Jet

Jet is a black organic rock, a variety of lignite formed from fossilized wood. It is light, carves and polishes to a deep shine, and has been a jewelry material since antiquity, famous as an amulet and as mourning jewelry in Victorian times.

Properties #

• Origin: compressed fossil wood (lignite); classic deposits are in Asturias (Spain) and Whitby (England)
• Hardness: between 2.5 and 4 on the Mohs scale.
• Color: deep black with a resinous shine when polished.
• Weight: very light for a black gem.
• Touch: warm, unlike cold minerals.

Uses in jewelry #

• Beads, necklaces and rosaries.
• Pendants and amulets, such as the traditional “higa”.
• Victorian-style brooches, cameos and earrings.
• Contemporary jewelry built on black contrast.

Pros and cons #

Advantages #

• Deep black and very light.
• It carves into delicate shapes.
• Great historical tradition.

Limitations #

• It is soft and chips.
• It is sensitive to heat and solvents.
• Black glass and plastic imitations exist.

Care and cleaning #

• Clean only with a soft dry or barely damp cloth.
• Avoid heat, solvents and chemicals.
• Store it apart, wrapped in cloth.

See also #

• Amber
• Wood
• Glass and crystal