Here's how you can win a Herkimer Diamond ring this Valentine's Day

Jeweler Fred Weisser has been working with Herkimer diamonds for years.

The stone, which is actually a double-terminated quartz crystal found in Herkimer County, has long been requested by those either intrigued by the unique stone, believe it has special properties or want a precious gem that's cheaper than a traditional diamond, Weisser said.

When Rock & Gem magazine interviewed Weisser, the jeweler at Weisser's Jewelers in Herkimer, the idea came about of him creating a unique piece of jewelry for their followers.

Readers can enter online at rockngem.com/vday-contest from Feb. 1 to Feb. 14 to win a Herkimer diamond ring created from scratch by Weisser. The 14-karat gold ring includes a bezel-set, 3-karat, cushion-cut Herkimer diamond, he said.

Herkimer diamonds have seen attention from celebrities such as Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, who wore jewelry made with the gems, or Dan Aykroyd, who markets a vodka processed using Herkimer diamonds.

Growing up in Herkimer County, Weisser never paid much attention to the stone.

"They were just everywhere," he said. "You'd find them in crushed-stone driveways."

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It wasn't until as a jeweler he had customers requesting the stone that he decided to do what he could to put the gem on the map.

"Sometimes you don't have an appreciation for something that's right here," he said.

H. Rose Schneider covers public safety, breaking and trending news for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Rose at hschneider@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: How to win a Herkimer Diamond ring this Valentine's Day