How should I set my wife’s new cabochon?

[Voodoo Child]

Hello All,

Here in Michigan, we have a unique gemstone, Chlorastrolite, also known as Greenstone or Isle Royale Greenstone. It is famous for its “turtleback” pattern. I picked up this beautiful cabochon for my wife and I’m debating between setting it in a ring, a pendant, or something else. How would you mount it?

 

[marymm]

Super cool and beautiful cabochon!

From the pic, it is hard to gauge its size -- what are the dimensions?

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Oh it's so cute!!! I would go and straight up make a turtle with it but I love turtles so don't know how trustworthy my advice is!

 

[stracci2000]

Pretty!
I see a pendant in yellow gold, with a diamond accent at the top.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Super cool and beautiful cabochon!

From the pic, it is hard to gauge its size -- what are the dimensions?

It’s roughly 12mm by 9mm

 

[Niel]

I agree I would lean into turtle and make it a turtle.

 

[Niel]

If that’s too cutesie it also looks a bit like an egg, could be a snake or drag egg very easily.

 

[Voodoo Child]

I agree I would lean into turtle and make it a turtle.

Ooh, I like that turtle idea!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

i'd want a ring

 

[marymm]

yes another vote for turtle ring

 

[Timor]

I'd totally go for a turtle as well, although dragon egg is also very cool!

 

[Crochet_Sparkles]

Beautiful! From what I could find online, it looks like it's a 5-6 mohs. Given that, I would go pendant, not ring.

 

[LilAlex]

Not sure how precious it is but it looks pretty tall so it might be best to have a lapidary saw it in half (in a plane parallel to the tabletop) to create more of a hemisphere than a sphere. That would make it much easier to set with a bezel and would be much closer to turtle-shell shape. As is -- and I may be wrong but just based on the photo -- it will make a very "roll-y" pendant.