DVH Rare Black Onyx Michigan Fordite Crown of Silver Sheen Polished Specimen Rough (6230)
This is a polished-face specimen of rare Black Fordite rough with sparkling highlights and a silvery-gray luster. Visually, it resembles a synthetic cross between Black Onyx, Silver Sheen Obsidian, and Crown of Silver Psilomelane. This contemporary Fordite formed from accumulated paint overspray at a factory in southeast Michigan that manufactures automotive components. Because this facility painted primarily bumpers and grilles, the resulting material is limited to a striking palette of black, silvery luster, and white. This is an uncommon colorway of Fordite that relatively few cutters have access to.
The piece ships in a gift box with a Certificate of Authenticity describing the source of the material. Please use the image next to the ruler for size reference. This is not finished jewelry, but it could be wire-wrapped or further shaped by a lapidary. In my other listings, you’ll find Fordite beads, pendants, earrings, cabochons, and polished-face specimens made from a variety of sources, including Corvette, Kenworth Trucks, Jeep Wrangler, GM, and Ford truck and passenger vehicle factories.
Fordite is accumulated overspray from the paint booths of automotive factories, which I cut and polish using traditional lapidary techniques. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind record of industrial process, color history, and repeated curing cycles.
I have over four decades of experience crafting unique Fordite pieces. Contrary to the long-held belief that new Fordite rough is nearly impossible to find due to modern manufacturing changes, some contemporary material is still available to lapidary artists like myself. My collection comes from a very small number of trusted, reputable dealers whose material I have known for years, ensuring authenticity and clear provenance. When considering Fordite, it’s important to distinguish genuine automotive material from the many imitations now flooding the market—resin blends, layered craft paints, and mass-produced composites with no real connection to automotive history. I stand firmly behind the authenticity of every piece I create.
My journey with Fordite began in the 1970s through my local Michigan rock club. At that time, rockhounds employed in the auto industry would salvage chunks of dried, layered paint from factory spray booths—a practice dating back to the late 1960s. Repeatedly baked in curing ovens, this overspray paint developed remarkable hardness and stability. It was known by many names—Fordite, Chryslerite, Buickite, Detroit Agate—but over time, Fordite became the most widely recognized and enduring term.
I also invite you to explore the metaphysical qualities often associated with Fordite. Celebrated for its creative and expressive energy, Fordite symbolizes transformation and resilience—beauty born from challenge and industrial history. Its layered patterns evoke movement, innovation, and joy, while its recycled origin reflects themes of sustainability, mindful consumption, and upcycling. Long cherished by collectors, Fordite is sometimes associated with “new car energy” and used as a talisman for safe travel and inspired motion. As with all metaphysical interpretations, experiences vary—trust your own intuition and connection to discover how this material may support your journey.
More will be revealed. — DVHdesigns
