{"id":29498,"date":"2019-10-11T09:17:53","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T13:17:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=29498"},"modified":"2019-10-11T13:20:21","modified_gmt":"2019-10-11T17:20:21","slug":"petoskey-stones-jewelry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/petoskey-stones-jewelry\/","title":{"rendered":"PETOSKEY STONES & JEWELRY"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Petoskey<\/div>\n

Growing up in Michigan gives you plenty of opportunity to stick your feet in the sand<\/strong> and enjoy the great lakes.<\/p>\n

\nFor Michigan is not only full of the big 5<\/strong>, but they have over 11,000 lakes<\/strong> to be exact. So traveling around the mitten <\/strong>or the rabbit<\/strong>, you’ll see shores, beaches, sand dunes, lighthouses<\/strong>, and fish of all shapes and sizes. Not to mention rocks, shells, stones, and gemstones.<\/p>\n

\nAnd one of the most well known rocks is the Petoskey stone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nBut the funny thing is, it’s not really a rock, it’s a fossil<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nCoral fossil<\/strong>, 350 million years old (way before the dinosaur<\/strong>), with dark centers called polyp<\/strong>. These dots are often referred to as “eyes<\/strong>“, even though they are really the mouth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nThese stones can be found up and down the shallow waters of Lake Michigan<\/strong> and Lake Huron<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nNamed by Chief Petoskey<\/strong>, they have been an official state stone since 1965<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nAnother state stone is the Isle Royale Greenstone (Chlorastrolite<\/strong>), which is a bluish-green stone that resembles a turtle’s back<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nBut Petoskey is still the most popular, especially since you can find them yourself<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nWet stones are much easier to spot because of their light to dark gray coloring<\/strong>, so it shouldn’t take long to locate one, or a dozen. Spring is the best time for searching<\/strong>, since the ice pushes the rocks to shore. Just get the stones wet (bring a water bottle with you<\/strong>), or wait for a rain to uncover the cool patterns of Michigan’s historic past<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nPetoskey comes in many different shades as well, although more rare, you can find them in pinks<\/strong>, blues<\/strong>, and greens <\/strong>too.<\/p>\n

\nThese stones are often used for all sorts of interesting things, but none more stunning than jewelry; bracelets<\/strong>, pendants, charms<\/strong>, rings, watches<\/strong>, and more…<\/p>\n

\nShops in both Petoskey Michigan<\/strong>, and Mackinaw City<\/strong> have great varieties to choose from. It’s certainly a trip worth taking<\/strong> (and while you’re up there, take a tour boat through the Soo Locks<\/strong>, located in Sault Ste Marie Michigan; that’s incredible<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\nJewelers can easily create Petoskey stone jewelry with silver wire wrapping<\/strong>, cord, and findings, just like these beautiful pieces I purchased last week.<\/p>\n

\n\"Petoskey<\/p>\n

\nPlus, if you find your own stones (from Traverse City<\/strong> to Alpena <\/strong>and into the Upper Peninsula<\/strong>… YOOPER<\/strong>), you can buy jewelry kits<\/a> to make your own keepsakes.<\/p>\n

\n\"Unpolished<\/p>\n

\nShine up the stones with a polishing kit<\/a> (usually different thicknesses and coarseness of wet\/dry sandpaper<\/a>), coat them with clear nail polish<\/strong>, and dive into the wonderful world of fossils, rocks, and Petoskey.<\/p>\n

\n\"Petoskey<\/p>\n

\nMichigan is known for many things (like the Fudge in Mackinaw City<\/strong>), and Petoskey is at the top of the must-do list.<\/p>\n

\nPlus, a piece of trivia; many Petoskey stones will glow in the dark<\/strong>. Just put a blacklight<\/a> on them to see them illuminate<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The best locations for Petoskey:<\/h2>\n

\n(Ideal, secret searching spots…)<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n