Jet is fossilized wood that turned to coal-like lignite over millions of years. A lot of black beads sold as jet are really glass, plastic or ebonite, so ask before you buy.
Organic (lignite, a form of coal) · Lignite
Jet
Azabache
- Palette
- Black
- Mined in
- United Kingdom, Spain, Turkey, United States, France, Poland
- Hardness
- Mohs 2.5–4.0 ?
- See-through
- opaque
- Known since
- Prehistoric
- Named for
- French jaiet, from Gagae, an ancient town
- Also sold as
- Whitby jet, black amber (a nickname; it is not amber), gagate
- Intention
- Protection
- Looking for
- Protection Grounding Clearing negativity Safe travels
- Water
- Keep it dry; wipe with a soft cloth
- Dye or finish
- Jet is a natural fossil wood (a type of coal) and is sold polished. No seller page we read says it is dyed or coated, but glass and plastic copies are common.
Not in our pieces now
181 MILLION YEARS
Whitby jet formed about 181 million years ago in the Early Jurassic, from wood of trees related to the Chilean pine.
360 BUTTONS
In 1597 Anne of Denmark ordered a gown with 360 jet buttons, then had it remade because it was too heavy.
1,000 TO 300
Whitby's jet trade shrank from over 1,000 workers to about 300 by 1884.
What it is
A deep black, light-weight gem material with a soft, waxy shine. It is fossilized wood that has turned to lignite, a low grade of coal, so it is warm to the touch and feels lighter than stone. Much of what is sold as jet is actually black glass (sometimes called French jet), plastic, or another dark material, so it pays to ask.
What gives it its color
Jet is black because it is a dense lignite, a low-rank coal made of fossil wood that is about three-quarters carbon.
Where it comes from
The classic jet comes from Whitby in England, with other deposits in Asturias in Spain, France, Turkey near Erzurum, Poland and the western United States. Whitby jet work faded after the 1870s and is only being revived by a few makers.
In history
Jet has been worked since the Stone Age; the oldest known piece is a carved botfly larva from Baden-Württemberg, Germany, from around 10,000 BC. Roman Britain made jet fashionable in the early 3rd century AD, using Whitby stone worked at York, and after Queen Victoria wore Whitby jet in mourning for Prince Albert it became the Victorian mourning stone, with the town's jet workforce peaking at over 1,000 people before falling to about 300 by 1884.
What's said about it
In crystal lore, jet is the stone people keep for protection and for feeling steady on their feet. It is thought of as a stone that draws off bad moods in a room.
It has a long history as a mourning stone. Victorian Britain wore it for loss, and people today still keep a piece close at a funeral.
Very old travelers' lore links jet-like stones with safe journeys. It is soft, so keep it dry and wrapped when you carry it.
How people wear or keep it: In a pocket, in either hand, in a room, by the door, or at a funeral.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, jet is paired with the root chakra, so practitioners rest it there during meditation or lie down with it in place for a few quiet minutes. Day to day, the same tradition suggests keeping it close: in a pocket, in either hand, in a room, by the door. People reach for it when they want protection, grounding, clearing negativity, and many set an intention when they put it on. Most practitioners cleanse a new stone first (running water only if the stone can take it, otherwise smoke or moonlight) and set it aside now and then to rest.
These are beliefs people have held and still hold about the stone, reported as such. Nothing here is a promise or a medical claim. We sell stones as jewelry, not for these effects.
Associations
The chakra and star sign this stone is usually matched with. These are popular traditions, not facts about the stone.
ChakraRoot
ZodiacCapricorn
ElementEarth
Also calledWhitby jet, black amber (a nickname; it is not amber), gagate
Care
- Very soft (Mohs 2.5 to 4), so it scratches easily and small carved pieces can break.
- Wipe with a dry or barely damp soft cloth and dry it at once; keep it out of soaking water.
- Keep away from heat and sudden temperature swings, which can crack it.
- Store wrapped in cloth, apart from harder stones and jewelry.
- Real jet feels warm in the hand and glass stays cool, but that test alone is not proof.
How to tell what you have
- Real jet is light, warm to the touch, and gives a dull tap, while glass feels cold and plastic gives a sharp click.
- It leaves a brown to dark streak on unglazed porcelain and burns like coal with a coal smell, but ebonite and lignite do the same.
- It is soft (hardness 2.5 to 4) and brittle, so keep it out of ultrasonic cleaners and steam.
What sets the price
Price follows whether it is real jet (a light, warm fossil wood) or black glass or plastic, how hard it is and how well it polishes, and where it came from. Whitby, England, is the best-known source.
Questions people ask at our table
What is jet?
Jet is fossilized wood that has turned into lignite, a soft low-grade coal. It is an organic gem material, not a crystal mineral.
Is it the same as amber?
No. It is sometimes nicknamed black amber, but amber is fossil tree resin and jet is fossil wood.
How do I know my jet is real?
A lot of black beads sold as jet are glass (French jet), plastic or ebonite. Real jet feels warm and light, and glass feels cool and heavy. A rub on unglazed porcelain leaves a brown streak, but other materials do too, so a trusted seller matters.
Why is jet linked with mourning?
Queen Victoria wore jet while in mourning in the 1850s, and the fashion spread through Britain. Whitby, in England, was the main source.
Can I wear it in water?
It is better not to. Jet is soft and organic, so keep it dry, away from heat, and apart from harder stones.
Not in our pieces right now
Stones we do carry that are close to it are listed under related stones.
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