Ying Yu Jade
You can always see what's new, click here
I received a contact
from a Chinese seller offering me jade bangle bracelets for $5! The photos
of samples were attached, and they were very obviously C grade jade, highly
dyed color treatment. She said that is the kind of jade she sells to most
Americans because they like the deep and bright colors and want a cheap
price. A few weeks ago a woman I met when I was out shopping saw my jade
bangle and showed me hers, which I could see was obviously dyed. She told
me she bought it from a web site that I do look at occasionally to see
what "the other guys" are selling. I gave her my business card,
and told her that her's was pretty. I truly don't want to "bad mouth"
other people's jade. Everyone has an idea of what makes a "perfect
jade bangle" and I hope you feel confident enough reading all the
information about jade that I provide to make a buy a good jade bangle,
wherever you buy it.
December 30
From my email: "I want jade for the new year that has symbolism to get the year started off right, and for the entire year. Suggestions?" Chinese people believe that new year jade should have protective symbolism. Buddha and Guan Yin, the Buddha of compassion and protector of women and children are good choices. Wednesday's daily special will be a Guan Yin mala bead bracelet. When I worked as a counselor in a middle school, I wore one of these every day to help keep me focused on compassion towards children and their families, and this age group surely needed this intuitive compassion because at that age, things are rarely as they seem. The students loved that bracelet, girls AND boys, and I kept a "loaner" in my office, for anyone who needed it during the day. It was gone by second period every day, and always returned by the end of the day. They could feel the good energy that helped them when they needed it most. So I have always carried these in "the store" and it will be on sale throught Wednedsay, and the sale price will show now. . December 29
I was discussing the merits of an oval jade bangle bracelet and how much I like mine because you can get it to fit tighter and closer to the wrist than a round one. The way to determine how an oval bangle will fit is to add both sides, then divide by two. But, because there is a longer side, you might be able to get a smaller one over your hand because there is more room. And then the shorter side will be closer to your wrist. If you get a small enough one, it won't ride up your arm like most jade bangles do. Oval jade bangles are very rare to find, so if you see one in your size, get it because you may never find another one like it again. December 28
The precious, cherished "fu lu shou" jade pattern is three colors of jade the carver cleverly arranges in a classic pattern. Fu, Lu and Shou and are the Chinese gods of good fortune, prosperity and longevity, sometimes called the "three Stars". Chinese people wear their fu lu shou jade around the New Year to bring them good fortune, prosperity and longevity. Several years ago I had some carved for me, and due to language barrier I got ten times more than what I ordered and only 64-65mm, so I have sold them regular price $888, but they sell in China for more than $1200. This week they will be on sale for $555 so you can purchase one for the New Year. Very auspicious! December 27
Yes, I worked on Christmas. That's what good customer service involves, getting your orders shipped the next business day. And I opened the shipment I received from China and made a video for Youtube. But we had time for a quiet, mostly at home Christmas day together. We were "on our own" for the first time in years, most family in Ohio, and nearby family had other plans. And good friends out of town with their families. We went to a movie theater, something we haven't done in 5 years, and saw "Avatar" in 3D, it's definitely NOT a kid's movie. I saw a major Dao message in it, and cried at the end. It wasn't a good Christmas day movie, because of the disturbing plot, but I highly recommend it. I had several emails when I got home from women who would love to treat themselves to a fabulous jade bangle with their Christmas money, and would I please, please make tomorrow a good sale day. So it's "make an offer day", get a jade bangle you really want, at a discount. Click here to get more details, suggestions for making an offer. Shop in the comfort of your home for a fabulous jade bangle just for you. December 26
My best wishes to you for a very merry Christmas! I received my shipment from China yesterday evening. It's what I ordered in October "for Christmas" with my supplier thinking I wanted it literally "for Christmas", which is what I got on Christmas eve! Unpacked it today, video below December 25
Ying Yu Jade and JadeBangleBracelets are "real work" for me, and I spent around 8 hours a day "doing something" related to this business. YYJ is an international business, and there's always something going on. If you are interested about "what I'm doing", you can follow me on Twitter. The account is new, just starting. Click here to follow Ying Yu Jade on Twitter December 24
Here's a comment
on yesterday's blog from Joy: "I have to comment on the flame
tester, you have told us many times not to expose our jade to heat, sun,
etc. though my showers are probably on the too hot side but love those
hot showers. I now look at jade all the time when I'm out shopping and
know that you only sell the authentic thing because if that person could
see some of the stuff that I do, you wouldn't have to even think of flame
testing it. I went to the grocery store today and the cashier clerk always
had a really vibrant green jade bangle on which I thought was very pretty
but today when I saw it it had lost a lot of its color and you could see
the dyed streaks where they dyed the thing. It looked awful and I'm wondering
why she's still wearing it (maybe it has sentimental value.) It now looks
like a plastic maybe glass bangle. I looked down at mine and mine was
glowing like a peacock." Once you own genuine natural jade,
you can never settle for less! December 23
A blog reader wrote to me that she "tested" her jade to see if it was real by putting it in a flame. She heard that's how jade sellers in her jade market "proved" the jade was natural, not plastic. Never, never put your jade or jadeite in fire. Heat is one of the methods use to color enhance jadeite and gemstones. Fire will damage the structure of the jade stone. I often caution readers in the summer to not wear your jade in direct sunlight. The practice of jade sellers in tourist jade markets to put a flame on the jade is to show it's not plastic because it doesn't melt. But that's all it "proves" and anyone who is a knowledgeable jade seller would never use a flame to test. So "don't try this at home" on your new holiday jade gift!! December 22
