SharkIslandJewelers

Shark Island Jewelers

Gastonia, North Carolina 640 Sales On Etsy since 2009

5 out of 5 stars (198)

SharkIslandJewelers

Shark Island Jewelers

Gastonia, North Carolina | 640 Sales

5 out of 5 stars (198)

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Mark

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Mark

Announcement    * * * I HAVE BEEN DIVING AND COLLECTING FOSSILS FOR 35 YEARS .* * *
Fossil Diver , Jeweler - Consulting with Paleontologists and Museums in identifying shark teeth for over 35 years.
How did I become a jewelry maker and designer? For 35 years fossil collecting has been my passion. It all started when I made myself a pendant to show off a beautiful tooth I had found. Shortly after people who have bought and traded fossils with me would ask if some of their items could be made into wearable art. About 30 years ago my work was all done at my dinning room table and a few hand tools. Now there is a full working shop in my home that allows for the creation of all sorts of wonderful "one of a kind" pendants.
> If you have a gift shop or do arts and craft shows and may be interested in some items please feel free to contact me to work out wholesale prices. <
Thanks,
Mark

Announcement

Last updated on Apr 26, 2019

* * * I HAVE BEEN DIVING AND COLLECTING FOSSILS FOR 35 YEARS .* * *
Fossil Diver , Jeweler - Consulting with Paleontologists and Museums in identifying shark teeth for over 35 years.
How did I become a jewelry maker and designer? For 35 years fossil collecting has been my passion. It all started when I made myself a pendant to show off a beautiful tooth I had found. Shortly after people who have bought and traded fossils with me would ask if some of their items could be made into wearable art. About 30 years ago my work was all done at my dinning room table and a few hand tools. Now there is a full working shop in my home that allows for the creation of all sorts of wonderful "one of a kind" pendants.
> If you have a gift shop or do arts and craft shows and may be interested in some items please feel free to contact me to work out wholesale prices. <
Thanks,
Mark

Reviews

Average item review
5 out of 5 stars
(198)
See reviews that mention:
quality 27 shipping 55 customer service 42

About

  • Beautiful Turquoise cabochon set with Sterling Silver.
  • Here you see a Chinese Picture Jasper gem stone held in place with a 14K Gold filled band.
  • This pendant is made from a gorgeous piece of Senora Sunrise Jasper and fitted with a Gold band.
  • Just one of my many fossil finds. A Carcharodon Megalodon shark tooth measuring 5 inches long.
  • A fossil tooth from the Giant extinct shark called Carcharodon Megalodon who grew to lengths of 65 feet .

One Man Searching for the Past

My name is Mark and I have been diving for fossils for 35 years. I took up scuba diving long ago just so that I could pursue my hobby and have made countless dives in the Gulf of Mexico, rivers and creeks in SW Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
I started my shop from requests of dive buddies who would ask me to make some of their fossils into jewelry for them to wear.
I enjoyed turning objects that could only be seen in Museums into pendants that could be worn and appreciated by everyone. People seemed to really enjoy telling their friends and co-workers about the very unique piece of jewelry they were wearing , telling of its history and age the type of animal the fossil came from. I have since branched out using all types of gemstones in my jewelry creations. Not wanting to cover the beautiful stone with cross sections of wire I came up with a way to keep the pendant clean yet secure. I devised several types of homemade cutting tools with a diamond blades to cut a channel into the side of the stone and form a heave gauge Silver or Gold band into the channel holding the stone securely and allowing it to be seen for its natural beauty. This is by far not the easiest way to make jewelry but I guess I really enjoy that it is so unique.
Thank you for visiting my shop.
Mark

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Shop members

  • Mark Merrill

    Owner

    I am a scuba diver who is addicted to hunting for the lost remains of ancient animals and artifacts in the dark waters of Florida rivers and creeks. I started 35 years ago collecting and have been creating Jewelry from my finds ever since.

  • Molly

    Assistant

    This is Molly. She is a mixed breed mostly Rhodesian Ridge-back. She is always there to keep me company while I work on my jewelry creations, clean my latest fossil finds and get me dive gear ready for the next fossil hunting excursion.

Shop policies

Last updated on June 26, 2016
How did I become a jewelry maker and designer? For 30 years fossil collecting has been my passion. Many people who have bought and traded fossils with me would ask if some of the items could be made into wearable art. About 15 years ago it all started with the dinning room table and a few hand tools. Now there is a full working shop that allows for the creation of all sorts of wonderful "one of a kind" pendants. If you should be interested in some fossil items please feel free to contact me.
Thanks,
Mark

Accepted payment methods

Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
Returns and exchanges
" I want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase " .
If you are not happy with your item please return it within 5 days and you will have the purchase price refunded. (You must email me prior to the return.)
Shipping
Items will be shipped within 2 business days after of receiving full payment.