A fragment of the mountains of Zamora transformed into a jewel. The centerpiece is an apple-green variscite extracted from the Palazuelos de las Cuevas mine (Zamora), hand-cut and polished in our workshop into a freeform cabochon measuring 15 × 13 × 4 mm. The stone is set in 925 sterling silver on a finely filigreed base: the profile of a mountain range cut into the back of the pendant, an artisanal detail that honors the gemstone's origin. A 45 cm silver chain is included. Unique piece.
The Stone: Palazuelos Variscite
Variscite is a hydrated aluminum phosphate (AlPO₄·2H₂O) that forms in cracks in Paleozoic slates and quartzites through a slow circulation process of phosphated waters at low temperatures. The Palazuelos de las Cuevas mine, in the province of Zamora, is one of only two European deposits with documented gemological production of this species — the other being Can Tintorer (Gavà, Barcelona), also on the Iberian Peninsula.
The characteristic apple-green color of the material from Palazuelos comes from traces of iron and aluminum in the crystalline structure; the fine brown, yellow, and white veins running through the cabochon are natural venations inherited from the original slate and quartz matrix, which the lapidary preserves as part of the piece's design. Variscite is an opaque mineral — the green is seen by light reflection on the polished surface, not by transparency. Each fragment is distinct, which is why no two variscite cabochons are exactly alike.
The MUNTE Design — A Detail on the Back
The name MUNTE means "mountain" in Romanian and retains this root in other Romance languages. The 925 sterling silver base that holds the cabochon features fine filigree with the profile of a mountain range, hand-cut into the back of the pendant. It is an intimate sculptural detail: it is not visible when the piece is worn — the opaque cabochon covers the entire front — but it appears when the pendant is flipped over, stored, or taken off the chest. A mark of craftsmanship oriented more towards the wearer than to those who see it from outside, and a nod to the landscape from which the variscite originates.
Technical Specifications
| Stone |
Variscite (hydrated aluminum phosphate, AlPO₄·2H₂O) |
| Origin |
Palazuelos de las Cuevas Mine, Zamora (Spain) |
| Stone Dimensions |
15 × 13 × 4 mm (freeform) |
| Color |
Apple green with fine brown, yellow, and white veins from the matrix |
| Treatment |
Untreated |
| Hardness |
3.5–4.5 Mohs — protected by the closed bezel setting |
| Crystal System |
Orthorhombic (microcrystalline) |
| Metal |
925 Sterling Silver |
| Setting Type |
Closed bezel on a filigreed base (MUNTE design) |
| Chain |
925 Silver, 45 cm, included |
| Piece Type |
Unique piece — hand-cut and assembled |
Manufacturing Technique
The piece is entirely produced in our workshop. The process begins with lapidary work: the variscite fragment is cut and carved by hand, respecting the natural silhouette of the rock piece, until the freeform shape that best utilizes the color and vein arrangement is achieved. The back is polished flat so that the cabochon sits cleanly on the silver base.
The setting is then constructed: the silver base is filigreed with the mountain range profile, the bezel is shaped to the cabochon's silhouette, and it is hand-closed around the mineral's contour once the stone is placed. The securement is provided by the closed bezel, which protects the perimeter of the soft mineral from wear and lateral impacts. This is a traditional, slow, non-industrial silversmithing technique: each MUNTE pendant is a unique construction adapted to the specific cabochon it holds.
Variscite in Lapidary Tradition
Variscite was confused with turquoise for centuries in European deposits before modern mineralogy described it as a distinct species in 1837, in the German region of Variscia — hence the name. On the Iberian Peninsula, the ornamental use of variscite has been documented since the Neolithic: in Can Tintorer (Gavà, Barcelona), one of Europe's largest prehistoric mining complexes has been excavated, with variscite beads and pendants that traveled throughout the western Mediterranean more than 6,000 years ago. This makes Iberian variscite one of the first gemological materials systematically worked in Europe.
In contemporary lapidary tradition, variscite is associated with connection to the land, roots, and renewal — a particularly coherent interpretation in the Zamora area, where the stone has been extracted and worked for millennia. The symbolic properties attributed to minerals belong to cultural and historical traditions. They are shared for educational purposes, not as medical advice or a substitute for professional care.
Pendant Care
925 sterling silver can be cleaned with an anti-tarnish cloth or warm water with neutral soap and a soft-bristle brush. Variscite, being a soft mineral (3.5–4.5 Mohs), should be stored in an individual pouch to avoid contact with harder pieces that could scratch it. It is advisable to remove the pendant before showering, exercising, sleeping, or applying perfume, cream, or sunscreen: the mixture of sweat and chemicals accelerates silver oxidation and can affect the cabochon's finish.
Consult our complete guide to silver jewelry care for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the variscite authentic?
Yes. It comes from the Palazuelos de las Cuevas mine (Zamora, Spain), one of only two European deposits with documented production of gem-quality variscite. No detectable treatment: the green color comes from native iron and aluminum traces in the phosphate, and the veins are remnants of the original slate and quartz matrix. Statement based on lapidary observation; the piece does not include formal gemological certification.
What does MUNTE mean?
MUNTE means "mountain" in Romanian and maintains that root in other Romance languages. It is the name of the design: a silver base filigreed with the profile of a mountain range on the back of the pendant, in homage to the Palazuelos landscape from which the variscite originates.
Can it be worn daily?
Yes, with normal silver jewelry care. The variscite is protected by the closed bezel setting, and as a pendant, it receives far fewer impacts than a ring. It is advisable to remove it for sleeping, showering, exercising, or applying perfumes and creams, and to store it in an individual pouch when not worn.
Can the chain be changed?
Yes. The 45 cm 925 sterling silver chain is detachable: if a different drop is preferred — 40 cm for a choker, 50 or 60 cm for a long pendant — it can be replaced with another chain.
Does 925 silver tarnish?
Yes, it is a natural process called oxidation (reaction of silver with sulfur in the air). It can be removed with an anti-tarnish cloth or baking soda paste; tarnishing does not damage the piece or affect the cabochon. The filigree of the MUNTE design may accumulate more patina in the cut-out areas — cleaning with a soft brush restores the shine without issue.
Is this a unique piece or can it be replicated?
The pendant is a unique piece. The MUNTE design is part of a recurring collection, but each piece is assembled from a different Palazuelos variscite cabochon: the exact green, veins, and silhouette of the cabochon are unique to this piece.
About stone selection: each variscite cabochon undergoes visual verification of color, veins, and absence of treatments before being set in the workshop. The material comes from the historic Palazuelos deposit — important for a stone whose value also lies in its connection to a specific territory.
More about this stone: variscite — properties, meaning, and uses. See also: other artisanal pendants · silver jewelry.
