New Whitby jet jewellery:
I am now handcrafting natural Whitby jet which is then set in silver.
About Whitby jet:
Whitby jet is a black gemstone in a fossilised wood deriving from a species similar to the Monkey Puzzle tree. Jet can acquire a deep sheen when finely polished. It was widely used for jewellery and hair ornaments in the later Roman period, in Britain, and regained popularity in the Victoria era.
According to Wikipedia, the jet found at Whitby, on the North Yorkshire coast of England (in the British Isles), is "approximately 182 million years old". The raw jet I use has been sourced from an established supplier in Whitby (historically in Northumbria), and has been handcrafted into cabochons by me or my father, then set in silver.
Already completed is a large, silver Celtic cross pendant set with a cabochon that I have handcrafted in genuine Whitby jet.
You can see more of gemstone jewellery here.