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August 2011 Blog

Last day of the eighth month. The number "8" is considered the most lucky number in China and by Chinese people. In China, there are lotteries to have this number in car license plates, phone numbers and addresses. So to end the lucky eigth month, a very special "fancy" jadeite bangle bracelet, size 58mm, and $888. This one is not only gorgeous, but sure to bring you luck.
August 31

I opened a novel to start reading, on the first page is a quote from Confucius, talking about jade: "In the whole world there is no one who does not welcome it like reason". More than two thousand years ago, Confucius, said that the wise compared Jade to virtue because its polish and brilliancy represent purity, its perfect compactness and extreme hardness represent the surenes of the intelligence, its angles, which do not cut, although they seem sharp, represent justice, the pure prolonged sound when it is struck represents music, its colour represents loyalty, its interior flaws which can always be seen represent sincerity, its brightness represents heaven, its admirable substance, born of mountain and water represent the earth. Used alone without ornamentation it represents chastity. The price which all the world attaches to it represents truth. August 27

Readers sent me comments that perhaps the return address on parcel we mail makes it tempting for theft before it gets delivered, because who wouldn't be tempted by Ying Yu Jade. If you are a YYJ customer, you will notice that we never use our entire business name on the shipping label. It's always YYJ to make it more discreet, and increast the change of YOU getting your purchase, not someone else who thinks there might be a fabulous piece of jade inside! August 25

Yes, if you look at "what's new" on YYJ you will see some unique pendants as well as vintage jade pendants that have been part of my collection. The vintage jade is very special, and I keep it on my display case in my office so I can see it all the time. I have an extensive jade collection, much of it purchased from Chinese families in mainland China who valued US dollars more than their old jade when I first started going to China in 1999. China is still proud of becoming so modern and fast forward moving, but because of their growth, their nationalistic pride has increased and there has been more demand for their ancient Chinese culture, including jade. If you are Chinese, you will really appreciate the jade pendant pieces listed today, because they are the kind of jade used in China before Burmese jadeite was introduced in the nineteenth century. Very traditional, special, and known now as one of China's "national jades" August 24

China is one of the countries we do not ship to, because unfortunately too many parcels get lost in the system, and we have learned from sad experience to not ship to Chinese customers. Andy why would Chinese people want to purchase from Ying Yu Jade? Recently there have been a significant number of people in China who want to buy jade and jadeite bangle bracelets and pendants because our prices are lower than what the prices are in China, and they like our selection better! What a surprise. I try to keep current on prices of the jade that is sold in mainland China so that YYJ prices can be slightly lower, but it seems that I haven't been dilegent enough. However, I want to sell these things, and not just have them, so I keep the prices very fair. I've had questions if the jade is "real" because of what they perceive to be very low prices (of course it is, you can tell by looking at the photos, and if you know anything about jade, you can see it is "real"). So get a good deal on real jade because each time I order, the prices of jade from China does increase. August 23

Ying Yu Jade and JBB are international web sites, and international customers have asked me to clarify "what is today" regarding the Daily Specials. It seems some international customers who live in time zones almost 12 hour time difference, have been disappointed in missing out on the Daily Special because they assume it is "today" but it's not "today" my time EST. So in response to this issue, I will leave the Daily Special on for two days, so everyone has a chance at it. Hope that helps! August 21 (my time)

Florida is the lightening capital of the USA, and last week during a big lightening storm, our neighborhood took a hit, and lightening knocked out the electrical systems, appliances and electronics of 8 neighbors right down our street, BUT it missed us and the neighbor that backs up to us. Must be all that jade qi, protecting us! We've had severe storms this summer, lots of lightening, and especially the last couple of weeks I've been reluctant to use the PC during the storms. So I haven't been current with the blog and even some orders. I'm trusting the jade qi to keep us protected, but also using common sense. Sorry if I'm a little behind these days. August 18

We are occasionally contacted by major companies who want to sell our products. Recently Urban Outfitters wanted to purchase jade rollers for their stores. I don't think our jade carver can handle an order for several thousand jade rollers, so I had to decline. I don't want to go to China now to set up a big production at this time in my life. I prefer to buy and sell the more traditional hand crafted jade products, many of which are one-of-a-kind. We do sell the jade rollers to spas and cosmetic companies worldwide, but in quantities of hundreds, not thousands. It's flattering to know large companies would like our products, and that the jade rollers are becoming so popular. And it was a difficult decision to decline, but sometimes the headaches and hassles of trying to get that many products from our jade carver would far outweight the monetary gains. So sorry, no Ying Yu Jade rollers at a mall near you. August 15

Every time I "clean up" the office, I find odds and ends of jade things, it's fun. Problem is, it's usually something I like, didn't want to sell it, set it aside, then it got misplaced, covered by other things and it's something I really like. The gold etched round 55mm bangle is one of those things. I bought it at an estate sale of a woman who traveled around the world. My best size is 53mm and I can wear this one, probably because it's rounded and thicker. I don't know anything about it, other than it's pretty, its jade, it's old and it will be more if it goes on the JadeBangleBracelets web site. August 14

I was describing the vintage nephrite jade cufflinks to a potential customer and realized that I hadn't really explained the value of these. Nephrite is the "old jade" of China, the kind of jade emperors cherished before Burmese jadeite was introduced in the 19th century, and before the watery green jade of Liaoning was discovered in early Communist years. There is very little, if any, nephrite left in China. The jade carvers who want to have nephrite jade have to import it from Canada or New Zealand, then carve it. The cufflinks are substantial, and carved with flowers, the yin of the flower not as strong as the yang of the deep green nephrite. All natural, of course. If he doesn't buy them, I am considering having them made into a couple of "sister" pendants. August 11

Yin and yang, bagua are symbols of Dao. Much is written about Daoism, but simply put, Daoism is being in harmony with nature. It's the root of Chinese medicine, feng shui and from ancient time a reason for wearing jade. Last week I started listing some "modern" jadeite bangles, and have a couple more to list this week, including tomorrow's Daily Special. The natural color, just like it comes out of the earth, is very Dao, the yang of the dark veins on the yin of the lighter green. Never fails to make me feel wonderful as I hold it to describe it to list it. And at a Daily Special price. August 9

Blog readers sometimes get a chance to purchase the next day's Daily Special when I write about it prior to uploading it on the day it is the Special. The August 9 Daily Special BB2367 is an exquisite old mine "lao pit" jadeite bangle, white with soft lavender hues. When I was "feeling" the energy, I got a jolt in my brain, it felt so powerful, and I slipped it on my wrist to get the feeling of peace, calmness, intuition. The retail value should be higher than priced, but this is a jade bangle that needs to be on a wrist, not in a box in inventory. If you want something special, this one is surely it. August 8