I recently returned from my first trip to Grand Cayman and one of the things I was most interested in seeing was jewellery made from the local rock, caymanite. On his website, local artisan Dr. Joe Jackman explains, “Geologists believe that the multi-layered semi-precious gem stone believed to be found only in the Cayman Islands was formed between sixteen and twenty-five million years ago, during the Oligocene-Miocene epoch. The various-colours result from different metals. Black and grays from Manganese, the red hues from iron, blue, and green from copper, and so on.

Caymanite is an extremely hard material and must be worked with special tools including diamond-tipped cutting wheels and grinders. Entensive polishing after the piece is carved results in a brilliant, marble-like finish. The art of working and shaping Caymanite is very specialized, and only after many years of practice is one able to produce items that are suitable for resale.”

I did buy two bracelets, one with caymanite and sterling beads, and one that also had black coral beads; alas, I do not know who the artisan is.

Dr. Jackman’s designs are well priced, based on what I saw, with this piece selling for USD $125 with 14k gold fittings (USD $80 in sterling silver).

 

Below, the bracelets I purchased.