Type of Rocks:
We use the finest natural river rocks from all over America. Usually, about 20% of the rocks we bought are suitable for engraving.
Average Sizes
Between 2” and 14”
Colors and shape:
Colors can be black, gray, tan, blue, red, beige, purple or light sand. The availability depends on the inventory of suppliers.
No, there is no “magic machine” to do the trick as you might have imagined. To date, the engraving machines, even the most advanced laser equipments, are only capable of working on surfaces that are either smooth and flat or mechanically curved. Natural river rocks come in endless varieties of shapes, unpredictable density, uneven curvatures and porous surfaces, therefore, it is impossible to find a machine to engrave on such natural material. It simply does not exist. That’s why this craft is so rare.
Carving on river stones is an extremely challenging and long process of meticulous work. The following is a brief outline of the carving process. Approximately 40 steps are required to carve each stone regardless of the size.
- Find the most suitable stone for the project.
- Prepare the stone for engraving
- Prepare graphic & text
- Design the layout based on the shape and size of each stone
- Make one time use stencil for each stone
- Trace and carve the stone with a special hand tool
- Color fill-in by hand
- Inspect and retouch the fill-in
- Apply protective seal coating if needed
These time consuming steps exemplify an extraordinary combination of art, technology, craftsmanship and patience. A tiny mistake is all it takes to ruin the entire job. But once it’s done, your personalized gift will be a truly unique work of art that lasts forever. We think it’s worth the effort
