Snake Stud Earrings with Rose Cut Chrysoprase

Delicate black snakes wrapped around a luminous prong set rose cut chrysoprase. I love how they seem to glow from within, and the saturated green color always reminds me of Art Nouveau jewelry. I've been using more and more rose cut stones lately. They are faceted across the top of the stone, but have a flat back, so they are as low as cabochons, but catch the light like a traditional faceted gemstone.

I fabricated the prong settings out of sterling silver, then sculpted two snakes out of jeweler's wax, and cast them in sterling silver. Then I soldered the snakes into place, cleaned them up, and cast them in sterling silver.

Details:

1/2" across, with a silky green 8mm rose cut chrysoprase.

Deeply oxidized sterling silver, with sterling silver posts and extra large earring backs.

The earring has an open back behind the stone, which makes for a lightweight earring for it's size.