Antique Victorian Whitby jet hand carved chunky bead stretch bracelet, with faceted rock crystal gems, bezel set in silver

Fabulous Whitby jet carved bead bracelet with large beads, three of which have been inset with large faceted rock crystal (quartz) gems, bezel set in silver.

The beads are strung on two strands of old, black covered elastic so the bracelet can fit any wrist size. The vintage condition is very good - the jet beads have only a few nicks or imperfections and no cracking, so the jet quality is very good. Please examine the photos carefully, which show all the beads and as many angles as possible.

Whitby Jet is organic and is naturally formed from fossilised wood from millions of years ago, commonly the wood of trees of the family Araucariaceae. The prehistoric wood gets washed up into a body of water and becomes covered by organic sediment. The pressure of the water and sediment over millions of years compacts the wood and slowly transforms it into what we know as Whitby Jet stone today.

Although most frequently found in seams of shale between Robin Hood's Bay and Boulby, Whitby Jet can also be discovered washed up on the shore when bad weather or rough seas occur where seams that extend under the sea have broken away.