Your Jewelry Used to Be Alive?! | 6 Gemstones with Ancient Origins

 …and yes, you can wear a piece of a dinosaur.

Here’s a fun fact: not all gemstones are just “rocks”—some used to be alive. From ancient sea creatures to prehistoric trees and even dinosaurs, nature has a way of transforming the past into stunning wearable art. At Rare Earth and Precious Metals, George works with a range of these incredible materials to create one-of-a-kind jewelry that’s as rich in history as it is in beauty.

Let’s take a closer look at six stones George uses in his beautiful artwork that once lived and breathed (or swayed in the breeze underwater) millions of years ago:

 

 

🦖 Dinosaur Bone (aka Gembone)

Yes—real fossilized dinosaur bone. Millions of years ago these bones belonged to living, breathing creatures! As time passed, groundwater rich in minerals like silica, hematite, or jasper slowly replaced the organic bone structure, preserving its cellular pattern in stunning detail.

The result is a colorful, almost lace-like stone (called a trabecula pattern) that ranges from deep reds and blacks to purples, greens and oranges. No two are alike, and when polished, they create stunning pieces of jewelry that make a great conversation starter! 

 

 

🌲 Petrified Wood

Petrified wood forms when fallen trees are buried under volcanic ash or sediment and then soaked with mineral-rich water. The minerals replace the wood fibers cell by cell, turning the tree into stone—but preserving every ring, knot, and bark pattern.

Each piece is a literal snapshot of a tree that lived millions of years ago. Some have vibrant reds, browns, and yellows, while others shimmer with quartz and agate inclusions. It’s nature’s way of turning time into art.

 

 




🪸 Petrified Coral

Before it was fossilized, this gem was part of a living coral reef—full of tiny marine creatures called polyps. As the coral died and was buried under sediment, it fossilized over 20 to 30 million years. The beautiful flower-like patterns you see in Petrified Coral are the actual skeletal remains of the coral colony.

Colors vary from warm oranges and creams to grays and pinks, and each stone captures the intricate geometry of ancient sea life.

 

 

🌴 Petrified Palm Wood

This unique material comes from ancient palm trees that once grew in what is now the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. The dark, rod-like patterns you see in the stone are actually the vascular bundles that once carried water and nutrients through the tree.

Petrified Palm Wood has a striking contrast and a silky, dotted texture when polished. It’s officially the state fossil of Louisiana—because yes, that’s a thing!

 

 

🐚 Red Coral

Unlike fossilized materials, Red Coral is organic and harvested while still living—though sustainably sourced coral is now highly regulated. It’s the hard skeleton of tiny sea creatures called polyps that grow in branch-like structures on the ocean floor.

Polished Red Coral has been used in jewelry for thousands of years. Its bold red hue symbolizes passion and strength, and when set in silver or gold, it really makes a statement.

 

 

🌀 Petoskey Stone

This one is a Midwest favorite! Petoskey Stone is a fossilized coral that lived over 350 million years ago during the Devonian period, when much of North America was underwater. It's found mostly in Michigan, especially around Lake Michigan.

What makes it so special is its pattern—hexagonal coral heads that look like a honeycomb or flower garden frozen in stone. When polished, it takes on a soft, velvety appearance that’s unmistakably unique.

 

 

💍 Where Ancient Life Meets Modern Design

At Rare Earth and Precious Metals, George offers handcrafted jewelry made from all of these incredible materials—each one cut, polished, and set by hand with care and intention.

  • Want to wear a piece of the prehistoric past?

  • Looking for something truly one-of-a-kind?

  • Or maybe you have a fossil or stone of your own you'd love to turn into jewelry?

You’ll find ready-to-ship pieces in the online store, and George is always open to custom designs if you’re dreaming up something special.

Feel free to browse the shop or reach out directly—George loves working with these ancient materials and sharing their stories through jewelry that’s as timeless (and Rare! 😉) as the earth itself.

 

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