Black jet jewelry, the latest fashion trend

Modern jet jewelry - that's what fashion editor Caroline has been talking to me about today.

This is the latest style buzz from London and fabulous black designs are making a real comeback but with a modern twist.

Jet looks particularly gorgeous when teamed with silver and the top designers are working with these two materials right now, getting collections ready for next season's catwalks and accessory shows.

I love this look. I remember from history lessons that this gemstone was incredibly popular in Victorian times. When Queen Victoria became a widow, she wore black for the rest of her life, creating a huge fashion trend. This trend extended to jewelry too and suddenly a jet-producing little seaside town in England (Whitby) was flooded with orders for this rich, deep gem.

In those days, it was often intricately carved but today's jewelry designers are enjoying this because of its lustrous, deep shine. It also had a huge revival in the 1920s and was used in Art Deco styles which makes it an ideal accessory for today's updated 1920s fashions.

Today's designers are bringing these styles bang up the minute. Caroline and I have had great fun today selecting the pieces that we think represents the best of this lovely fashion trend. I hope you'll love them as much as we do!

Jet can be very expensive these days and therefore we have selected items that are affordable and so might use a synthetic gem rather than the more expensive real product. You'll still get the same gorgeous, stunning, high fashion look. If you're looking for real bargains, take a look further down the page as examples can often be found on eBay.

All the items we chose - boy, it was fun to do - were striking but we both fell in love with this ring. Although at one time this would have been called a 'cocktail ring' or an 'evening ring' today gorgeous examples like this are intended to be worn during the day. This looks great with bright red nails! You can order it online and see further details using the info below.

We wanted to show you a close up of this bracelet so you can see how intricately worked it is. See how tiny sunflowers are formed. It's over two inches high and makes a great fashion statement. This is a silver plated bracelet - note that couture bracelets in this style are retailing at over £350 in London boutiques and designer studios.

Like the ring above, this is so very typical of today's look. It's a very glam piece of jewelry and it's just under an inch in diameter so it's subtle and yet striking at the same time. The eighteen inch box chain means that it sits prettily at the base of the throat, drawing attention to your face and smile.

Geometric design is huge at the moment and increasing in popularity all the time. The crystals add sparkle and contrast subtly with the deep shade and the crisp silver frames. Caroline and I must have looked at hundreds of earrings today but these were the clear winners to achieve a modern look.

As you know, brooches and pins are enjoying a huge revival in popularity. 1920s fashions are very big at the moment and the brooch is a major player when it comes to achieving the look. And yet, this is a classic design that will never date, despite being totally up to the minute. This piece gets rave reviews.

Caroline and I tried to limit our selection - and it wasn't easy - but at the last minute we decided that this page wouldn't be complete without this gorgeous, intricate bracelet.

• Caroline pointed out something I hadn't realized (this is why she is such a well respected fashion editor) and that is that black and silver colors goes well with any skin tone and any skin color, from the palest white to the very darkest brown.
• Whitby jet was used for adornment as long ago as the Roman period and yet the oldest piece of ever known is from 17,000 BC!
• Ancient civilizations believed that the gemstone had magical properties.
• Genuine items are highly sought after by collectors and can command huge prices.
• The term 'jet black' originates from this semi-precious gemstone.
• The stone, which is fossilized wood from the Jurassic period, can be found all over the world. But that from the UK - and specifically from the Whitby area, has always been the most prized.
• When Queen Victoria went into mourning after Prince Albert died, jet was the only jewelry allowed in the royal court.

The 'real thing' can be incredibly expensive but keep your eye on this page. You might pick up a bargain that will be a wonderful investment and create a family heirloom too.

There's a cute little video explaining how jet was formed. Did you know that it comes from monkey puzzle trees?