Fossil jewellery: what it really is, and why it matters
When people first discover fossil jewellery, they usually ask the same three questions:
Is it real? Is it ethical? And why would someone choose fossil over a traditional gemstone?
This post is my attempt to answer those questions honestly, and to explain why fossil jewellery sits at the very centre of what Vestis Studios exists to create.
What is fossil jewellery?
Fossil jewellery uses genuine prehistoric material — most commonly dinosaur bone, ancient marine fossils, or meteorites — that has been carefully cut, stabilised, and set into wearable pieces.
These are not replicas or symbolic materials.
They are fragments of once-living organisms that have spent millions of years slowly mineralising underground. Over time, the original organic structure is replaced by stone, preserving the microscopic structure of the bone or shell itself.
In practical terms, this means that when you wear a fossil ring or pendant, you are wearing material that is typically between 65 and 200 million years old.
That fact alone is what draws most people in.
Is fossil jewellery authentic?
This is the most important question.
Every fossil used at Vestis Studios is genuine.
The materials are sourced from reputable suppliers who work with legally excavated fossil deposits, primarily from well-known formations such as the Morrison Formation, the Hell Creek Formation, and the Kem Kem Beds. Before any material is used, it is assessed for: Provenance (where it comes from) – Structure and internal pattern – Stability for jewellery use
Dinosaur bone, for example, has a distinctive internal lattice structure formed by mineralised blood vessels and bone cells. Under magnification, this structure is unmistakable and is how specialists differentiate real fossil bone from stone, resin, or modern substitutes.
Is fossil jewellery ethical?
This is another question I take seriously.
The fossils used in jewellery are not taken from museum specimens, protected sites, scientifically significant skeletons, or exploitative sellers.
They come from fragmented, surplus material recovered during commercial excavations — pieces that are unsuitable for academic study, but perfect for preservation in another form.
In many cases, if these fragments were not used, they would simply be discarded.
Fossil jewellery is, in that sense, a form of preservation.
Not removing history from the world — but allowing a tiny part of it to continue existing in a new way.
Why people choose fossil jewellery.
Most jewellery marks a moment.
An engagement. An anniversary. A personal milestone.
Fossil jewellery adds another layer to that.
It connects a moment in your life to a timeline that stretches far beyond it.
People often tell me they choose fossil jewellery because:
They like owning something genuinely rare – They value materials with a story – They want something no one else is likely to have – They are drawn to science, nature, or time.
It is not about novelty. It is about perspective.
Why Vestis Studios works with fossils
I’m a scientist by training, working in food allergens and authenticity testing by day.
That background shapes how I approach materials.
I care about provenance. I care about verification. I care about honesty in what something claims to be.
Vestis Studios exists to bring that mindset into jewellery.
The designs are deliberately minimal. The metals are chosen for durability. The fossils are integrated quietly, not used as decoration, but as a trace.
Every piece is made by hand in a small UK studio. No factory line. No mass production. No trend-driven collections.
How to care for fossil jewellery
Fossil is a natural, ancient material, and it should be treated with care.
A few simple rules: Avoid heavy manual labour while wearing fossil jewellery – Remove before swimming, showering, or using chemicals – Store separately from harder jewellery
At Vestis Studios, I offer lifetime repairs on all fossil inlay pieces.
These materials are rare and finite.
They deserve to be looked after.
A final thought
Most materials in jewellery are chosen for beauty. Fossils are chosen for meaning.
They remind us how small we are. How brief our lives are. And how remarkable it is that we can carry a fragment of time with us at all.
That is why fossil jewellery exists.
And that is why Vestis Studios exists to make it.