Pallasites are the most beautiful objects in meteoritics and Olwen Vale is among the most beautiful pallasites. They form at the boundary between a small planet's molten metal core and its rocky mantle — gem-quality olivine crystals suspended in nickel-iron, a mixture that should not survive but did. Cut a slice thin, put a light behind it, and the olivine glows translucent amber and honey-green like stained glass.
Our slices are cut to around three millimetres, thin enough to backlight, and stabilised against the cracking and rust that ruin lesser pallasites. The olivine on this material runs to a warm gold-green with unusually few fractures, and the metal takes a bright etch. Displayed on a small light stand it is, frankly, the finest thing most collections will ever hold.
It earns our highest grade, 9.6. The only marks against it are practical: pallasite is fragile, it is expensive, and it demands humidity control. Buy one only when you are ready to look after it — and then never tire of showing it off.
