Red Spiny oyster shell inlay heart pendant

Navajo inlay heart pendant. Crafted by well known artist Rick Tolino from Gallup, New Mexico. He has used red spiny oyster shell as the main background coloring and used red cultured opals and black jet as accent colors. The overall design is striking. Measuring 1"1/2 x 1", it is small piece. The bail has a 5mm opening. Spiny Oyster Shell (red coloring)- also called spondylus princeps, is found in the sea off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. Spondylus is a Latin word meaning "spines on its back." Beautiful oranges, reds, white, purple. This stone of the sea carries the energies of the water, cool comfort and peace of mind from the dark depths of the sea, and a sense of understanding, patience, & knowing from the rhythm of the tides.