Seymchan in Jewelry — Pallasite, Slice Patterns and Care

A cut surface of Seymchan shows olivine grains in a metallic matrix. Prepared areas of metal reveal intersecting bands. Some areas are almost entirely metal; elsewhere, the mineral fills much of the surface. Choosing a piece means looking at that particular slice. The meteorite's name alone will not tell you which pattern will sit inside the setting.

Seymchan is a main-group pallasite found in 1967, with olivine held in a metallic matrix. STRUGA uses it in pendants, MOSAIC inlays and as an option for DARK UNION. A new piece starts with the form and available slice through Custom Order; the two Seymchan necklaces listed in the catalogue belong to the archive. Keep the slice dry and avoid abrasive cleaning.

Updated October 25, 2026

• What is Seymchan pallasite, and why use it in jewelry?
• What does the name Seymchan identify?
• Why do Seymchan slices look different?
• How does the slice become part of a STRUGA design?
• Which Seymchan pieces are listed in the catalogue?
• How do you distinguish meteorite from an imitation?
• How do the silver and meteorite change with wear?
• Meteorite, carbon or a raw crystal?
• Can you commission Seymchan wedding rings?
• How do you care for meteorite jewelry?
• Where can you explore pieces and discuss a new slice?
• Frequently asked questions

What is Seymchan pallasite, and why use it in jewelry?

A pallasite is a stony-iron meteorite with olivine in a metallic matrix. A thin section shows two different responses to light: the metal reflects it, while translucent grains let it through. The material can become the main visual element of a piece without an ornament being added over it.

Seymchan names a material rather than a shape. In STRUGA’s archived necklaces, it is combined with asymmetric geometry. The related form can be seen without meteorite in Asymmetric Bloody, which combines carbon and silver. For a new commission, the slice pattern and the outline of the setting are considered together.

Iron meteorites such as Gibeon are known for their metal structure. Pallasites add a mineral to that surface. Seymchan belongs to this group, although its earliest studied specimens were classified as iron meteorites. Research presented in 2007 linked the metal-rich and olivine-bearing specimens by their composition and identified Seymchan as a main-group pallasite. Read the Meteoritical Society paper on the specimens.

The Natural History Museum's guide to meteorite types explains the wider distinction between iron, stony and stony-iron material. This page concentrates on Seymchan and choosing a slice. For the broader comparison of meteorites and jewelry forms, see the meteorite jewelry guide; for material terminology, see the meteorite Atlas.

What does the name Seymchan identify?

Seymchan is the name of a particular meteorite found in 1967. It is not a general name for patterned metal. Its official classification is main-group pallasite, as recorded in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database.

Meteorites preserve material from the early Solar System. A find date is different from a fall date, however, and the age of the Solar System does not date each individual metal pattern. For choosing a piece, the useful detail is visible: Seymchan contains both olivine-rich areas and metal-rich regions without olivine. Those differences shape the finished slice.

Why do Seymchan slices look different?

The Widmanstätten pattern appears when the metallic surface is prepared and etched. Its intersecting bands follow a structure that developed as the metal cooled slowly. It is not an engraving added to the finished plate.

In Seymchan, the distribution of olivine adds a second source of variation. Researchers describe large metal veins and regions with different grain sizes and mineral proportions. Cutting through another plane reveals a different part of that structure. A photograph of the actual fragment is therefore more useful than a promise that it will look exactly like a sample.

How does the slice become part of a STRUGA design?

STRUGA uses one meteorite: Seymchan. It appears in pendants and MOSAIC inlays, and can be considered for a DARK UNION commission. For the international market, STRUGA objects are made in Bali.

The silver part follows its own sequence: wax model, silicone mould, 925 silver and hand finishing. The slice is considered alongside the proportions of the piece: how much remains visible, how large the pattern will appear and where the surface will sit against the body.

A broad pendant offers more space for a pattern; a small inlay reveals a fragment of it. An open construction can let light through the olivine. The same slice looks different in transmitted light and when worn against clothing. Photographs of both sides and of the piece being worn help establish those differences before the form is agreed.

Which Seymchan pieces are listed in the catalogue?

