Whitby Jet is a natural organic gemstone formed from the compressed wood of the prehistoric Monkey Puzzle or Araucaria tree, found along a two mile stretch of coastline between Robin Hood's Bay and Boulby, nearby to Whitby, North Yorkshire.

Is Whitby Jet valuable?

It's no secret that Whitby Jet is rare, unique and sought after. Throughout the centuries, Whitby Jet has been highly valued for its brilliant lustre, black appearance and weightlessness. ... It wasn't until the 19th Century when the demand for Jet was out of control and its value increased dramatically.

What is special about Whitby Jet?

The pressure of the water and sediment over millions of years compacts the wood and slowly transforms it into what we know as Whitby Jet stone today. The colour of Whitby Jet is truly unique, boasting a deep blackness so intense that the expression 'jet black' or 'as black as jet' derives from the colour of the stone.

Is Whitby Jet a precious stone?

Whitby Jet is a semi precious organic gemstone formed over millions of years from the fossilised remains of the modern day Monkey Puzzle, and other similar trees.

Is Whitby Jet rare?

Rarer than diamonds.

As a natural and organic resource, Whitby Jet is of a finite quantity, generally limited to one small stretch of North Yorkshire coastline – see Where Can Whitby Jet be Found.

Identifying Whitby Jet 4K

41 related questions found

How can you tell a real Whitby Jet?

How do I check it's really Whitby Jet?

1. Jet is not cool to the touch.
2. True jet will either float or sink very slowly, in water.
3. Jet does not fade over time.
4. Gently rub an inconspicuous part of the object across some unglazed pottery or stone; true jet produces a brown/black streak.

Does Whitby jet crack?

True Whitby jet will never fade or crack over time and will leave a brown mark when rubbed on unglazed porcelain. It's also warmer to the touch than the common black glass imitation.

Are jet beads valuable?

Jet is a velvety black-colored gemstone that is a type of lignite. ... Today, jet is valued for its beautiful luster, and is seen alongside even the most expensive of gems in jewelry, including diamonds.

Is jet the same as Onyx?

Four Differences. Test 1: They're total opposites! One of the most loved traits of Whitby Jet is its weightlessness. ... However, onyx is pretty heavy in comparison and therefore, if the stone or piece of jewellery you are holding is weighty it is Onyx rather than Jet.

What is jet worth?

The price for a brand-new private jet ranges from $3 million to $90 million. Though secondhand jets are cheaper, they still cost millions of dollars. For perspective, a pre-owned Gulfstream G450 costs around $14.75 million on the Gulfstream website.

Where can I get a jet UK?

Although Jet can be found worldwide, the finest quality Jet is found in seams of shale along the Whitby coastline. It can be found in the exposed cliffs along the coast and also on the beaches and in amongst the foreshore rocks.

Can jet stone get wet?

Jet stone is a mineraloid that originated as a piece of wood, which has been compressed into the earth and turned into gemstone over a long period of time. Even though it is a 2.5 and 4 on the Mohs scale, hard jet — which was formed by carbon compression and salt water — will not get damaged by exposure to water.

What is jet stone good for?

Jet Stone is known to be an effective cure for migraines, headaches, and even the common cold. Healers also use this stone to help with epilepsy. It has preventative properties if worn before seizures. Jet soothes dental pain, stomach pain, and headaches.

Is Jet made from Monkey Puzzle trees?

Jet isn't a gem, right off the bat. It's called a mineraloid which means that it's actually the wood of the Monkey Puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana), millions of years old, that has been under intense pressure which causes it to change from wood to stone. There are two kinds of jet – 'hard' and 'soft'.

What is Jet jewellery made of?

Jet is fossilized wood, a form of lignite brown coal.

Is Whitby Jet still mined?

Jet is no longer mined and all our jet is found through natural coastal erosion. We can guarantee the source origin of all our Whitby jet.

How can you tell a jet from glass?

Jet leaves a brown streak, whereas French jet glass leaves no color, just a scratched surface. The best materials to do this scratch test on are paper or unglazed porcelain (like the back of a fancy tile). Jet is surprisingly light weight in the hand, whereas French jet glass will always feel heavier.

What is a jet black gemstone called?

The most common is onyx, a variety of chalcedony or cryptocrystalline quartz, which is dyed to produce a uniform black. Onyx is abundant and inexpensive. Some finer gems are occasionally found in black, such as diamond, sapphire and spinel.

Does Whitby Jet burn?

The definitive test is to use a red hot needle on some inconspicuous part of the item when a coal-burning smell will ensue. However be very careful not to destroy or damage the item, remember Jet will burn.

Can you get Whitby jet wet?

As the only professional scientist to work Whitby Jet as a craft material, Sarah is perfectly positioned to certify that only the finest Whitby Jet is used in the creation of our jewellery. Almost everything on the Whitby beaches appears black when wet.

What is a jet necklace?

Jet is a dense black fossilised wood, almost like coal, and very light in weight. It is easy to cut, so carved well. It became popular in the Victorian era for mourning jewellery, which became fashionable after the death of Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert in 1861.

What does jet feel like?

Authentic jet is opaque black in appearance and void of mold lines, like plastic replications set in a mold. ... Natural jet is very light in weight in comparison to French jet, its glass counterpart. Upon the touch, the authentic material takes on a room temperature rather than a cold feel like glass.

Does jet feel like plastic?

Antique Whitby jet jewellery is highly prized and desired. It is black in colour, and occasionally prone to cracking and chipping with age. Test 2: Feels surprisingly warm and lightweight to touch, similar to black plastic (ie, never feels cold or heavy to hold like black glass or onyx).