Whitby Jet has been found in jewellery since 10,000BC, and was most popular in Roman times and especially in the late Victorian era when Queen Victoria made it popular after Prince Albert' death in 1861, and here for offer is a very attractive antique Whitby Jet bracelet.
Prized for its "jet-black" look, indeed this is where the term came from, Whitby Jet is actually the fossilized remains of a tree that once extracted from the ground or the cliffs on the coast, takes a wonderful polish and very high lustre as can be seen in this expandable bracelet dating from the 1890's.
The bracelet is made up of partially facetted links that lead all around to the front where there is quite an unusual section set with a sterling silver buckle design. This use of silver is very rare indeed and makes it really stand out on the wrist.
Connecting it all together, the pieces are joined with two rows of expandable elastic allowing it to sit perfectly on any size wrist, and measures 18.2mm wide at the back and 32.7mm wide at the front section with the buckle.
Whitby Jet jewellery such as this has such a wonderful somewhat Bohemian look to it, and really looks so good on any woman's wrist regardless of their age, and this antique Whitby Jet bracelet is just divine with the addition of its sterling silver buckle.
Stock# ES1005
Circa: 1890
$Sold
Out of stock
History of Whitby Jet:
Whitby Jet is actually the fossilised remains of the Monkey Puzzle or known as its botanical name, the Araucaria Tree and has been used in jewellery as far back as 10,000 BC but more often in Roman times and most popular during the Victorian times of the late 1880's when after Prince Albert, Queen Victoria went into mourning.
Whitby Jet can take a good polish and of course is dense black leading to the term "Jet black".
Although found in Germany, Siberia and the US as well as other small deposits, the best quality over the centuries has always been from England on the coast of Yorkshire.