The two catalogued Seymchan necklaces are archive pieces. They show how materials have been combined. The form and available fragment are agreed separately for a new commission. Their listed 80 g is the weight of the whole necklace, not the meteorite alone.

Past pieces sit in the archive. For a new Seymchan pendant or ring, Custom Order begins with the form, size and available fragment. Paired wedding and vow rings follow the Dark Union route. Material, price and timing are confirmed for the individual design; the price of an archived necklace is not a quotation for a new one.

How do you distinguish meteorite from an imitation?

Start with the named material: Seymchan, a main-group pallasite found in 1967. Then look closely at the metal bands and the boundaries of the olivine grains. The photograph should show the slice itself as well as the overall piece.

A magnet is attracted to Seymchan's metallic portion, but magnetic attraction alone does not distinguish meteorite from terrestrial metal. Pattern and composition have to be considered alongside origin. The US Geological Survey explains that reliable identification requires examination of the specimen. Acid, scratching and grinding are unsuitable home tests for a finished piece: they damage the surface.

How do the silver and meteorite change with wear?

Living Silver is 925 silver without rhodium plating. It develops patina: friction lightens raised edges while recesses darken. Silver oxidized during finishing arrives dark; that is a separate treatment.

The meteorite behaves differently. Its iron-bearing surface needs dry storage; rust on a slice is different from silver patina. Care for the complete piece therefore has to account for the inlay. A product suitable for plain silver should not be applied to Seymchan.

Seymchan suits someone interested in the material's internal pattern and origin who is comfortable removing jewelry before water exposure. For a piece to keep on in the shower, sea or damp conditions, choose another material and construction. Its geological history does not remove those everyday requirements.

Meteorite, carbon or a raw crystal?

Begin with the surface you want to look at. Seymchan offers metal bands and olivine; carbon has layers of matte composite; a raw stone retains the shape of its crystal. Comparing particular pieces is more useful than arranging the materials on a general scale of rarity.

For finished designs without meteorite, compare Fused Mini Line Bloody, which combines carbon and silver, with the blackened silver of Asymmetric Destroyed. These are separate pieces. Their photographs help establish whether layered material, an elongated outline or the metal surface matters most to you.

Can you commission Seymchan wedding rings?

Meteorite can be considered as an inlay for a Dark Union pair. The discussion starts with ring profiles, sizes and the position of the fragments. If you want visually related slices, include that in the brief; an exact match between patterns is not promised in advance.

STRUGA specializes in silver. Another metal, including gold, can be requested for an individual commission. The general guide is 2–4 weeks from sketch approval, often sooner; timing for a particular pair depends on its form, materials and workload. The Thorn Ring offers a separate look at a silver ring's form; the piece on that card contains no meteorite.

How do you care for meteorite jewelry?

Keep the slice dry and protect its prepared surface. Research on museum storage links moisture to corrosion in iron-bearing meteorites. A Natural History Museum conservator's study examines the process in a Canyon Diablo specimen. It concerns a different meteorite, but illustrates why damp storage is unsuitable for iron-bearing material.

1. Remove the piece before showering, swimming, going into the sea or exercising.
2. If the slice gets wet, blot it gently with a soft dry cloth and allow it to dry fully.
3. Keep it in a dry place, separate from damp belongings.
4. Do not rub the meteorite with polishing paste or immerse the piece in silver cleaner.
5. If orange spots or a surface change appear, send STRUGA a photograph through the contact page before cleaning.

Wipe silver areas gently and separately from the inlay. STRUGA provides free lifetime cleaning and minor repairs for its silver; work on a particular meteorite slice is discussed according to its condition. The silver care guide covers the metal in more detail.

Where can you explore pieces and discuss a new slice?

The meteorite selection introduces the material, necklaces and pendants show finished forms, and rings show proportions on the hand. Begin a new Seymchan piece through Custom Order, or a pair of rings through Dark Union.

For Bali purchases, the stockist page lists STRUGA's points of sale; ask about a particular piece before visiting. For a commission, send a photograph of the slice you like, the type of piece, size and budget. The discussion can then start with a concrete decision: which area remains visible, and how it will look when worn. Read more in the STRUGA story.