THE LORE: 95 DEGREES AND THE 3,000-MILE EXPEDITION

During a nonstop, 9-day, 3,000-mile rockhounding expedition across four states, Janyce drove while I tracked mineral deposits on a free hunting app. Grinding out the miles, we stumbled right into Richardson's Rock Ranch.

It was a lapidary goldmine. Pallets, gaylords, and buckets full of rough rock were everywhere. We wove through the bins until we hit three piles that came home with us.

The Rainbow Labradorite

We found a pallet holding 1,000 pounds of Labradorite chunks. Seeing mostly yellow flash, we asked an employee if there was any blue. She said it was Rainbow Labradorite and the blues were usually weak. That was all Janyce needed to hear. In 95-degree heat, she dove into that pile until she finally pulled out a chunk with striking cobalt blue peeking through the rough.

When we got home, I took it straight to the saw. Later, while we ate lunch, the saw finished a slab. The sun hit the freshly cut stone just right, and it absolutely exploded with full rainbow flash.

🪨 The Rescue Loop: See the stones born from that 95-degree day digging through the Labradorite pile. No factory shapes. Just rescued Relics.

The Fire Obsidian & The Freeform Revolution

While Janyce baked in the sun, I was nearing heatstroke. I found a property hose, turned it on, and drank until I cooled down. Catching my breath, I noticed a pile of black obsidian loaded with red streaks and swirls. I dug out two chunks.

We didn't realize it had iridescence until we got home. I tried cutting a standard 30x40mm oval cabochon from the striped obsidian. Looking at the cut, I realized I had sliced it the wrong direction—the fiery flash only showed on the thin edges, not the face. I was furious that I ruined it.

Janyce took the stone, walked to the 3000-grit wheel, polished it, and brought it back. She looked at me and said, "Here is what we will do, honey. We can make them into freeforms, so the sides become the front."

That rescued mistake launched our Freeform Revolution.

🛠️ The Custom Shop Loop: Trust the hands that built the revolution. Send your rough stone, and we will let the rock dictate the final cut.

The Caramel Botswana Agate

Janyce had also found a pile of Caramel Botswana Agate. Figuring we'd probably never make it to Africa in this lifetime, we started digging. We hunted for pure caramel color, but most rough had heavy white areas. I finally found a piece I thought was solid caramel.

When we slabbed it, the rock surprised us again. The center was solid white, but the edges were layered with incredible, crisp bands of white, clear, and rich caramel.

The Universal Rescue

Every stone tells a story of survival. Whether baking in a 95-degree rock yard or slicing a slab the wrong direction, we take the leftover can'ts and grind them into something beautiful.

When you bypass the standard "ewlery" stores and adopt a Relic off our site, you aren't just making a purchase. You are wearing a stone born from a 3,000-mile road trip and a rescued mistake. You are the final step in the rescue. Everything needs a home, and everything can be rescued if you care enough to put in the work.

Keep Exploring

🪨 Adopt a Rescue: Our shop is full of rescued, one-of-a-kind stones waiting for their next chapter. Browse All Collections →

📖 Read the Logbook: From blown motors to 58-pound boulders, read the raw history behind the Rockhound Studio bench. Read the Logbook →

Handcrafted by Bob and Janyce — Inspired by the rescued mistake. 🔥