Green apatite gemstone sterling silver pendant Celtic style necklace

photo shows the other side of the green apatite gemstone pendant, showing the Celtic style wire plaid work bezel

image shows the green apatite gemstone pendant from the front. The apatite stone in a sort of long almost rectangular shape, cabochon cut, with an angled peak in the centre line of the stone. The apatite is a pale pastel green colour, semi transluscent with some inclusions

green apatite gemstone pendant next to a centimetre ruler, it's just over 2.5cm long

green apatite gemstone pendant next to an inch ruler, it's slightly over one inch long

photo shows the back of the green apatite gemstone pendant, is is open backed, with a zig zag of sterling silver wire work holding the stone in place

photo shows a model wearing the necklace, the chain comes down to the upper chest area, the apatite pendant while quite small, is unusual and eye catching

photo shows the full length of the green apatite gemstone pendant, complete with trace chain

beautiful green apatite gemstone pendant necklace handmade in 925 sterling silver

£ 140.00 One available, complimentary shipping included.

Handmade in my small artisan workshop, this is a beautiful natural gemstone pendant. The stone comes from Madagascar, and arrived to me in its natural raw form. After a careful cutting and a fingertip polish, it was securely enclosed in solid sterling silver, using intricate Celtic inspired pattern silver wire work.

The inspiration for this design was one of roots, and how things are intertwined and woven together to create a unique new story - very apt in this case, as while apatite can form in all rocks types (as long as they are rich in calcium and phosphate) it's most famously formed in sedimentary rocks which were created by the ancient accumulation and compression of calcium/ phosphate rich organic matter, such as bones, shells and teeth; to me that signifies the ability of new life and beauty to grow out of old life and decay. Apatite weaves this together in a sense, helped by what would have been powerful geological forces many years ago, to create what I feel is a this fascinating almost rebirth-like stone.

I've attached this one of a kind pendant on to a solid 925 sterling silver chain so you can wear it straight away, and as this is a handmade artisan item, the photos show you the exact item you'll receive.

Pendant size (including bail): 2.5cm x 1.4cm

Necklace Length: 53cm (21 inches)

Gemstone: apatite

Gemstone Size: 16x7mm (approx)

Gemstone Treatment: untreated, natural

Gemstone Origin: Madagascar

Gemstone Hardness: soft, 4 on the MOHS scale. Suitable for occasional wear.

Technical: gemstone cut and polished in UK and pendant handmade in UK. No electrical or machine powered machines were used in the creation of this pendant. (Please note the chain the pendant is attached to is made in Italy).

Care: handmade from solid sterling silver, and due to the delicate natural of the intricate silver wire work should always be worn and handled with gentleness and care.

Gemstone Knowledge

Many people are surprised to learn that apatite is not an individual gemstone, but rather is the name given to a phosphate mineral group that's composed of calcium, phosphate and oxygen (along with various other elements). The three common types of apatite are:

Fluorapatite: The fluorine-dominant variety of apatite and the one you''ll generally find most often cut as a gemstone. It's the most common form of apatite and is usually found in igneous rocks.
Chlorapatite: A variety of apatite in which chlorine is more dominant. It's less common than fluorapatite and often found in metamorphic rocks.
Hydroxylapatite: Not as common as fluorapatite, this variety of apatite contains hydroxyl ions in its chemical composition instead of fluorine or chlorine.
In the jewellery world, we generally refer to all types of apatite as simply 'apatite', unless it's a very rare member of the apatite group that has been faceted into a gemstone (such as mimetite).

To form, apatite needs calcium and phosphate to be present. One of the most important locations for the mineral to be found is in sedimentary rocks which were created by the ancient accumulation and compression of organic matter such as bones, shells and teeth (which are all naturally rich in calcium/ phosphate). Apatite is also commonly found in igneous rocks like pegmatites, and in metamorphic rocks.

As it contain traces of a variety of elements and has thermodynamic properties, apatite is used by geologists as an important tool for exploring complex geological processes, such as the type and age of geological events. Observing how apatite behaves under different temperature and pressure conditions can be helpful for predicting and interpreting the Earth's behaviour, such as formation, stability, and transformations in various geological environments.

Apatite comes in a range of stunning colours, including green, blue, yellow, and purple, its colouration caused by presence of different trace elements such as manganese and iron. The reason it's probably not so well known in the jewellery world is probably down to the fact that it's a soft gemstone (5 on the MOHs scale) and also prone to brittleness (I've occasionally had apatite crystals literally crumble in my hand whilst cutting them into gemstones) so most jeweller's recommend that it's suitable for special occasion wear only.

Apatite is primarily valued for its beautiful ornamental, decorative and also important scientific properties rather than any deep cultural or mythological significance. Having said that, it's interesting to see that it's increasingly being used as a gemstone to represent the spring equinox (perhaps because of its vivid blue and uplifting yellow colours), and there are more people choosing to wear neon-blue apatite as an alternative birthstone for December.

Some fun facts about apatite: In ancient times powdered apatite was used as a pigment, and traces of it have been found in the famous Terracotta Army of 3rd-century BC China. Some varieties of apatite exhibit fluorescence under ultraviolet light, and moon rocks brought back by astronauts during the Apollo missions contained traces of apatite, providing valuable insights into lunar geology. A type of apatite called hydroxyapatite, is present in the human body and is a key component of our bones and teeth!