accent the bail with a 4mm AA grade genuine Aquamarine and a 2mm diamond to compliment the colors found within the Savannah River Agate. The soft watery hues in this stone left me with a very peaceful feeling so I choose to create a quiet scene with two egrets standing on the edge of the river for the back of the pendant. This pendant was hand-fabricated from Silver sheet and wire, and 14K rose Gold wire using traditional fine jewelry techniques. It is one of a kind and part of a limited number of pieces created specifically for this special collection.
$2,200
Please contact:
Aiken Center for the Arts at (803) 641-9094 to check availability and for purchasing information.
Savannah River Agate, Aquamarine, and Opal
Earrings
Savannah River Agate, Aquamarine, Opal, Silver
The Savannah River Agate stones in these earrings were hand cut and polished from a rough rock specimen. To compliment their soft dreamy colors I choose to pair them with 6mm AA grade genuine Aquamarine cabochons and 4mm AA grade genuine white Opal cabochons. The cut of the Savannah River Agate stones and the open back design of these earrings makes them a comfortable weight. These earrings are one of a kind and part of a limited number of pieces created specifically for this special collection.
SOLD
Please contact:
Aiken Center for the Arts at (803) 641-9094 to check availability and for purchasing information.
Savannah River Agate, Pink Opal, and Rhodolite Garnet earrings
Savannah River Agate, Pink Opal, Rhodolite Garnet, Silver
The triangular Savannah River Agate stones in these lovely earrings were hand cut and polished from a rough rock specimen. They were cut to be a matched and mirrored pair, and contain small druzy pockets lined with bright, sparkling crystals. Looking at the beautiful colors and patterns within these stones I was reminded of peonies. Embracing the floral theme, I chose Pink Opals for their delicate pink hue and brilliant purple Rhodolite Garnets to achieve the unapologetically feminine effect I was after. The cut of these stones and the construction of these earrings makes them a comfortable weight. These earrings are one of a kind and part of a limited number of pieces created specifically for this collection.
Retail: $625
Please contact:
Aiken Center for the Arts at (803) 641-9094 to check availability and for purchasing information.
Savannah River Agate and Mozambique Garnet Earrings
Savannah River Agate, Mozambique Garnet, Silver
The Savannah River Agate stones in these earrings were hand cut and polished from a rough rock specimen. They contain small druzy pockets lined with crystals. I choose to add 6mm AA grade genuine Mozambique Garnet cabochons to compliment the beautiful reds found within the Savannah River Agate stones. The cut of the Savannah River Agate stones and the open back design of these earrings makes them a comfortable weight. These earrings are one of a kind and part of a limited number of pieces created specifically for this special collection.
SOLD
“Fishing Among the Cattails”
Savannah River Agate, Montana Sapphire, Silver
The oval shaped Savannah River Agate stone featured in this pendant was hand cut and polished from a rough rock specimen. The dramatic and high contrasting colors of teal and brick red felt passionate, charged with energy, and anticipatory. For me, it called to mind watching a Heron intensely focused and ready to react quickly and instinctively to catch a fish. This vision inspired the design on the back of the pendant. I carefully sawed out the heron and cattails (which stand at just an inch tall) by hand using a microscope and a very fine saw blade in my jeweler’s saw. The rippled water effect on the back of the pendant was hand-engraved. The beautiful teal color in the Savannah River Agate stone reminded me of Montana Sapphire, which I chose to add to the bail for an accent. The bail was hand-carved by another local artist, Amy C. Scott and cast in silver. The cross crossing lines on the bail are meant to be reminiscent of the reeds and cattails the Heron would be looking through while watching the water for fish. The setting for the Savannah River Agate was hand-fabricated from Silver sheet and wire, using traditional fine jewelry techniques, taking more than 25 hours to create. This statement necklace is one of a kind and part of a limited number of pieces created specifically for this collection.
Retail: $1850
Please contact:
Aiken Center for the Arts at (803) 641-9094 to check availability and for purchasing information.
Savannah River Agate “River Grass” Ring
Savannah River Agate, Silver
The Savannah River Agate stone in this ring was hand cut and polished from a rough rock specimen. A heavy hand-fabricated silver bezel secures the stone. The band design was choosen for its resemblance to the river grasses that grow along the bank of the Savannah River. This ring is one of a kind and part of a limited number of pieces made specifically for this collection. It is currently a size 7, but can be resized for you.
SOLD
“Early Morning Flight”
Savannah River Agate, Pink Sapphire, Spessartite Garnet, Diamond, Gold, Silver
The oval shaped Savannah River Agate stone featured in this pendant was hand cut and polished from a rough rock specimen. The swirl shaped 14K yellow gold bail represents the idea of “flow”. I choose to add a 4mm AA grade genuine Pink Sapphire and a 3mm AA grade genuine Orange Spessartite Garnet to the bail as accents to compliment the pink and orange hues found within the Savannah River Agate. The colors in the stone reminded me of a sunrise so I chose to create a scene on the back with an Egret flying over the river while the rising sun was reflected in the water. This pendant was hand-fabricated from Silver sheet and wire, and 14K yellow Gold wire using traditional fine jewelry techniques. It is one of a kind and part of a limited number of pieces created specifically for this special collection.
$2,200
Please contact:
Aiken Center for the Arts at (803) 641-9094 to check availability and for purchasing information.
“River Dance”
Savannah River Agate, Opal, Silver
The pear shaped Savannah River Agate stone featured in this pendant was hand cut and polished from a rough rock specimen. Near the bottom of the stone is an area that looks opalized for this reason I chose to add a AA grade genuine white Opal accent to the bail. The bail’s design was inspired by the Curly Pondweed that grows in the Savannah River and how it moves with the river’s current. The bail was hand-carved from wax by another local artist, Amy C. Scott and then cast in silver. The soft, swirling colors in the stone reminded me of a graceful and elegant ballet, so I chose to add an Egret to the back of the pendant that appears to be dancing with it’s wings raised. The necklace for this pendant was constructed by combining four separate chains, mixing square snake chain and round snake chain to create a shimmering effect reminiscent of flowing water. The setting for the Savannah River Agate was hand-fabricated from Silver sheet and wire, using traditional fine jewelry techniques. This necklace is one of a kind and part of a limited number of pieces created specifically for this special collection.
SOLD
“Endangered Beauty”
Savannah River Agate, Pink Sapphire, Gold, Silver
The traingular Savannah River Agate stone featured in this pendant was hand cut and polished from a rough rock specimen. It’s colors had a floral feel so I chose to decorate the back of the pendant with the beautiful and endangered Rocky Shoals Spider Lily that makes the Savannah River it’s home. Inspired by the shape of the Lily and it’s draping petals, I hand-fabricated a bail from 14K yellow gold wire that gracefully frames the stone. The bail is accented with a AA grade genuine Pink Sapphire to compliment the colors found within the Savannah River Agate. The Rocky Shoals Spider Lily on the back is hand-engraved using a stippled pattern on the petals for contrast. The pendant hangs from a woven silver 18″ wheat chain. This pendant was hand-fabricated from Silver sheet and wire, and 14K yellow Gold wire using traditional fine jewelry techniques, taking more than 30 hours to create. It is one of a kind and part of a limited number of pieces created specifically for this special collection.
Retail: $2775
Please contact:
Aiken Center for the Arts at (803) 641-9094 to check availability and for purchasing information.
