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Hundreds of mothers rings and jewelry items available!

Stock Blue Agate Cameo Designs...
These Blue Agate cameos from Italy are returnable in accordance with
store policies.  Click on the item of interest to view larger picture or to order.

   
NOTE: The manufacturer no longer offers personalization. 

Each blue agate cameo varies somewhat in color and shading. Some items may
come as pin/pendant combinations... they have a bar pin on the back along with
a pendant bail so it can be worn two ways.  All cameo frames are 14k gold.

 


Designs and images are copyrighted and may not be reproduced.

Blue Agate Cameos from Italy depicting love, marriage and family at very competitive prices. Note that cameo colors and shades do vary and some large items come as pin/pendant combinations... they have a bar pin on the back along with a pendant bail so it can be worn two ways.  All items are enlarged to show detail... refer to the millimeter sizes provided with each cameo and the conversion chart shown on each page.

Conversion Chart

mm 9.5mm 12.8mm

15.9mm

19.1mm

22.3mm

25.4mm

31.8mm 38.2mm
Inches 3/8" 1/2"

5/8"

3/4"

7/8"

1"

1 1/4" 1 1/2"

Proper Cameo Jewelry Care- Most of our beautiful cameos are glued in place.  To clean, use a soft cloth to gently remove any dust or debris.  A brief dip in a cool water and mild soap solution can be used for periodic cleaning.  Rinse well and gently dry thoroughly. Do not use commercial cleaners, ultrasonic cleaning units or allow your cameo jewelry to soak in water.  Remove cameo jewelry before showering, swimming or enjoying a hot tub.  Hot water can cause discoloration of your cameo and destroy the bond between the glue/epoxy and the cameo resulting in the cameo falling out.

History of Cameos and
About Blue Agate Cameos

The word "Agate" is derived from the Sicilian River Achates where agates were probably found in antiquity. Agate is a very special semi-precious stone which is classified as a banded chalcedony or micro-crystalline quartz. The individual bands or layers give this stone its uniqueness and character.

The art of cameo engraving can be traced as far back as the second and first centuries B.C. to the ancient Greco-Roman Empires where cameos enjoyed a golden age. The decline of the Roman Empire also brought with it a period of dormancy for cameo development.  It was not until the fifteenth century during the period referred to as the Renaissance that cameos resurfaced as an art form and as a medium for jewelry. The Medici family of Florence is credited with restoring cameos as jewelry. At about the same time a very high quality mine wad discovered in southern Germany. This region soon became the center of cameo technology and by the beginning of the 19th century possessed the  most significant agate deposits in the world. Over the past one hundred years, this area pioneered and is largely responsible for developing and refining the techniques used to carve and color today's cameos. The once rich deposits of these mines have been exhausted and the world is now dependent on South America for its supply of high quality layered agate material.

The layered agate material that is used in producing agate cameo gem carvings is usually cut from agates with even parallel layers, a lighter layer above a darker one. The agate used in today's cameos is naturally multiple shades of gray in color, ranging from a milky white translucent to dark gray. The lower and softer layer is dyed to produce the highly desirable blue chalcedony color; while the lighter colored upper layer which is harder does not accept dying and remains white or milky in appearance.

Only 2 percent of all agate material mined is of a quality suitable for detailed cameo cutting. It is important to note that of this small percentage an even smaller percentage can be dyed blue making the enclosed cameos precious and rare.

The exquisite motifs and silhouettes featured in this collection have been carved relief style, employing the use of a highly sophisticated ultrasonic etching process and elegantly framed in karat gold.


© Copyright 2003-8 J. Dunne.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copying from this web site is a violation of copyright law.  Our pictures and content are for viewing only at this address and remain our property. They may NOT be copied, reproduced or modified in any form or manner. Use of this web site constitutes your agreement to our online store policies and terms. You must be at least 18 years of age to order from this store. We reserve the right to correct errors. Many of the items and designs are also copyrighted. 

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