

Each ring is made with a comfort fit rounded inner shank so that it feels good on the finger. Sections of Gibeon meteorite are cut, forged, and fabricated, and then set into gold, mokume gane, or platinum. Obviously, Chris only wants to use the best pieces of Gibeon meteorite in his jewelry creations. Most of the pieces of meteorite contain deep fractures and inclusions that are not suitable for jewelry, and then there are the effects of being exposed to the elements for thousands of years. According to Chris Ploof, they reject about 20 pieces of meteorite for every one that is in good condition. Of course, not every piece of Gibeon meteorite that is discovered is suitable for jewelry. Inhabitants of Namibia still find pieces of Gibeon meteorite from time to time, but obviously, each piece is a treasure. Thirty-three of those were between the years of 1911 – 1913 in the vicinity of Gibeon. To date, it is estimated that only 100-150 fragments of the Gibeon meteorite have been collected. From our perspective, we’d say that makes Gibeon meteorite a pretty rare commodity. However, we are talking about metal from a meteorite that is estimated to be about four billion years old. The degree to which something is rare is obviously a matter of perspective. However, it is known that the indigenous inhabitants of Namibia were making spear points and tools out of the fragments long before that discovery.

When was Gibeon Meteorite Discovered?Īlthough the Gibeon meteorite burst through the earth’s atmosphere approximately 30,000 years ago, it wasn’t “officially” discovered until 1838. Photo credit: Kevin Walsh via Flickr, username kevinzim. The crystal structure of Gibeon meteorite is that of a fine octahedrite and the Widmanstätten pattern, pictured to the left, looks incredible as the centerpiece for Chris Ploof’s Gibeon meteorite ring and wedding band designs. The combination of extreme heat as the Gibeon meteorite traveled through space and broke through earth’s atmosphere and the slow-cooling off process created a unique crystalline pattern that looks amazing in the designs created by master jeweler Chris Ploof. Scientists believe that the Gibeon meteorite is part of the core of an extinct planet that exploded billions of years ago. More specifically, the composition of Gibeon meteorite is reported to be 91.8% Iron 7.7% Nickel 0.5% Cobalt 0.04% Phosphorus 2.4 ppm Iridium 197 ppm Gallium and 0.111 ppm Germanium. The meteorite fragments are composed of an iron-nickel alloy with large concentrations of cobalt and phosphorus. What is Gibeon Meteorite?įrom a technical perspective, Gibeon meteorite is iron based and belongs to the IVA chemical group. The village of Gibeon in Namibia’s Hardap Region is the epicenter of the covered area. Not only must it have been an incredible sight, it was probably also very dangerous.įragments of the meteorite are spread across an elliptical area that measures approximately 171 miles long and 62 miles wide. Imagine how spectacular that glorious light show that must have been! I wonder what early inhabitants of Namibia thought about such an epic event. What an entrance it must have made! What a sight to see! Scientists believe that the meteorite exploded high-up in the sky and pieces of it rained down upon what is now known as Namibia. It’s easy to imagine that flaming ball of fire streaking across the sky. The Gibeon meteorite is believed to have entered our atmosphere about 30,000 years ago at the incredible speed of 17 miles per second. If you’re searching for something truly unique, congratulations, you just found it! Where Does Gibeon Meteorite Come From?

The Abigail setting by Chris Ploof, pictured to the left, and the other three designs featured at the top of this page, are among the most popular Gibeon meteorite engagement rings and bands purchased by our clients. Not only in the fact that they incorporate genuine pieces of Gibeon meteorite into the rings, but also because no two pieces of meteorite exhibit the exact same pattern. This fine collection of meteorite engagement rings and wedding bands are made exclusively from pieces of Gibeon meteorite found in Namibia.Īs you can clearly see, the look of these Gibeon Meteorite rings and bands by Chris Ploof Designs is truly unique. Platinum Setting What is the lowest color Brian Gavin recommends?īrian Gavin Diamonds is proud to introduce Gibeon meteorite rings and bands from Chris Ploof Designs.Types of 3 Prong Martini Settings for Studs.Are your VS2 & SI1 diamonds always eye clean?.2 carat diamond solitaire engagement rings for 30K.Differences in Asset Images for High Performance Diamonds.
