Organic Gemstones- Jet and Ivory

One thing we get asked regularly by customers at Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery is; what gemstone should I choose for my engagement ring, eternity or wedding rings? Its bit of a tough one, there are so many and of course personal preferences have a big impact on which lovely sparkler you should opt for. If you’re looking for an unusual option you could choose something from the organic gem group… read on for a little breakdown of organic engagement rings and your options!

Jet

Jet is formed from waterlogged wood from millions of years ago which had been buried and fossilized over time. It is formed and has some similar qualities to that of common coal. In fact the type of water the wood was immersed in affected its type, e.g. jet formed in salt water is called hard jet, whereas jet formed in fresh water is known as soft jet. It is also known by the name lignite and black amber… of course you will probably be aware of the common British phrase ‘jet black’ which actually comes from the name of this gemstone! Jet can actually be found in black and dark brown colours. It is another lovely option if you are looking for a gemstone that can be sourced in the UK with its famous sources from Whitby in Yorkshire.
You might be looking to include jet into your engagement ring or wedding rings to add a bit of bold flare to your designs; however it has been a popular option in the past for rosaries and mourning jewellery. It was soon after the death of Prince Albert in 1861 that this gemstone actually became very popular; in fact this jewellery is thought to be quite valuable and sought after today. Jet has been a popular stone from very early on in mans development with mining from as early as 1400 BC!

Ivory

This is a hard, generally white or ivory coloured matter which is the tusk or tooth of an animal. Traditionally this includes elephant, wild boar and walrus tusks, rhino and narwhal horn, antlers, the teeth of elk and hippopotamus, and even fossil ivory from mastodons, dinosaurs and woolly mammoths… to name but a few. Allot of these animals have… and sadly still are hunted for their ivory.

It can be a particular favourite for wedding jewellery such as engagement rings or wedding rings with an oriental flavour to them where they are a popular option for adornments. It has played a fairly large part in the jewellery industry of the Victorian Era, and was particularly popular for items with the Art Nouveau style. Today its popularity has diminished and allot of people consider the way these pieces are sourced to be cruel and unnecessary. Ivory also has a tendency to yellow with time, so you may prefer an alternative gemstone which is less likely to alter over time if this worries you. Luckily there are some alternatives and if you are hoping for a similar look or perhaps an antiqued style for your engagement ring you could opt for a synthetic or imitation piece or even go for a gemstone with similar qualities such as serpentine, jasper, nephrite, vegetable ivory or shell.

Of course if these still don’t satisfy you for a non-traditional engagement ring option you could even choose to have something really unique such as vegetable ivory, copal, baleen, feather or even wood incorporated into your engagement ring design… the choice is yours!