# Jet

> Jet is a black variety of lignite, light and polishable, used in mourning jewelry and as an amulet, notably from Asturias and Whitby.

- Source: https://www.711grados.com/en/jet/
- Language: en
- Note: This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.
- Published: 2026-07-09
- Updated: 2026-07-09
- Translation (es): https://www.711grados.com/es/azabache/
- Author: Sandra Sánchez
- Site: 711 Grados (https://www.711grados.com/)

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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](https://www.711grados.com/en/amber/)
- [Wood](https://www.711grados.com/en/wood/)
- [Glass and crystal](https://www.711grados.com/en/glass-and-crystal/)