R|R Fordite Collection

Reinstein|Ross is proud to introduce the R|R Fordite Collection.

Fordite, also known as Detroit Agate, is a fascinating and beautiful material – showing off layers of spectacular color. These “stones” were actually created by paint deposits, resulting from the hand spray-painting of American cars in the mid-twentieth century. Until the mid 70’s, and the development of electrostatic painting, automobile bodies were hand-sprayed. In order for the paint spray to cover the entire car body, a lot of the paint naturally missed the car body, and built up on walls, pipes, rails, skids and floors of the paint bays. As each car body was baked at high-heat, this “over-spray” build-up was hardened, with many of the deposits reaching over 100 layers thick.

As the build-up became too thick, it was chipped off and mostly discarded. Some of this “waste” was collected by people who saw beauty in the layers of psychedelic, metallic color. Since this material has been repeatedly baked and hardened, it can be cut and polished like a stone to create these truly American “gems”. It is now quite rare, and highly prized by collectors. Reinstein|Ross has acquired some beautiful “rough” material, and has had “stones” specially cut for us. Some of these fantastic specimens have been set in our workshop, to make a limited collection of cufflinks, earrings, and pendants. We also have a nice collection of unset pieces of Fordite that are ready to be made into custom jewelry of your choice – an amalgam of Americana, car culture, industry, recycling…and fine jewelry!

 

 

 

 

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