Natural Moldavite | 2.87g | Nesmen Les

This 2.87g natural Moldavite from Nesmen Les has a wonderfully layered appearance, with broad overlapping formations that give the specimen an almost leaf-like, folded structure. Rather than being dominated by sharp spikes, this piece draws attention to its sweeping surface patterns and substantial three-dimensional relief.

Across the centre, the glass forms a network of deeply etched channels and flowing, feather-like grooves. These textures are bordered by raised plates and irregular ridges, creating distinct levels across the surface. Around the perimeter, thinner translucent sections contrast beautifully with the heavier central mass.

Its colour moves through several shades of green. Fresh olive and moss-green tones are especially visible through the thinner upper areas, while the deeper folds develop into a rich forest green. When light enters from behind or below, the specimen becomes noticeably more luminous, revealing just how translucent the natural glass is beneath its darker surface appearance.

The physics of the stone plays an important part in this effect. Moldavite is transparent to translucent natural glass, so its apparent darkness depends strongly on thickness and the path that light takes through it. Light passes relatively easily through thin edges, making them glow, whereas the thicker centre absorbs and scatters more of that light and therefore appears darker. Its multitude of curved and angled surfaces also redirects light, creating flashes of reflection across the raised ridges and shadows inside the deeper channels.

The result is a specimen that can look remarkably different simply by changing the viewing angle or lighting—a particularly attractive characteristic of this piece.

Nesmen Les, with les meaning “forest” in Czech, is one of the celebrated Moldavite localities of South Bohemia. Material from this area can be difficult to recover, and the locality is especially appreciated for specimens showing strong natural etching and elaborate surface sculpture.

This 2.87g piece captures that character beautifully: layered rather than uniform, richly textured rather than smooth, and filled with changing shades of green as light moves through it.

What is Moldavite & where is it from?

Moldavite is a rare tektite or meteoric glass, caused by an asteroid impact 15 million years ago. The intense, 10,000°C+ temperatures of the strike vapourised the asteroid, target rock and sand, flinging the molten substance high into the atmosphere.

From the impact zone in Germany some 300km away, it landed back to earth in what is now the Czech Republic and as it flew, it cooled and solidified into translucent green, glass-like droplets of various shapes and sizes.

It is said that only 1% of what had originally fallen is still intact to this day and the estimates of the total amount of Moldavite remaining is under 300 tonnes. In comparison with gold or diamonds, this makes Moldavite 1000x rarer.

99% of all Moldavite is found in a small area in the southern part of the Czech Republic. It can be found on the surface but the highly prized, well-preserved specimens are found up to 6 metres underground.

Moldavite NZ

Moldavite NZ is a small family business and collectors hub based in New Zealand. We are the only exclusive Moldavite dealer in the Southern Hemisphere. We source all of our Moldavite directly through our family and trusted contacts in the Czech Republic. All of our Moldavite and jewellery is guaranteed for authenticity by a 100% money-back guarantee.