Refraction and Inclusions

It didn’t occur to me that gemstones were refractive until I used this absolutely beautiful, clear aquamarine with a marquis cut in a ring. It was so clear, I decided to put a simple pattern underneath, thinking it would just show through as it was. It didn’t to that. Instead, because of the angle of the sides, the refraction caused different parts of the pattern underneath to appear and form a really different pattern. I didn’t even suspect this would happen. Now there was another story happening in the ring I had made. 

I’ve built on this idea ever since I began cutting some of my own stones. I don’t exactly plan for it, but I look to see what the possibilities are in whatever I’m cutting. I’ve always liked inclusions in stones. The refraction adds another layer. 

Here are my experiments, plus a couple that kind of fit in to experiencing stones in this way.