Ocean jasper is an orbicular chalcedony found only along a remote stretch of Madagascar's northwest coast, where the original deposit could famously be collected only at low tide. Its trademark is orbs: perfectly round circles and bull's-eyes in green, pink, white, yellow and cream, often mixed with druzy pockets of sparkling quartz. Those spheres formed as silica crystallised outward from countless tiny centres. The classic Marovato deposit is now worked out, which makes fine old material increasingly collectable.
Ocean jasper wears well, sitting at 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale with the good toughness typical of chalcedony. It is cut as cabochons, beads and polished slabs, with cutters chasing the most playful orb patterns. It suits pendants, rings and statement pieces, and honestly, half the joy is just staring into it. Care is easy: warm, soapy water and a soft brush. Its patterns are so distinctive that convincing fakes are rare, though other orbicular jaspers are sometimes borrowed under its name.
Fellow patterned jaspers and agates, each with a signature style of markings.
