From the Depths of History: Big Blue Treasures Brings Ancient Relics to Life Through Timeless Jewelry

Have you ever daydreamed about searching the vast ocean floor for ancient relics and treasures and having your discoveries presented to awestruck historians and passionate enthusiasts? Mel King did, and Big Blue Wreck Salvage (BBWS), Inc. was founded in 1989 as a culmination of this lifelong passion for history and discovery. Where BBWS supports commercial salvage operations and provides brokerage services for recovered artifacts and treasures, Big Blue Treasures, LLC, bridges those efforts to share history and timeless artifacts with the public and collectors.

As a kid, King’s excavation of 1800s and post-Civil War artifacts from farms in North Carolina connected him to his ancestors and sparked his historical passion. He later relocated to Florida to be closer to shipwreck salvage activities, where he spent his spare time diving and recovering pieces of shipwreck treasure to research and restore. 

For over 25 years, BBWS has specialized in authentic Spanish Colonial coins and shipwreck-recovered artifacts. Their vault contains one-of-a-kind items such as shipwreck-recovered Spanish “pieces of eight,” gold doubloons, nautical antiques, and ancient Greek and Roman coins from digs. They are currently working on recovering artifacts from the 1715 Fleet, a fleet of eleven Spanish galleons that wrecked off Florida's Atlantic coast during a hurricane. In the summer of 2015, during the 300th anniversary of the fleet’s sinking, King and his wife and partner, Faye Asano, witnessed and participated in one of the most significant and largest gold coin finds in Florida over the past 30 years. The crew brought aboard 301 gold doubloons in a single day. 

Through Big Blue Treasures, founders King and Asano create signature unique and one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry from these authentic historical artifacts. Most of the selected coins are individually forged by hand, some dating as far back as 450 B.C. Their vast coin collection represents a true cross-section of humanity and includes Biblical, Old-World coins, and Japanese Samurai-era pieces. All of their relics contain lessons as valuable as the coins themselves about history, science, art, and culture. When incorporated in custom handcrafted jewelry, these treasures transform into a cherished, a timeless way to display, share, and preserve their unique history.

Big Blue Treasures revels in sharing its passion for history through rare relics that connect personally with the interests of both first-time buyers and avid collectors. Whether rich with the rituals of ancient cultures, religious expression through Biblical relics, or staple foundations of historical eras emblazoned on coinage, its exquisite offerings afford Big Blue Treasures the satisfaction of pairing its customers with authentic pieces of history particularly meaningful to them as heirloom-quality treasures of their own. 

Big Blue Treasures’ products are displayed at trade shows throughout the year, including the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase, Denver Gem & Mineral (Fall) Showcase, and through their online shop. For detailed information about their various show locations and dates, visit Xpo Press’ Big Blue Treasures LLC profile page. The page also contains contact information, photos, and website links.