Yes, we have natural Jet Beads! These
are made from the rare, hard to find, natural jet, with a feel similar to amber
and a beautiful luster. The jet rough comes from a coal mine in Mongolia and the beads
are made in China. The bead strands are all 16 inches long.
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR ONLINE
SHOPPING CART PROGRAM, SO IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE YOUR PURCHASE THROUGH
THE SHOPPING CART, PLEASE CALL US AT 1-805-927-2223, or you can
E-mail us WITH
YOUR ORDER. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE!
We are happy to offer these beads to all lovers of natural stones, you
don't have to be a Mineral of the Month Club member to purchase these. (Of
course, if you did decide to join, you would receive a 10% discount and free
shipping in the United States.)
For wholesale pricing, please send us a scan of your business license or resale
certificate by Email to
Richard or by fax it to 805.927.2223. We offer a significant
wholesale/quantity discount, and would love to have our beads featured in more
bead stores and used by more jewelry designers. Please feel free to call us at 1-800-941-5594 or
Email us with any questions. We'd love to work with you!
What Exactly is Jet?
According to June Culp Zeitner in the book "Gem
and Lapidary Materials," jet is a fossil driftwood allied to lignite coal
with a hardness ranging from 2 to 2.5 and a specific gravity ranging from 1.15
to 1.3. Jet has been used since the Bronze Age as an ornamental stone. The Hopi
and other tribes of the western United States used jet in making fetishes,
beads, and inlaid jewelry. Jet reached its zenith in popularity during the reign
of Queen Victoria, who wore black jet jewelry while in mourning for her late
husband, Prince Albert. Whitby, England, became a center for jet jewelry, with
over 100 shops involved in the manufacture of jet beads, buttons, carvings, and
a host of other objects. Unfortunately, Whitby jet is very difficult and
expensive to obtain now that production has stopped there.
A number of jet substitutes are readily available now,
including glass, black chalcedony, and even hardened rubber and plastic! But
none have the light feel and high luster of real jet, like you'll find in our
wonderful beads. Here's a list of styles and sizes we're producing:
