The Weirdest Things in Jewelry Stores Right Now

What’s the weirdest thing in your store right now?

That’s what we asked jewelers in January’s Brain Squad survey. And with answers ranging from petrified dinosaur poop to glass eye rings, unsellable tooth-shaped pearls to an elf named “Bling Crosby,” independent jewelers once again prove they’re anything but boring. And that’s not all — we got concrete hippos, Festivus poles, dead frog mascots and a surprising number of jewelers who simply answered “Me.” Prepare to be amused, confused and slightly disturbed.

• “A lady keeps trying to sell me a ring that is made from a glass eye (actual glass eye) that was made for someone but never used as an eye. She had it made into a ring and wants to sell it. Gross.” — Susan K., Lewisburg, PA
• “Elf on the shelf (nicknamed ‘Bling Crosby’) hanging sideways from an ornament hanging above our colored stone case … he doesn’t look comfortable…” — Tom N., Spencer, IA
• “An 18k gold ring with a large rough pearl that looks like a tooth. We’ve had it since the 90s — we can’t sell it. No one wants it despite the fact that it’s practically scrap value but my partner refuses to scrap it! I’m pretty sure I’m taking this hideous thing to my grave.” — Becky B., Peabody, MA
• “I have a specimen of petrified dinosaur poop a salesman left for us to consider partnering with him in cutting and fashioning into a variety of shapes and sizes and marketing it in a ring/pendant for the man/woman who has everything. It reminds me of the ‘Pet Rock’ craze.” — Dennis P., Johnstown, PA
• “My great-great-great-grandfather’s muzzle-loading rifle and my daughter’s 30-year-old Elmo doll.” — Bob M., Barrington, IL

“Probably the several dozen enamel clown post earrings I got from a going-out-of-business vintage/thrift store. I have them in a small pirate-looking treasure chest with a big ‘FREE’ sign on them, and they’re not moving very fast. Clowns — either people love them or they’re terrified of them!” — Janne E., Cocoa, FL

• “A rock that says ‘Jesus.’ And an itty bitty plastic doll that looks like Jesus. Don’t get me wrong, I love Jesus a lot, but these appeared at two separate times and we just let them hang around … they sit by the plastic bird that chirps if you bump it by accident.” — Erika G., Kearney, NE
• “Dead frog mascot who hitched a ride from FL when I moved here.” — Monica L., Fond du Lac, WI
• “A little broom our previous owner used to turn the open sign on and off with. She used to tell customers that the broom was her ‘ride to work every day.'” — Cole R., Bradenton, FL
• “A giant 6-foot snowman made from shipping noodles.” — Kevin K., Peoria, IL
• “Big concrete hippo with a pink bow.” — Jan C., Muscle Shoals, AL