🟣 Smokey Purple Velvet Obsidian Rough – Old Stock Chatoyant Cutter
This piece of Velvet Obsidian displays a rare smokey purple flow running through the body of the stone. At 11 oz, it’s sized perfectly for slabbing on a 10-inch saw, making it an excellent choice for producing unique cabbing slabs. The rich internal movement and old stock provenance make this a beautiful and versatile cutter.
🔹 Key Features
Material & Origin: Velvet Obsidian, 100% natural, Mexico
Dimensions (Inches): ~3.6″ × 2.5″ × 2.3″
Weight: ~11 oz (approximate)
Unique Characteristics: Smokey purple coloration with internal flow, ideal size for slabbing or display
(You will receive the exact piece shown in photos.)
📝 Material Overview, History, and Geology
Mexican Velvet Obsidian is a rare and captivating variety of obsidian known for its velvety chatoyance and flashes of color—often appearing in rich green, gold, purple, and multicolor hues when turned under light. Once imported in bulk during the mid-1900s, this material is now extremely limited, with most available pieces being old stock from the 1960s or earlier.
This obsidian gets its name from the soft, shimmering effect that resembles velvet—making it a favorite among lapidary artists and obsidian collectors. When cut and polished, it produces fantastic cabochons that stand out for their unique reflective sheen and smooth cutting quality.
Today, the original mine is largely tapped out, and only a small amount of Velvet Obsidian circulates on the market, with most fresh material being smaller trimmers and tumbling rough. If you're lucky enough to find a slab or chunk, it’s worth grabbing—this material is gorgeous, rare, and highly collectible.
📏 Additional Notes
Natural Stone: This is a piece of unpolished rough stone, and natural features such as fractures, pits, and inclusions are expected. These are not flaws, but part of its natural history.
Photos: All photos are taken wet to demonstrate how colors and patterns appear when polished. This stone is not polished. Please review all photos carefully before purchasing.
Collector’s Highlight
A manageable cutter of old stock Velvet Obsidian with a rare smokey purple flow—ideal for slabbing on a 10″ saw into standout cabochons.
