Related Facts on Jet

When you read the word jet what comes to mind? The fact that it's a type of fossilized coal? That it's a deep black (hence jet black)? Or maybe that it was Victoria who made it the gem during her years in mourning.

What's that you say? All of the above? Well then, this is an article for you because if you know that much about jet already, then you must be looking for more information! I hope it meets your standards.

To start, jet is a mineraloid, and it's name comes from the French word jaiet. A more scientific name for jet is lignite. A more abstract name is gagagite. Perhaps because the earliest place jet has been mined is called gagee (or gagas depending)?

Curiously enough, long ago in the Grand Period, jet was claimed not to have been organic(Tate and Blake 1876). Ah, how times change...

Some scientific facts for jet are:

its color can vary from black to brown, and it may include pyrite (fools gold) inclusions.

it becomes charged when rubbed with silk or wood.

Jet is soft (hardness ranging from 2.5 to 4)

its refractive index ranges from 1.64 to 1.68

its specific weight ranges from 1.10 to 1.40

Most commonly in cabochon cut (no facets as its so soft)

Historically, jet has been used since before the time of the Romans (1500 B.C.) Its appeal (like many gems) spans thousands of years!

When the Romans mined jet, it came from Whitby. When Victoria was wearing her "widow's weeds" her jet mourning jewelry also came from Whitby.

Needless to say, jet became the fashion. Any type of jewelry you wanted could be made from jet: Crosses, earrings, bracelts, pins, anything. Even chains! Whitby's jet deposits were quite deep, lucky it. Especially since, before Victoria's mourning, jet sales had been low. However, once jet sales took off, the demand became so great that jewelers were forced to import other types of jet for a time.

On a side note, to keep jet nice and shiny, rub a bit of mineral oil on it. That's the best way, or so it's said. Also, don't ultrasonically clean jet if you want to keep it in one piece. Hand wash it instead.

P.S: Whitby is also known for it's fossils, including whole pterodactyls and ammonites. Isn't that neat? Natural history is amazing.

Garnet: Pyrope, A Beautifully Red Gem

Pyrope was particularly favored as a gem in the Victorian "Grand Period". It was then called bohemian garnet, and was used quite a bit in mid-Victorian jewelry.

Deposits of pyrope garnets were greatly mined around Czechoslovakia, in Trebenice; and that's why the gem's name included the word "Bohemian". However, the Gemological Institute of America (GMI) frowns upon the term.

Pyrope style garnet has many different names other than bohemian, two of which are chrome pyrope (perhaps because chromium is part of its chemical makeup) or carbuncle(a very old name, people don't use it much nowadays except in old stories). There are more deceptive terms, some of which are:

American Ruby
Arizona Ruby
Australian Ruby
Bohemian Ruby
California Ruby
Colorado Ruby
Elie Ruby
Rocky Mountain Ruby

As you can see, the term "ruby" is used to make people think the gem is of a different composition.

Some sources say pyrope comes from a Greek word meaning 'fire like', while others claim it comes from the Greek words for 'fire' and 'eye.'

Something I really was amazed by was that in 1892, during battles along the Kashmir frontier, the Hanza tribesmen fired on British soldiers with garnet bullets, believing them to be more effective than lead bullets. Truth can be stranger than fiction!

On a side note, the Garnet Hill Recreation Area near Ely, Nevada lets people mine for garnets for free. Maybe I'll go sometime, and take some friends with me!

A Little Something Rose Cut Diamonds

Victoria’s crown was made not long after large diamond deposits were found in South Africa in 1867. That was when the lower price and availability brought them to the market place. Electric lighting also increased interest in the use of diamonds in jewelry in the 1880’s. They can be referred to as sparkle diamonds.
One of the types of cuts used was the rose cut. The rose cut came in two versions. These were the single and double which were flat on the bottom. A single rose cut has, as you would think, a single layer of horizontal facets. While a double rose has two horizontal layers of facets.

Of course there is the exception. The Dutch rose cuts are deep or high and can have three rows of horizontal facets. While the facet can range from one that is more raw to prepared. You will also see that they are not perfectly round but that adds to their individuality.

Today, the rose cut is still used for melee diamonds (the little gems that accent a big one). Besides being used for accents, there is an increasing desire for rose cuts in order to create reproductions of these antique works of art. Also, for repairing genuinely antique works.

A Wonderful and Insightful Overview Of Victorian Jewels

I found this to be an interesting and very informative Victorian jewelry site. It also deals with some other aspects of the Victorian Era, as well as including information on the eras pre and post.

Click Here to Enjoy!