During the Oligocene the sea level dropped considerably exposing large areas of ocean floor. For instance this seaway withdrew at the close of the Cretaceous time, and volcanoes formed during the Oligocene Epoch.
Over millions of years and volcanic upheavals, the organic leftovers of coral heads, which had been originally a gift from the seas, were covered by mud and ash, they were gradually replaced by mineral laden substances which eventually crystallized in mostly hexagonal (quartz) patterns in many different colours and sizes. We discovered this fossilized or petrified (from the Greek Petra, meaning rock) coral as part of a geological formation, known as the “Antigua Formation” (according to Harvard University), 30 million years old.
We have learned how to cut it, carefully slicing off its brown protective
coating of iron oxide and exposing its hidden beauty with all its different
patterns. We now grind and polish it into beautiful gemstones which we
set into our unique silver and gold jewellery, designed and made and
exclusively available at The Goldsmitty.
We invite you “to own a piece of our rock” as a memento of
your visit to our lovely island.
We are proud to introduce: “Antiguanite!”