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SPECTACULAR SNAKE HEAD FOCAL BEAD ~ HAND-CARVED NATURAL RED SPONGE CORAL & PURPLE SHELL
Item #	:	340 0447
Type	:	Hand-carved genuine natural RED SPONGE CORAL & Purple Clam shell – 3-dimensionally carved ~ this masterful detailed carving could make a stunning pendant, centerpiece of a necklace, bracelet or other designer jewelry
Amount	:	1 (one) piece * All photos are taken from the actual item *
Design	:	Exceptionally fine and realistic carved SNAKE HEAD focal bead design bead from our “Celebration Collection” ~ 3-dimensionally carving. The eyes of the Snake are inlayed 18K Gold Vermeil over 925 Sterling Silver bezel set genuine natural Blue Sapphire gemstones.
Fauna & Flora Celebration Collection	:	Our celebration collection features vibrant leaves and flowers, as well as captivating creatures, all inspired by nature. Our passion for flora and fauna motivates us to craft these timeless creations. Our collection is dominated by perennial favourites like flowers, leaves, and other natural creations. Our collection has a natural appearance because of the methodical arrangement of colorful gems, carefully selected mother-of-pearl, and stones, which produce a balanced and elegant effect. One of the most delicate and breathtakingly beautiful creatures in the world flutters into our collection. Some of our most magical jewelry is inspired by the butterfly, which is whimsically colorful and so light and graceful on the wing. Pearls, Tsavorites, Rubies, Sapphires, Diamonds and other precious gemstones are prominently used in our creations.
Material	:	Genuine natural Red Sponge Coral & Purple Clam shell with genuine natural Blue Sapphire gemstone eyes which are bezel set in genuine 18K Gold Vermeil over solid 925 Sterling Silver
Color	:	Red with a fine orangey-red hue coral and Purple Clam shell. The eyes are blue and gold.
Gemstones	:	Two genuine natural Blue Sapphire gemstones ~ round 1.8 mm diameter, brilliant cut in excellent quality with just minor natural inclusions (si) ~ from Mozambique / Africa
Weight	:	approx. 6.23 grams
Dimensions	:	Length: approx. 26.44 mm = 1.04 inches Width: approx. 18.80 mm (measured at the widest point) Height / thickness: approx. 13.32 mm
Perforation	:	This carved shell is fully perforated with an approx. 1.20 mm diameter drill hole. It is not a ready to wear piece of jewelry.
Origin	:	Aquaculture farms off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, are the source of the Red Sponge Coral that we use. We buy all our shell material from the farms (aqua culture) off the coast of the Island of Sumbawa. This carving is handcrafted in Bali (Indonesia) by our in-house Balinese master carvers.
Hand-carving	:	Our carvings are all handmade. This is not a machine mass produced item. This item is hand-crafted and each piece is made one by one which make each piece a one-of-a-kind piece of art. We know you will enjoy using and wearing our shell carvings as much as we enjoyed making them.
What is Red Sponge Coral ?	:	*Melithaea ochracea, commonly known as RED SPONGE CORAL, is a type of red coral with a reddish-orange hue. Although it looks like a sponge, it is not a sponge. Common calcareous corals in the Melithaeidae family are called sponge corals. The Melithaeidae family of corals includes about 101 species that are found in the shallow seas of the Indo-Pacific area. In the wild, the coral is more commonly referred to as sea fans because to its wide fan-like branches. The coral has a sponge-like appearance and is quite porous. It is divided between light yellow or brown keratinous nodes and orange-red calcareous internodes. Typically, Red Sponge Coral is stabilized before being utilized in jewelry in various forms. It is sometimes referred to as "Red Spongy Coral" or "Congi." Aquaculture farms off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, are the source of the Red Sponge Coral that we use. Only naturally occurring Red Sponge Coral enhanced by the Zachary Process is used by us. Since our Red Sponge Coral has undergone the "Zachary Process," it is challenging to distinguish it from untreated material. The procedure is intended to seal pores and reinforce the material. We don't use any form of dye or color enhancement. We utilize a deep red to orangey-red hue that comes from premium Red Sponge Coral. Usually, it has fine traces of orange or yellow variegation. Since each Red Sponge Coral is distinctive in its own right, it is hard to determine which is more sought-after: the nonvariegated or somewhat variegated ones. But in terms of color, the more closely resemble pure red corals a Red Sponge Coral is, the more valuable it is. For a very long time, Red Sponge Coral has been prized. Coral has been used in jewelry since prehistoric times, and jewelry enthusiasts still think highly of it. It is most closely linked to Buddhism, wherein Buddhist texts list coral as one of the seven treasures. Our Red Sponge Coral comes from aquaculture farms off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, and is not an endangered or protected species. We only utilize naturally occurring, highly polished, vibrantly Red Sponge Coral from Indonesia that is ready for your jewelry design.*
