This ring features a large chlorastrolite (Michigan “greenstone”) cabochon sourced from the Keweenaw Peninsula region of Lake Superior, set in solid sterling silver.
Chlorastrolite of this size is increasingly rare, and material selection alone is a limiting factor in production. Large, stable sections suitable for cabochon cutting are uncommon, and most rough contains fractures, internal stress lines, or unstable structure that can cause failure during shaping.
Each stone requires extensive pre-selection and stabilization assessment before cutting even begins. Once a viable section is identified, the cabochon is shaped slowly and deliberately—this particular size requires approximately 60–90 minutes of continuous cutting and refinement due to the stone’s brittleness, internal fracture patterns, and variable hardness zones.
Many stones of this type cannot survive full cabochon formation and are lost during the shaping process.
The visible inclusions and natural fracture lines are not defects in presentation—they are part of the geological formation process of chlorastrolite, which is known for its complex internal structure formed under extreme pressure and mineral replacement conditions unique to the Lake Superior region.
Each ring is therefore the result of material selection, controlled failure risk, and hand fabrication rather than uniform production.
Size 7.5 can be sized to an 8
sterling silver