Red Bullseye HEAVY Fordite Square Pendant – #736

PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK DIMENSIONS ON PENDANTS. PLEASE TAKE OUT A RULER OR TAPE MEASURE AND SEE WHAT THE MEASUREMENTS LOOK LIKE IN REALITY. They vary widely.

This pendant was hand-forged, by me, from sterling silver sheet and wire, formed with a selection of vintage hammers with all pieces cut by hand using a jeweler’s saw.

This pendant features a piece of Fordite. Fordite is a “stone” comprised of many layers of automotive paint that used to build up on the rails in automotive plants. Cars are not painted in the same way today so “new” Fordite is not available. Parts would be sprayed with paint, then baked, then that was repeated over and over and layers of paint built up on the rails that held the parts. Eventually, the build-up became too thick and it was chipped off. Some clever person realized that if you cut and shaped it like a cabochon gemstone, you could reveal the layers of paint colors in swirls that looked similar to the patterns in agates and get a nice high polish on it like you would a gemstone or the surface of a recently-waxed car. Therefore, this material is also called “Detroit agate”. The information card pictured in this listing will be included with this pendant.

The bullseye pattern is formed when the paint drips repeatedly in one place over time.

This Fordite was cut and polished by a professional stone cutter and I made the setting. The back is a solid, substantial piece of 18 gauge sterling silver, stamped with my hallmark as well as a “.925″ indicating sterling silver. This particular piece of Fordite is a thick rounded corner square.

The Fordite is attached to the silver pendant with a silver tube rivet that gives it more of an industrial feel. The bail where the chain passes through is a wide, flat hammered bail with some hammered texture detail. The opening in the bail is quite wide so you can change out the 20” stainless steel rolled box chain (with lobster claw clasp) included for another favorite chain you already have. This one comes with the box chain because it’s heavier and slides more easily through the bail.

The back of this pendant has texture and some reticulation from the heating process. It has been oxidized with a chemical blackener and polished to a stain finish to bring out the rough texture and marks. It has also been treated with an archival acrylic wax to help preserve the oxidation detail.

This pendant measures a chunky 1 and 3/16″ inch wide by 2 and 1/8″ tall. It is also very thick at 3/8″ thick.

Fordite CAN chip, so it is best used in pendants and earrings instead of rings or bracelets.

A 20″ stainless steel rolled box chain is included.

Price includes USPS Priority Mail shipping inside the U.S.