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About Our Stones 
These links will take you to specific points in this article...
Our stones are natural...
The mining techniques...
The polishing...
About inclusions and such...
The stone "grades"...
About our photos...
The Chakra Bead chains...
The Metals Used...
We take The Natural Approach...Our pendulum stones are Natural, undyed, unbleached, and there's no heat treating. (There are one or two exceptions, like our Created Turquoise and our Opalized Glass, but in such cases, it's made very clear, in the listing, how the pieces were made.) We're committed to natural stones for several reasons. First, and foremost, is a matter of safety...safety for our workers, from our stone cutter, to our stone polishers, to those that assemble the pieces, all the way to those that are involved in the packaging and shipping; We refuse to risk their health with exposure to toxic dyes and bleaches, nor do we wish for you to handle a stone that may have have chemical residues; and then there's the safety of the environment to take into consideration. The gem industry constantly pollutes our Earth with toxic chemicals in the creation of unnaturally colored stones. We, at Moontide Arts, refuse to contribute to this problem and are dedicated to providing our buyers with natural stones that have been minimally processed. We find that the colors nature provides are beautiful without our interference, and we strongly believe that untreated stones have greater metaphysical powers. (Click here to go back to the page links)
Even the techniques used in mining our raw stone material are as basic and natural as possible...and no child or slave labor is tolerated. After the raw material is respectfully removed from the Earth, it's taken to our Master Stone Cutter. This single, very spiritual man, a man of great talent with decades of experience, cuts every one of our stones. After being cut, the stones are given to our small crew of stone polishers. (Click here to go back to the page links)
The polishing...Each piece is hand polished, using basic polishing tools and Chromium Oxide, a natural, green polishing compound that can provide a mirror-like surface on most stones. Some stones will have traces of this green compound remaining in very tiny, surface cracks or minute indentations...This can be scrubbed off with a toothbrush and soapy water. Since the compound is natural and an appealing color, we leave it to you whether or not to remove it. The green does not effect the metaphysical properties of the stone, and in some cases, as in prosperity stones, it adds to the energy. (Click here to go back to the page links)
Some stones, particularly the quartz varieties (which also include agates and jaspers) will have inclusions...what appear to be cracks within the stone, which are an indication that some geological event took place during the formation of the stone. Likewise, phantoms (ghostly...hence, the name...clouds created by tiny bubbles within the stone) may also be seen. These features may not be ideal within a jewelry gemstone, but for our purposes, they're very desirable and increase the metaphysical potential of the stones. In a pendulum, a phantom or inclusion must not be thought of as a flaw, but rather, as a conductor of energy. They also cause light to refract in interesting ways, often causing unique patterns of light and color. (Click here to go back to the page links)
To be realistic, pendulums can not be made from "gem grade" stone material...The cost would be prohibitive. We do, however, purchase the best quality raw material we possibly can, and our lapidarist cuts the stone to its best advantage. Most stone types will have color variations, sometimes within the same stone. Amethyst, for instance, can be an appealing lavender, a deep grape, or it may demonstrate multiple shades within the same pendulum. These variances should be considered desirable, as often, they create interesting patterns in the stone, patterns that can sometimes be "read" much as one might read tea leaves in a cup. (Click here to go back to the page links)
Since our listings have "stock" photos, please don't expect to receive the exact piece pictured...Yours will be similar, but, as stated above, there's a great deal of variety in natural stones. Trust us to select a piece that will be beautifully cut, well proportioned and properly polished...an accurate and responsive pendulum. (Click here to go back to the page links)
Many of our pendulums feature a "Chakra Beaded Chain"...This is a handmade, Silver Plated, German silver chain, six inches or longer, that features seven stone beads, each corresponding to one of the bodies seven Chakras. These stones also have metaphysical, spell properties. The stones are as follows...Amethyst (7th Chakra & Psychic Energy), Lapis (6th Chakra & Healing Energy), Turquoise (5th Chakra & Protection), Green Aventurine (4th Chakra & Prosperity), Yellow Aventurine (3rd Chakra & Good Luck), Carnelian (2nd Chakra & Passionate Energy), and Red Jasper (1st Chakra & Love). Please note that this beaded chain is made and assembled completely by hand and so there may be imperfections in the links. Any such imperfections will not, in any way, effect the functionality of your pendulum. (Click here to go back to the page links)
The metal used...Most of our pendulums feature German silver fittings and chains that is heavily Silver Plated. German silver is also known as Paktong (the Chinese term, meanings "white copper"), Alpaca Silver, and New Silver. It doesn't actually contain sterling silver, but rather, it's a durable alloy, ours containing NO LEAD, that looks very much the same as sterling silver, but it's a more economical, and we feel equally good choice. A German silver chain is likely to give you a lifetime of use, and if the silver plating starts to wear off, your chain will still remain silver in color. German Silver is strong, flexible, and because of its copper content, it's conductive, which is an excellent quality for pendulum use. If another metal is used, such as Sterling Silver or Silver Plated Copper, the listing will contain those details. (Click here to go back to the page links)
Our stones are natural...
The mining techniques...
The polishing...
