WOOD YOU LOOK AT THAT?

There’s a saying that innovation is born out of desperation. Petrified wood jewelry is a prime example.  

“Lately, I’ve been on the lookout for petrified wood jewelry pieces,” Cheryl said. “I like the earthiness of the colors, I think it adds an element of variety to our go-to turquoises and corals, and I’m fascinated by the formation and the history behind it.”

Petrified wood is technically a fossil in which the actual wood properties have been replaced by crystalized minerals (think agate and quartz, and in rare occasions, opal) to create stone formations that are many million years old and absolutely stunning. As is often the case with naturally-formed creations, each individual piece is unique, there are no two alike.

Ironically, the use of petrified wood in jewelry pieces originated during the Depression, a bit of a make-do solution to the financial hardships as well as a shortage of turquoise after the influx of copper mining during the war. Silversmiths and jewelry artisans fashioned petrified wood into everything from earrings to necklaces to statement cuffs accented by ornate sterling silver, and they were able to continue their trade, even when times were tough. However, in later and more recent years, they’ve become highly coveted collectible pieces due to their rarity and inherent one-of-a-kind beauty.