Black Madonna

One-of-one available to ship now
• 14kYellow Gold (50g)
• 14k White Gold (6g)
• Solid Gold Crystal (17g – Rogue River, OR)
• Ruby (.42ct)
• VS Diamond
• Aquamarine Crystals
• Faceted Idaho Aquamarine
• Amethyst (Kingston Mountains)

In 1194 the construction of the Chartres Cathedral began. Nearly 1000 years later is when this controversy of the Black Madonna began. One day a clergyman noticed the the beloved Mary holding her babe had turned black! The phenomenon was viewed by visited by thousands for many years and was revered as a sign from above. In 2009 the cathedral underwent an 18 million dollar restoration putting an end to the Black Madonna. It was discovered that a combination of broken windows allowing moist air in, smoke from candles and dust in a hard to reach area all attributed to this phenomenons occurrence. As I was creating this piece I drew inspiration from the natural shape of this amazingly rare crystalline gold. The crystals shape lends itself to the same features seen in the statue of the madonna holding her babe. After my inspiration sank in I spent countless hours working out how to set the gold crystal. My conclusion, it must spin. Flanking the crystal with two raw, uncut aquamarine crystals that had been hand collected in the USA. Atop sits another american beauty, a reverse intaglio carved amethyst from the Kingston Mountain range in California. Another beautiful american aquamarine is framed on the back side by the infamous stained glass window from the Cathedral. peppered with AAA Rubys and VS diamonds this piece is constructed in Rose and White gold. The key used to turn the gold crystal is another natural aquamarine inserted into the bottom of this talisman.