Fordite Teardrop Loose Detroit Agate Cabochon for a Custom Design

$95.00

I discovered this material on my last Tucson trip. It is just too much fun not to share! "Fordite" is the name given to "stones" cut from layers of built up automotive paint, cut from the walls and flooring in automotive plant spray booths and repurposed. It forms blobs, stalactites, and stalagmites; which when cut in cross-section reveal beautiful patterns resembling natural stones,which gives it it's other popular name: "Detroit Agate".
They don't paint cars this way anymore, so the supply is limited to what's on hand. As a jewelry stone, it's light, colorful and has an amazing "story"! Quality is determined by the patterning and brilliance of color- muddy, dull specimens are worth less. I fussed and picked until I had the best pieces I could find: here they are. Enjoy!

This offering is for a good sized pear-shape or teardrop cabochon, for a great pendant or pin. Has a spot of Corvette blue, and lots of bubbles and texture to add interest. This material is light, like amber.
Size: 50 x 20 x 5.5mm. Nice flat back for easy setting.

Need a custom design made for this piece? I'd love to help!

Shipping from United States

Processing time

1-3 business days

Customs and import taxes

Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.

Payment Options

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  • Accepts Etsy gift cards

Returns & Exchanges

I gladly accept returns and exchanges

Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery

Ship items back to me within: 30 days of delivery

I don't accept cancellations

But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.

The following items can't be returned or exchanged

Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:

  • Custom or personalized orders
  • Digital downloads

Conditions of return

Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.

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This Privacy Policy describes how and when I collect, use, and share information when you purchase an item from me, contact me, or otherwise use my services through Etsy.com or its related sites and services.
This Privacy Policy does not apply to the practices of third parties that I do not own or control, including Etsy or any third party services you access through Etsy. You can reference the Etsy Privacy Policy to learn more about its privacy practices.
Information I Collect: To fulfill your order, you must provide me with certain information (which you authorized Etsy to provide to me), such as your name, email address, postal address, payment information, and the details of the product that you’re ordering. You may also choose to provide me with additional personal information (for a custom order of jewelry, for example), if you contact me directly.
Why I Need Your Information and How I Use It
I rely on a number of legal bases to collect, use, and share your information, including:
as needed to provide my services, such as when I use your information to fulfill your order, to settle disputes, or to provide customer support;
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I do not utilize third parties for data storage, so no such transfer will occur.

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If you reside in certain territories, including the EU, you have a number of rights in relation to your personal information. While some of these rights apply generally, certain rights apply only in certain limited cases. I describe these rights below:
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I do not control information held by Etsy; which they may share with me. If you wish to alter, delete or control such information; please contact Etsy directly for assistance.
How to Contact Me
For purposes of EU data protection law, I, Karen Nottonson, am the data controller of your personal information as it relates to my business. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact me at info@harperandfaye.com. Alternately, you may mail me at:
Harper & Faye, Inc.
60 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer layaway?

Yes, at my discretion (usually for high-ticket items). Please request layaway through Etsy conversations for details.

Do you do custom design?

Yes, once you have purchased a stone; I will be happy to work with you on a custom designed setting for it.

Will the stone I receive look like the photo?

I make every effort to be sure that photographs are accurate- but two things will affect how the stone looks to you:
First, each monitor and screen displays color differently, so the color on your monitor might not represent the actual color of the stone.
Second, the apparent color of many gemstones varies with the type of light (daylight, incandescent, fluorescent, LED) you are viewing it in; and some types are more flattering than others! View the stone under several light sources to see the full color range.

Do you offer certificates with your stones?

If you'd like a formal gemological laboratory report, I can obtain one from the G.I.A. (Gemological Institute of America) or A.G.L. (American Gemological Laboratories) on your behalf. We will charge you the actual cost plus shipping, handling and insurance. Please inquire for a price quote and estimated turnaround time; prices vary with the type of report and the size of the stone.

Early History of Paraiba Tourmaline

Paraiba tourmaline is colored an intense "Windex" blue from copper content. First discovered in Paraiba, Brazil it was introduced in the late 1980's in Tucson. I was there, and bought all I could afford! The price was considered outrageous, rising above $1000 a carat. The best of these early crystals were large, clean, and colored a deep ultramarine blue through intense green with a "glow". (Heat was used even then to bring out the blue color.) This material became so valuable that people were literally killed for it! In a few years the original mines were worked out, and supply dried up to a trickle. If one of these gems becomes available, it easily commands six figures. (I know where to find them if you want one!)

What kind of Paraiba am I selling?

Larger deposits of copper-bearing tourmaline were discovered later in Nigeria (now worked out) and Mozambique. Those from Mozambique are more plentiful than the Brazilian stone, less included, and less expensive. The color is pretty; but only rarely has the saturation and "glow" that the Brazilian tourmaline has.
So, what am I selling?
A few people kept and didn't cut the more included Brazilian rough. This is being cut now, and there is still not a lot of it. My stones are from this source; they are Brazilian, and they have inclusions- but they will be as beautiful a blue as I can find. I am trying to offer stones that will allow those who aren't millionaires to actually own a true Brazilian Paraiba tourmaline.

Paraiba Inclusions: A quick gemology lesson.

Paraiba tourmaline is a hydrothermal mineral: The crystals grew in hot liquid, leaving distinctive birthmarks in the stone: "Trichites" are hair-thin nets of cavities; "growth tubes" are hollow tubes that form along the crystal axis, fractures are splits that occur across the crystal. When the crystal changes direction growth planes are visible. Guest minerals are other minerals contained in the crystal. Many fractures "heal" themselves (partially or fully) as solution crystallize within them.
In most stones available today, these inclusions are small, but numerous. When the stone is cut, they are bisected; leaving tiny holes on the surface.
The cleaner the stone is, the more it will cost, but they all will make great jewelry.

Is Paraiba tourmaline treated?

Paraiba tourmaline has with very few exceptions always been routinely heated to improve the blue color (removing purple and gray tones); with the possible exception of highly included material due to the danger of breakage. The heat used is fairly low compared to that used for ruby and sapphire, and can not be detected, even by a gemological lab. Because of this, most labs simply say "Paraiba tourmaline may be routinely heated" to cover all bases. In general if it is that bright neon turquoise color, it can be assumed to be heated.

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