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Making an Ammonite Necklace


baineteo

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Hi everyone,

 

So I made my first fossil hunting trip some time ago and was quite lucky to find a nice, almost pristine (well, sort of) condition ammonite.

 

I want to make that into a necklace. What would be the best way to attach a loop for the necklace chain to go through? I am thinking of drilling a blind hole, sticking a "pin" in and then fill the hole up with some epoxy. Good idea?

 

Note that it is quite small and I think it needs some kind of a polishing for it to shine, so any advice on getting it to look nice and bright are welcome too!

 

Thank you!

 

File_000.jpeg

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Hello, and welcome to the Forum. :) 

 

Your idea sounds like it will work, but usually they are mounted via some type of wire wrapping, to preserve the integrity of the fossil. 

Also, being so small, it might be difficult to drill a hole into it, without it splitting or cracking. 

 

As far as cleaning, air abrasion might work best, but using a pin or needle to scrape the excess matrix out of the grooves might work well. 

Polishing? Hmm. A bit more difficult, that. you could try a brass wire brush. 


Good luck, and keep us posted with your progress. ;) 

Regards,

 

    Tim    VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  VFOTM APRIL - 2015  

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Welcome to TFF!

I would agree with a wire wrapping over drilling. If You try to polish that one I think You would destroy it.

Another possibility is silversmithing a mounting for it.

Here are a couple of Moroccan ammonite halves that I set.

amonite a.jpgamonite.jpg

 

Tony

 

PS Nice find!

 

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

My favorite thread on TFF.

 

 

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10 hours ago, ynot said:

Welcome to TFF!

I would agree with a wire wrapping over drilling. If You try to polish that one I think You would destroy it.

Another possibility is silversmithing a mounting for it.

Here are a couple of Moroccan ammonite halves that I set.

amonite a.jpgamonite.jpg

 

Tony

 

PS Nice find!

 

Wow, nice work Tony!

Dipleurawhisperer5.jpg

I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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17 hours ago, ynot said:

Welcome to TFF!

I would agree with a wire wrapping over drilling. If You try to polish that one I think You would destroy it.

Another possibility is silversmithing a mounting for it.

Here are a couple of Moroccan ammonite halves that I set.

amonite a.jpgamonite.jpg

 

Tony

 

PS Nice find!

 

These look fantastic! I especially like the bottom one, that's a great way to make them into jewelry without damaging them. You're very talented mate!

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5 hours ago, sandgroper said:

These look fantastic! I especially like the bottom one, that's a great way to make them into jewelry without damaging them. You're very talented mate!

Thank You.

Tony

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

My favorite thread on TFF.

 

 

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Thanks everyone for the input! Good thing I didn't go about drilling it! I saw this in the shop; was wondering if there's a way to DIY it easily (biggest concern is the fossil dropping off!)

IMG_0853.JPG

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You could search craft stores for jewelry bails - and search how to on jewelry forums. :) 

Good luck. 

Regards,

    Tim    VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  VFOTM APRIL - 2015  

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"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~   ><))))( *>  About Me      

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4 hours ago, baineteo said:

! I saw this in the shop; was wondering if there's a way to DIY it

That is a standard finding (that can be purchased from any jewelry supply store) and has been glued on to the ammonite. It is only as strong as the glue that was used to attach it. 

It would not take much to replicate it.

 

Tony

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

My favorite thread on TFF.

 

 

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Hi mate,

I make ammonite necklaces with Prom's from Dorset, I drill a small hole in the top of the ammo using a small diamond drill and add using apoxy resin a small piece of snake chain, then add a loop clamp and run a necklace through it.

Never had one fall off etc.

necklace 1.JPG

Where are you Ichthyosaur.  

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On 12/6/2016 at 2:44 PM, baineteo said:

Thanks everyone for the input! Good thing I didn't go about drilling it! I saw this in the shop; was wondering if there's a way to DIY it easily (biggest concern is the fossil dropping off!)

Have You mounted Your ammonite yet? Can We see the end piece?

Thanks,

Tony

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

My favorite thread on TFF.

 

 

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On 12/4/2016 at 8:26 AM, ynot said:

Welcome to TFF!

I would agree with a wire wrapping over drilling. If You try to polish that one I think You would destroy it.

Another possibility is silversmithing a mounting for it.

Here are a couple of Moroccan ammonite halves that I set.

amonite a.jpgamonite.jpg

 

Tony

 

PS Nice find!

 

 

Yes, very nice, and an excellent job of mounting.  Now for the big question.  I've seen some ammonites mounted with the whorl facing up and others with it facing down.  Is this anything like the myth of horseshoes where it is supposedly bad luck to mount them facing down because "all the luck runs out"?

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2 hours ago, Sagebrush Steve said:

.  I've seen some ammonites mounted with the whorl facing up and others with it facing down.  Is this anything like the myth of horseshoes where it is supposedly bad luck to mount them facing down because "all the luck runs out"?

Thanks.

I mounted those that way because that is the way they would be in life.

It is really jewelers choice.

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

My favorite thread on TFF.

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
3 minutes ago, GARID said:

Ammonites bought from Russia. What do you think is there real fossil?

Yes - they are real ammonites, but they are from Morocco.

Tony

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

My favorite thread on TFF.

 

 

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4 minutes ago, ynot said:

Yes - they are real ammonites, but they are from Morocco.

Tony

How do you know that they from Morocco?

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52 minutes ago, GARID said:

Why you think they from Morocco?

The Moroccoians Madagascariense produce a large amount of these agatized ammonites, they are exported in great quantities.

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

My favorite thread on TFF.

 

 

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I always thought the cut and polished Ammonites for sale everywhere were from Madagascar. :unsure:  :headscratch:

 

 

    Tim    VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  VFOTM APRIL - 2015  

__________________________________________________
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~   ><))))( *>  About Me      

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18 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

I always thought the cut and polished Ammonites for sale everywhere were from Madagascar. :unsure:  :headscratch:

 

 

There goes that @#&%$#$@**&%$ dyslexia again.:wacko:

You are correct Tim.:yay-smiley-1:

Thanks!:dinothumb:

Tony

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

My favorite thread on TFF.

 

 

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  • 11 months later...
4 minutes ago, Faith said:

Hello... I have some cut ammonite fossils but they are not flat like the picks I see above (nice job!)...how can I grind it down? I tried a big ol' metal file, but it takes a long time just to get some dust off.  Do I need to have it cut thinner?  Is this something I can do? 

 

I want to make necklaces out of them...but...

 

Any and all suggestions are welcomed!

 

Thank you :)

Welcome to TFF!

You need a harder grinding tool than metal will provide. Most people use diamond grinders to cut and polish ammonites (or any rock).

The type of ammonite shown above (1/2) is readily available on the market.

If You need the flat surface to work with, I would suggest buying some that have already been cut and polished. It would be much easier than trying to do it Yourself.

 

Regards,

Tony

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

My favorite thread on TFF.

 

 

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If your ammonite is pyritized (which I think it is) it will be a little difficult to drill a hole into it, but a diamond drill will make that. See discussion here .

" We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. "

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