Put simply: rarity, relative inaccessibility and rigorous lapidary skill. And that's all prior to the painstaking process of designing and crafting a piece of Kentucky agate jewelry.

Although agate can be found in myriad locations around the world, there are only six counties in Kentucky where these beautiful banded gemstones have been discovered. And although agate, a form of quartz, can display a vast array of colors, the specimens found in Kentucky typically contain the captivating yellow, black, gray and pink from the spectrum but also the highly prized red. This is what sets Kentucky agate apart from the rest.

It's fitting that nature should hide the beauty of agate inside geodes. What the casual observer sees as a dull rock, the knowledgeable agate hunter banks on seeing those characteristic curved bands of color inside. But for every lucky find, there are countless hours of combing river beds that yield nothing but fruitless effort. Moreover, most sites where Kentucky agate has been found are on private property, so permission must be sought before any searching may begin.

To display agate's charms to their fullest requires precision in cutting and polishing the gemstone. This is a meticulous process, using diamond saws and taking many hours, and even with the utmost care some specimens wind up pulverized owing to fractures. To take full advantage of the fascinating patterns of agate, jewelry artist Rachel Savané designs some gemstones herself as inspiration takes hold of her art. Rachel endeavors to enhance the natural beauty of Kentucky agate in her wearable creations.