Jewelry From Horse Hooves? Equinite™ Takes Bling Into A Whole New Arena

July 25, 2012 - PRLog -- Horse hooves get trimmed every six to eight weeks, and the clippings are typically discarded or carried off by farm dogs as prized chew toys. However, Vermont jeweler Robert Merkert has seen the treasure in those trimmings, and his company Equinite™ is producing eye-catching ‘gems’ set into gold and sterling silver fittings, creating some unusual statement pieces for personal adornment. New offerings from Equinite include carved and engraved options that are now available via the company's e-commerce site at http://equinite.com.

In addition to smooth Equinite™ cabuchons, Merkert has developed new options that include:
- Carved pieces, such as an all-Equinite™ cross or ankh: and
http://equinite.com/products/Equinite-Ankh-with-sterling-silver-chain..html
- Etched or engraved pieces, allowing you to add text such as a message or name.

Other Equinite™ options include:
- Semiprecious and precious stones alongside the gems, such as a centered Equinite™ gem surrounded by diamonds or birthstones;
- Equinite™ gems with a tail hair accent that adds unique stripes; and
- Custom Equinite™ - gems and jewelry made from your own horse’s hoof trimmings.

One question that comes up is, if they’re from hoof clippings, don’t they smell? The answer is no; after being sterliized and processed, the gems are also sealed - there is absolutely no smell. Similar to pearls that come from oysters, the organic material in Equinite™ gems can be worn without concern for either odor or odd looks; no one will know it’s jewelry from a horse’s hoof...unless you tell them.

Equinite™ Gems are great as memorials and gifts; the most popular option at the Equinite™ website is Custom Equinite™ - gems from your own horse’s hooves. They even come with a certificate of authenticity, and the clippings are kept on file in case you ever want to have another piece made from them, such as a pair of earrings to match a pendant. One riding instructor client had gifts made of clippings from the ‘favorite horse’ in the barn, and gave jewelry to all her students as mementos.

Whether it’s for a memorial or a gift, a piece of one-of-a-kind Equinite™ Gems jewelry is one way to both remember a beloved horse and to stand out from the herd.

Visit http://equinite.com to learn more or to place an order. Free shipping to U.S. and Canadian addresses; international shipping available.
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The Story of Equinite™: Not long ago, jeweler Robert Merkert bought his daughter a horse. After a visit one day from the farrier (horseshoer), ‘horse dad’ Merkert noticed a shaft of sunlight glinting off the hoof leftovers laying on the stall floor. Most of us would see trash ready to sweep up; his jeweler’s eye noticed the depth and detail, the translucence and variety of color in those clippings. He started thinking....

After several months of trial and error, Merkert developed the proprietary process for creating a new ‘gemstone’ he’s named Equinite™. When finished, the gems resemble a piece of jasper or tiger’s eye. Now catching on in the horse world, Equinite™ offers horse lovers a chance to carry a piece of their favorite horse with them always.

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About Kemp Equine: An award-winning organization providing integrated marketing and public relations services to the equine industry. Publisher of the No Biz Like Horsebiz blog at http://kempequine.com.