Definition purple clam shell	:	Purple Clam Shell ~ Nuttallia obscurata, the purple mahogany clam, dark mahogany clam, varnish clam or savory clam, is a species of saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Psammobiidae. The valves are thin, relatively shallow, and almost oval in shape. They can reach 6.4 cm (2.5 inches) long. Individuals can achieve a maximum weight of 45 grams. The exterior of the valves is covered in a shiny brown periostracum, hence one of its common names, "varnish clam". The periostracum is often worn away at the umbo. There are concentric rings on the outside of the valves which can be observed where the periostracum has been removed. The interior of the valves is deep purple to almost white in some individuals. The prominent hinge ligament is external to the valves. Nuttallia obscurata has a large white, muscular foot that it uses to dig in the sand and for propulsion. The animal has two long, white, separate siphons. These clams are found in the mid to high intertidal zone, buried in sand, gravel, or silt, from just below the surface to 20 centimetres (7.9 inches) deep. They have greater tolerance for salinity conditions than native clams and are sometimes found in brackish waters near freshwater seeps. The species is native to Japan, Korea, China, and Indonesia. It has been naturalized in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. Its range includes the coast of Vancouver Island, the Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound, and south along the coast to Coos Bay. It is considered an invasive species in North America. The first collection of Nuttallia obscurata in North America occurred in 1991 near Vancouver. It is hypothesized that planktonic larvae were released by a ship disposing of ballast water she had pumped aboard in Asia. A 2006 study of reproductive ecology and dispersal potential suggested that a "lengthy planktonic phase, combined with favourable oceanographic circulation patterns, has contributed to the rapid dispersal and geographic range expansion of the varnish clam in the Northeast Pacific." By 1998, the species had reached Washington beaches. Where they find suitable habitat, these clams can reach densities of as high as 800 individuals per square meter. Nuttallia obscurata can live at least six years. They begin life as free-swimming plankton. This planktonic stage can last from 3 to 8 weeks before they settle to the bottom as recognizable clams. They become reproductively mature at one year old. This species is protandrous, where the young forms are male and then become female later in life. In each population, there are males and females in approximately equal numbers, and 4-5% of the population is hermaphroditic. In some populations, the sex ratio skews towards males for reasons that are not known. Females have been observed to produce between 40,000 and 6,000,000 eggs during the summer breeding season. These oocytes are 55 micrometres (0.0022 inches) in diameter. Fertilization takes place by broadcast spawning. Nuttallia obscurata has two methods of feeding. It is a filter feeder, drawing water in with one siphon and straining out algae and other nutrients. It then ejects water and waste from its other siphon. This species also has the ability to gather material from the surrounding sand with its foot, sweeping detritus to its mouth.
What is Gold Vermeil?	:	VERMEIL, which is pronounced "vehr-MAY," is 925 Sterling Silver with is plated with Gold. Vermeil is a combination of Sterling Silver and Gold commonly used as a component in jewelry. A typical example is Sterling Silver coated with 18K or 24K Gold. To be considered VERMEIL, the gold must be at least 10 karats (42%) and be at least 2.5 micrometers thick. In the US and various other countries, Sterling Silver covered first with a base metal (such as nickel) and then plated with Gold cannot be sold as vermeil without disclosing that it contains base metal. The word "VERMEIL" is a French word which came into use in the English language, mostly in America, in the 19th century as an alternative for the usual term silver-gilt. Vermeil can be produced by either fire-gilding or electrolysis. The original fire-gilding process was developed in France in the mid-18th century; however, France later banned the production of vermeil because over time artisans developed blindness due to mercury involved in the process. Today, VERMEIL is produced by electrolysis which is much safer than fire gilding yet produces a very similar result The White House has a collection of vermeil tableware kept on display (when not in use) in the Vermeil Room. The Code of Federal Regulations 16, Part 23.5 defines Vermeil: "An industry product may be described or marked as 'vermeil' if it consists of a base of Sterling Silver coated or plated on all significant surfaces with Gold or Gold alloy of not less than 10 karat fineness, that is of substantial thickness and a minimum thickness throughout equivalent to two and one half (2 ½) microns (or approximately 1/10000ths of an inch) of fine Gold." Less than 2.5 microns is NOT Vermeil and is considered as simple Gold plating only. Vermeil Jewelry Vermeil is a more expensive version of Gold plated jewelry. It consists of a 925 Sterling Silver base that is coated or plated with Gold. And again, if the longest lifespan is in the first place for you, your option is VERMEIL Vermeil is much more durable than simple very thin gold plating. No wonder that the price is also high. Gold plated jewelry Gold plating is the term used to describe the process of plating jewelry made of either precious (silver) or non-precious base metal (zinc, nickel, copper) with a thin layer of gold, which is depositing by electrochemical methods. As it was said the layer is very thin and thus easy to scratch. It also naturally wears thin with time, exposing the metal below.
Remarks	:	This finely carved focal bead could make a spectacular pendant, centerpiece of a necklace, bracelet or other designer jewelry This is not a ready to wear piece of jewelry. Don’t miss the opportunity to own this beautiful hand-carved natural Red Sponge Coral for your unique jewelry designs or for your personal treasure collection

Our photographs have been enlarged to show details. Most details shown in the large image are actually not visible to the naked eye. We have made the image as close as possible to the original item when viewed on our screen. Depending on the viewers monitor settings, these items may appear a few shades lighter or darker in comparison to the original object.

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