Real tiger butterfly specimen with Ethiopian opal and tigers eye pendant necklace in electroformed copper

I love butterflies, and I have worked hard the past three years to find a way to preserve them in whimsical jewellery. This is challenging as the wings of a butterfly can be thinner than paper! Each butterfly is pinned and dried, then treated with many layers of paints and solutions to prepare them for electroforming. The electroforming is in a very acidic solution so the insect must be protected or it will be corroded/dissolved Then the butterfly is polished, patina us added to darken the copper, and the copper is sealed.

It is made from the insect itself, and 100% pure copper which has been electroformed over the insect wings, making them strong.

This butterfly is an Indian Tiger butterfly which is quite common, however extremely beautiful. I thought it would pair well with tigers eye and a stunning green and orange flashing Ethiopian opal.

Tiger's eye is a type of chatoyant gemstone that is formed through a process known as pseudomorphism. This occurs when one mineral replaces another while retaining the original mineral's shape. Tiger's eye is primarily composed of quartz, which undergoes alteration due to the presence of crocidolite fibers. These fibers are replaced by silica (quartz) over time, resulting in the distinctive golden-brown color and chatoyancy (shimmering effect) characteristic of tiger's eye.

The formation of tiger's eye typically occurs in metamorphic rocks, where the crocidolite fibers are subjected to intense heat and pressure. As the crocidolite decomposes, the silica-rich fluids seep into the rock, gradually replacing the fibers and forming the parallel lines that give tiger's eye its unique appearance. This process can take millions of years to complete, resulting in the beautiful and captivating gemstone that is highly valued for its aesthetic appeal and metaphysical properties.

It has some delicate parts and should be worn carefully to avoid breaking the wings, which are the thinnest copper areas. The necklace should never be bent or it will break.

I have coated the copper in a thermoplastic lacquer to make sure it keeps its colour and texture, without further patina. Having said that, don't wear this piece in water or use perfumes or other liquids on or near it to prevent unwanted corrosion. 

This is a sensational show stopping piece of jewellery that will surely turn heads.

 It comes with the chain pictured, and sits as in the modelled photos, at chest length.