Silver overlay bracelet with a Variscite stone. The green Variscite cabochon is 1” x 1 3/8”. Ray Winner is the silversmith of this handcrafted 1 7/8” wide bracelet. The interior of the bracelet measures 5 3/4" end to end with a 1 1/8" gap.
Variscite is a green gemstone belonging to the phosphate group. It is a fairly rare gemstone from Nevada mines and not found in abundance.
Ray Winner has been creating beautiful jewelry since July of 1973. He had been working as an engineer and welder in 29 Palms. He went to a yard sale and found a tackle box containing silver wire, etc. and thought to himself, “if I can build big things, why can’t I do it on a small scale.” He went to live quietly in the desert and taught himself how to silversmith and create wearable art. He set out to make his first pieces in a very basic way and little by little, he got better and better. When creating, he begins his pieces and then as he is working, his pieces tell him how to proceed, balancing creativity and workmanship. Ray makes jewelry because he wants to manifest beauty. “My creativity and art just naturally come out of me, and I believe that things that are handmade have value. I like being creative and love making jewelry.”