About inclusions and such...
The stone "grades"...
About our photos...
The Chakra Bead chains...
The Metals Used...
We take The Natural Approach...Our pendulum stones are Natural, undyed, unbleached, and there's no heat treating. (There are one or two exceptions, like our Created Turquoise and our Opalized Glass, but in such cases, it's made very clear, in the listing, how the pieces were made.) We're committed to natural stones for several reasons. First, and foremost, is a matter of safety...safety for our workers, from our stone cutter, to our stone polishers, to those that assemble the pieces, all the way to those that are involved in the packaging and shipping; We refuse to risk their health with exposure to toxic dyes and bleaches, nor do we wish for you to handle a stone that may have have chemical residues; and then there's the safety of the environment to take into consideration. The gem industry constantly pollutes our Earth with toxic chemicals in the creation of unnaturally colored stones. We, at Moontide Arts, refuse to contribute to this problem and are dedicated to providing our buyers with natural stones that have been minimally processed. We find that the colors nature provides are beautiful without our interference, and we strongly believe that untreated stones have greater metaphysical powers. (Click here to go back to the page links)
Even the techniques used in mining our raw stone material are as basic and natural as possible...and no child or slave labor is tolerated. After the raw material is respectfully removed from the Earth, it's taken to our Master Stone Cutter. This single, very spiritual man, a man of great talent with decades of experience, cuts every one of our stones. After being cut, the stones are given to our small crew of stone polishers. (Click here to go back to the page links)
The polishing...Each piece is hand polished, using basic polishing tools and Chromium Oxide, a natural, green polishing compound that can provide a mirror-like surface on most stones. Some stones will have traces of this green compound remaining in very tiny, surface cracks or minute indentations...This can be scrubbed off with a toothbrush and soapy water. Since the compound is natural and an appealing color, we leave it to you whether or not to remove it. The green does not effect the metaphysical properties of the stone, and in some cases, as in prosperity stones, it adds to the energy. (Click here to go back to the page links)
Some stones, particularly the quartz varieties (which also include agates and jaspers) will have inclusions...what appear to be cracks within the stone, which are an indication that some geological event took place during the formation of the stone. Likewise, phantoms (ghostly...hence, the name...clouds created by tiny bubbles within the stone) may also be seen. These features may not be ideal within a jewelry gemstone, but for our purposes, they're very desirable and increase the metaphysical potential of the stones. In a pendulum, a phantom or inclusion must not be thought of as a flaw, but rather, as a conductor of energy. They also cause light to refract in interesting ways, often causing unique patterns of light and color. (Click here to go back to the page links)
To be realistic, pendulums can not be made from "gem grade" stone material...The cost would be prohibitive. We do, however, purchase the best quality raw material we possibly can, and our lapidarist cuts the stone to its best advantage. Most stone types will have color variations, sometimes within the same stone. Amethyst, for instance, can be an appealing lavender, a deep grape, or it may demonstrate multiple shades within the same pendulum. These variances should be considered desirable, as often, they create interesting patterns in the stone, patterns that can sometimes be "read" much as one might read tea leaves in a cup. (Click here to go back to the page links)
Since our listings have "stock" photos, please don't expect to receive the exact piece pictured...Yours will be similar, but, as stated above, there's a great deal of variety in natural stones. Trust us to select a piece that will be beautifully cut, well proportioned and properly polished...an accurate and responsive pendulum. (Click here to go back to the page links)
Many of our pendulums feature a "Chakra Beaded Chain"...This is a handmade, Silver Plated, German silver chain, six inches or longer, that features seven stone beads, each corresponding to one of the bodies seven Chakras. These stones also have metaphysical, spell properties. The stones are as follows...Amethyst (7th Chakra & Psychic Energy), Lapis (6th Chakra & Healing Energy), Turquoise (5th Chakra & Protection), Green Aventurine (4th Chakra & Prosperity), Yellow Aventurine (3rd Chakra & Good Luck), Carnelian (2nd Chakra & Passionate Energy), and Red Jasper (1st Chakra & Love). Please note that this beaded chain is made and assembled completely by hand and so there may be imperfections in the links. Any such imperfections will not, in any way, effect the functionality of your pendulum. (Click here to go back to the page links)
The metal used...Most of our pendulums feature German silver fittings and chains that is heavily Silver Plated. German silver is also known as Paktong (the Chinese term, meanings "white copper"), Alpaca Silver, and New Silver. It doesn't actually contain sterling silver, but rather, it's a durable alloy, ours containing NO LEAD, that looks very much the same as sterling silver, but it's a more economical, and we feel equally good choice. A German silver chain is likely to give you a lifetime of use, and if the silver plating starts to wear off, your chain will still remain silver in color. German Silver is strong, flexible, and because of its copper content, it's conductive, which is an excellent quality for pendulum use. If another metal is used, such as Sterling Silver or Silver Plated Copper, the listing will contain those details. (Click here to go back to the page links)
Please be transported to Haunted Moontide by
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If we think of anything else you may need or want to know about our stones, we'll add that information at a future date. Please contact us if you think of something we should add to this article.