Dinosaur Bone Ring Info

What Is It?

We use agatized dinosaur fossil for our Dinosaur bone rings. Agatized dinosaur bone is a rare form of fossilized dinosaur bone where the original fossilized bone has been re-mineralized, or replaced, with silica-based compounds, such as agate, jasper, chalcedony, or opal. It can be traced back to dinosaurs that roamed the earth during the late Jurassic Age around 150 million years ago.

Where Is It From?

Non-gem grade dinosaur bones can be found in many places all over the world. The highly agatized, uniquely patterned dinosaur bone used in our rings is found in the Four Corners region in the United States where Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado meet. The bulk of the dinosaur bone used in our rings were found in this area.

How Is It Formed?

Agatized dinosaur bone is a unique fossil where the original fossilized bone, typically permineralized with calcite, has been re-mineralized, or replaced, with silica-type compounds. This requires a particular type of environment, referred to as an aqueous intrusion, to replace the calcite in the original fossils with silicates. For an aqueous intrusion to occur, local strata layers must be uplifted during tertiary intrusions so that silica-rich, superheated groundwater can flood these layers and force water and aqueous solutions into the microporous fossilized bone. It is this rare process that transpired on the Colorado Plateau 35 million years ago that created the beautifully patterned agatized dinosaur bone now used in our rings.

Unique Characteristics

While we use fossils that are too small or broken to be used in museums as showpieces, dinosaur bone looks like a typical rock, coming in a variety of sizes, until it is cut and polished. The different colors and patterns in agatized dinosaur bone are caused by minerals such as chlorite, chromium, iron-oxide and manganese that enter the cells during fossil formation making each piece truly one-of-a-kind.

Technical Details

Dinosaur bone is a fossil, fossil is a rock, and rock is brittle. This is why we inlay the dinosaur bone as a crushed mosaic, rather than as an intact piece, ensuring a durable, wearable ring.

First, our master craftsmen crush the dinosaur bone into small pieces. Then, those pieces are inlaid into the groove of a band and sealed with a medical-grade resin. Lastly, the ring is sanded smooth and polished, giving it a final glossy appearance.

Benefits

• Sealed for water protection and durability.
• Variation between each mosaic makes every ring unique.
• 150-Million-year-old piece of history with variations between batches of crushed fossil, ensuring a truly one-of-a-kind ring.

Customization & Personalization

We produce styles incorporating dinosaur bone inlays in the center, off-center, or side of the ring in either contemporary or precious. Inlays start at 1 mm.

Wear & Care

We seal dinosaur bone inlays with a layer of resin to protect it from wear and water, however these rings should be treated as fine jewelry, and should be removed during harsh activities that could damage the ring.

Cleaning

Dinosaur Bone rings need no special care. As long as they don't contain meteorite, they can be cleaned with regular jewelry cleaner. If your ring does contain meteorite please refer to the meteorite cleaning instructions.

Is Dinosaur Bone Legal To Use In Jewelry?

In the United States, fossils are legal to own and distribute. A dedicated policy of ethics is followed to source dinosaur bone. No material is collected from state or federal lands and no specimens are damaged in order to extract the gemstone inside.