If you thought fossils were just for geeks, you’d better
think again.
Where you used to only see dinosaurs
behind glass in museums or shark teeth on the dusty shelves of teenagers’
bedrooms, you are now just as likely to see a beautiful ammonite in the living
room of a cosy country cottage or as a centre piece in the trendiest London
apartment.
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| Fossils on display as ornaments |
With this in mind, I recently returned to a shop I
discovered a few years ago on the Isle of Wight, Jurassic Jim’s fossil shop in
Shanklin. I was looking for a different
kind of gift; you know the kind you don’t normally get on the high street; something
unique but not too expensive for a recipient that I knew wasn’t a fossil
collector.
As I entered the shop I was greeted with thousands of
fossils, natural history collectables, artefacts and gifts and I knew that
among the coloured crystals and displays of polished fossils and gemstone
jewellery, I’d find the ideal gift.
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| Jurassic Jim's Shop |
The shop still had all the collectable fossils from the Isle
of Wight and around the world. Baskets
of shark teeth and hand sized ammonites piled high, detailed fossil fish on
limestone beds and delicately prepared trilobites which ranged from mouse size to
some larger than a dinner plate.
Coloured agate slices for craft work dangled from the
ceiling and crystal selenite mountains towered over vibrant coloured geodes.
From the centre of the shop I was welcomed by Jurassic Jim
himself, a man so passionate about fossils and knowledgeable about his stock
that he’ll spend hours telling stories about everything in the shop. He’s so helpful that you’ll know more about
your purchase than anything else you own.
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| Inside Jurassic Jim's Shop |
Jim helped me select the perfect polished ammonite for my
friend but of course I can’t tell you how much it was in case she’s reading this
post but what I can tell you is that Jurassic Jim’s prices are so reasonable
that you could not only start your fossil collection in his shop but almost
complete it too. This Tardis like emporium
has so much variety; it’s like going on a fossil hunt indoors.
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| A selection of fossils from inside the shop |
Jurassic Jim was recently voted as ‘the best shop to pick up
that something special’ by visitors to the Isle of Wight and listed as the number
1 shop on the Isle of Wight by Trip Advisor.
If you’re looking for a cool and original shopping experience in a magical world of reality head to Jurassic Jim’s on the High Street in Shanklin.
Have you ever visited Jurassic Jim's shop? - I'd love to know what you thought of it.
If you’re looking for a cool and original shopping experience in a magical world of reality head to Jurassic Jim’s on the High Street in Shanklin.
Have you ever visited Jurassic Jim's shop? - I'd love to know what you thought of it.
