Real Jet Buttons

[edgewoodantique]

Hello button collectors. I've been going thru the estate of my wifes parents and I found some interesting buttons tucked away with some old jewelry. The little envelope they were in says "Real Jet Buttons" (Grandma B.). I know who this was, and she lived from about 1850 to 1930. They were a very wealthy "Blue Blood" family, so lots of amazing treasures. These seem to fit the criteria for being authentic and not glass, but I'm wondering if they are really rare? Are they valuable? There are two as shown.

Any information or help would be great.

Thanks, Neal

[rain777blue]

If it leaves a brown or black mark when you rub it on porcelain (insite of tolite tank lid) then they are real, if it leaves no mark it is black glass. Hope this helped:)

[pixzee]

The first test for jet is the touch and feel. Jet will be lighter than glass and will even feel like plastic. Glass is cool to the touch. My second test is the clink on teeth test. I tap the button on my teeth, glass will clink like glass, Jet will not.

Jet is not considered a true mineral, but rather a mineraloid, acting like a stone. As such, it has to be carved. The carving on these buttons is quite elaborate and so, seems unlikely to be jet. Other material than glass was used to imitate jet, as well.