In 2024, my wife, Kimberly, and I got seriously into rocks. It was after our daughter and only child graduated from high school and joined the US Navy and left home. As empty nesters, we picked up rockhounding and lapidary together as a common hobby and built out a complete lapidary shop with a couple of slab saws, cabbing machines for each of us, and a trim saw as well as other equipment. In our free time, we travel all over in our motorhome hunting rocks and when home, we cut and polish rocks together. I started making cabochons and in June of 2025, I picked up silversmithing to make those cabochons into jewelry.
I make pendants, bolo ties, and rings on commission only. In other words, I custom make each piece for you. You will select the rock slab to use as well as the shape you want and how it is positioned on the slab, all by email with pictures. Once selected, I make the cabochon and then make your finished piece. I do not take a deposit up front and you are under no obligation to pay for the finished piece. Once the piece is done, I send you an itemized price showing the cost for each part as well as three pictures of the piece for your review. If you are happy with the price and the piece, you send payment via Zelle, Venmo, or personal check and I ship the piece. If you are not thrilled with the finished piece or the price, we can either start over with new selections or part ways with no hard feelings!
This is purely a hobby for me so I do not try to make money at it. To determine my price, I weigh the silver setting prior to setting the stone. I charge double the current spot price of silver, $30 for the cabochon, $30 for labor (a token amount since it takes an average of 3 hrs each piece!), plus a few bucks for an inexpensive chain or bolo cord and tips anda few bucks for a nice box to display it in . For those who don't know, the spot price of silver is what it is traded for on the open market, not what you can buy physical silver for. To buy physical silver, you pay spot plus a premium. Most silversmiths buy premade plate, wire, etc. I prefer to make everything myself starting with raw silver bullion. When buying plate, the typical cost is spot plus around 40% per oz. By charging double the actual spot price of the silver used, this allows for waste as well as the labor, experience, and equipment to make all the sheet and wire myself.
Most of my pendants range from $80-115 with bolos ranging from $115-150, depending on size. Buying from a silversmith who does this for a living or to make profit would make the same pieces $200-300. They are not overpriced by any means, I just don't need to make money at it and my love for sharing the beauty of rocks is reward enough!
Contact me if you are interested in having a unique Texas rock piece of fine sterling silver jewelry custom made for you or a loved one!
Below are links to galleries with some of my completed work as well as some of the slabs that I have available for you to chose from.
 Completed Bolos |
 Available Slabs |
Completed Pendants