Darling Victorian earrings made from hand-carved Whitby jet, circa 1860s. Each round black earring has a Whitby jet round bead bottom topped with a carved ball top and a gold hook at the top. These are authentic jet and not glass...light and easy to wear. While these pierced earrings were for mourning almost 150 years ago during the Civil War era, they are a beautiful accessory for today's wardrobe. The earrings are in good condition with minor wear for their age.
Materials: Whitby jet
Measurements: Each earring measures roughly 2 1/4 inches long and 3/4 inches round at the widest.
Weight: 11.3 grams together
Condition: Good condition with no noted damage to the jet.
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Whitby Jet was brought to the attention of the world by Queen Victorian who used Whitby Jet as part of her mourning attire.
Jet is a type of lignite, a precursor to coal, and is a gemstone. It has an organic origin, being derived from decaying wood under extreme pressure. Whitby Jet is the fossilized wood from species similar to the extant Chile pine or Monkey Puzzle tree Today Whitby Jet is highly collectible and sought after worldwide.
Our collection consists of pieces that are of antique and vintage condition, which means that all our items are secondhand and used. Customers are not purchasing 'new', 'perfect' and 'unworn items', and as such, should expect wear and imperfection. It should be expected that these pieces will have normal wear and tear according to their age. Wear could include patina, scuffs on the gold, slightly loose but secure stones, and light scratches on the stones. We try our best to accurately photograph everything with detailed pictures that can be enlarged and will point out any flaws we feel are noteworthy. Please review the photos carefully before purchasing and reach out to us with any questions.