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Jet
Jet, like coral and pearl, is an organic gemstone. It is made of fossilized wood, and as such is related to coal. It is millions of years old. It is unexpectedly light and warm to the touch and will often create static electricity when rubbed, similar to that created by amber. For this reason, jade has sometimes erroneously been referred to as ‘black amber’. Click here to view jet jewellery at Astley Clarke.
Jet is thought to have been mined since about 1500 B.C. Beads, pendants and charms made of jet have been found in ancient burial mounds.
Jet is black, as the description jet black suggests. The description is used to denote something that is absolutely and solidly black.
The name is thought to come, via Latin, German and French variations on the word, from one of jet’s earliest sources, a place on the Mediterranean coast of Asia called Gagee or Gagas.
Whitby, on the Yorkshire coast, is recognized today as one of the main sources of the finest quality jet. Whitby already had a thriving industry mining, carving and polishing jet when the Romans first came to Britain. The Romans used it for fine jewellery, and it was subsequently popular with the Victorians, particularly in mourning jewellery, after Queen Victoria wore Whitby jet following the death of Prince Albert. It can be used in quite large pieces, because of its light weight, and was therefore popular in brooches and cameos.
In the United States, long necklaces of jet beads were greatly popular during the 1920s, when ‘flappers’ would wear multiple strands of jet beads that reached down to their waistline. In these necklaces, the jet was strung using heavy cotton thread and small knots were made on either side of each bead to keep them spaced out evenly, in much the same way that fine pearl necklaces are made. Jet has also traditionally been fashioned into rosaries for monks.
Imitations include ‘french jet’, which is not jet at all, but glass. More recent types of coal are sometimes used as an imitation of jet, but are softer and more brittle. Hardened rubber, celluloid, perspex and polystyrene have all been used to imitate jet.
Powdered jet added to water or wine was believed to have medicinal powers.
Click here to view Contemporary Designer Jewellery at Astley Clarke
Jet is thought to have been mined since about 1500 B.C. Beads, pendants and charms made of jet have been found in ancient burial mounds.
Jet is black, as the description jet black suggests. The description is used to denote something that is absolutely and solidly black.
The name is thought to come, via Latin, German and French variations on the word, from one of jet’s earliest sources, a place on the Mediterranean coast of Asia called Gagee or Gagas.
Whitby, on the Yorkshire coast, is recognized today as one of the main sources of the finest quality jet. Whitby already had a thriving industry mining, carving and polishing jet when the Romans first came to Britain. The Romans used it for fine jewellery, and it was subsequently popular with the Victorians, particularly in mourning jewellery, after Queen Victoria wore Whitby jet following the death of Prince Albert. It can be used in quite large pieces, because of its light weight, and was therefore popular in brooches and cameos.
In the United States, long necklaces of jet beads were greatly popular during the 1920s, when ‘flappers’ would wear multiple strands of jet beads that reached down to their waistline. In these necklaces, the jet was strung using heavy cotton thread and small knots were made on either side of each bead to keep them spaced out evenly, in much the same way that fine pearl necklaces are made. Jet has also traditionally been fashioned into rosaries for monks.
Imitations include ‘french jet’, which is not jet at all, but glass. More recent types of coal are sometimes used as an imitation of jet, but are softer and more brittle. Hardened rubber, celluloid, perspex and polystyrene have all been used to imitate jet.
Powdered jet added to water or wine was believed to have medicinal powers.
Click here to view Contemporary Designer Jewellery at Astley Clarke