* * * * * Holiday Shipping Information * * * * *
If you hope to get your order by Christmas, you need to get it placed by Sunday evening so it will go out in Monday's mail. And if you order by phone, your order is usually delayed by a day because it has to be manually processed, so order online to get your order shipped faster. If you order by the end of Tuesday and use the Express Mail additional option, you should get your order by Christmas. We don't want disappointments, so order ASAP! December 18
My husband had jury duty today, and now that we have only one car, that presents a problem sometimes. But I had an invitation to go on a computer technology-oriented trip, and lunch, and although it was mostly guys, I went with them. I always learn a lot just listening to them, and they helped me choose some products I hope will help me work better, and make things look nicer, too. One of the men talked about a technology that is needed but not developed yet would be for making colors look more accurate, and said that the biggest reason for Land's End returns was the color wasn't as expected, and it costs them $1 million each year in returns. You can edit photos to make them look better, but the concensus was, with the technology that's available, that the camera and lens is crucial for good photos that look accurate on your monitor. A couple years ago I had a photo contest, submit a photo of jade and let me know what camera was used, so I could decide what would be the best camera to use for taking jade photos. The camera I use is really the best camera for jade photos, and captures not only the color but the "essence" of the jade better than others. I take the photos in natural light on my screened porch. It takes a long time to get a good photo, and I use only one that captures the over-all appearance of the jade pendant or bangle. Sometimes the shopping cart photo is a different view, or shows how it looks in a different light, but usually the one photo I choose is just what it looks like. Most customers have written that the real thing is much nicer than the photo. And of course jade looks nicer as you wear it. December 16
I had ordered some special items for holiday specials, and didn't get them yet. I ordered from someone I've never ordered from, and I'm beginning to think I got "stiffed". It wouldn't be the first time I ordered jade things from China and got something completely different, or nothing at all. Chinese sellers like to be paid by bank wire transfer, but that's risky, so I try to find sellers who take Paypal. Credit cards still are not taken by most sellers in China. So I'm racking my brain, trying to think of some good holiday specials. Tomorrow I'll offer a $100 coupon off jade bangles $650+. Now that's pretty special, it will be my biggest jade bangle deal before Christmas. If you are reading this, you can use the coupon now before the December 16 special, use coupon code BANGLE100 on the order form. If your after-discount order is $700+, you'll get one of the cute beaded bags, too!. December 15
We had a family "early Christmas" this weekend. I had some cute little Christmas stockings to put cash gifts in for some of the family gifts, and there was still some room so I put in small jade things, like the weekly special white jade protection stone, the jade Buddha eggs, finger massagers, and everyone really liked them. They are not very interested in jade, but these were unique and interesting and made great stocking stuffers. People can't NOT like jade, especially cute and unique things. They are inexpensive, small and easy to mail, and it's always good luck to receive (and give) a gift of jade. There's a lot of little jade things on YYJ, include jade rollers, pendants, key chains... December 14
A friend wrote asking about wearing jade outside with it's very cold, freezing and sub-zero weather. That kind of cold makes many organic things more brittle. I never had a problem wearing my jade bangle outside in the freezing weather, like when I had "bus duty" when I worked in school. I don't think my bangle got as cold as the outside temperature because of my body heat. But if you are going to do work, like shovel snow, or outdoor sports, you should take your jade bangle off. The cold won't affect the jade mineral structure as heat does, but if you live in an area where it gets really really cold, you know that some things break when they are left outdoors, and you do want to take care with your precious jade. December 12
I have received so many emails after a customer receives their jade bangle asking "what does my jade bangle mean". The Resource section now has an article about the meaning of your jade bangle. This will be an article that I update as I think of more to add, usually coming from customer questions! I really do appreciate your questions and comments, which give me Blog material and ideas for new articles so you can learn more about jade. Click here to read about jade bangle meaning. Dec. 11
A comment received about tight and wide bangles: "Here's my problem with small bangles and cuff bangles: I can get a 58mm on and off with difficulty, but wearing it makes the bone on the outside of my wrist sore. Same thing with my 59MM by 19mm cuff. 59MM by 11mm is the most comfortable because I can push it up my arm to keep it away from that bone." There are acupuncture points around that wrist bone, and when the qi is stuck, that bone feels tender when the hard jade hits it. But that's a reason Chinese women wear really tight bangles, to keep those acupuncture points stimulated so the qi flows smoothly. Those points keep you healthy, especially as you age, and help your body stay youthful. So gently prod the bone area, and see if it's the bone or "something else" that is really tender. The acupuncture points are usually located on the edges of bones. December 10
You also don't want your jade bangle bracelet to be too big, because it will clunk around when you wear it and more susceptible to getting damaged. In fact, if you are going to wear one jade bangle all the time, it's best to get it as small as you can possibly get on, because when it's close to your wrist, it's less likely to get damaged. So if you change your jade bangles frequently, wear one that you can get on and off with some friction, but not too big to clunk around. And if you wear the same jade bangle all the time, get the smallest you can wear. December 9
A "new" jade bangle wearer wrote that she was very happy with her new jade bangle, and commented that the "real thing" was much nicer than the photo, which is always true. She wrote that it was slightly difficult to get on, but when she got it on, she could still put three fingers between her arm and the inside of the bangle, and wondered how she could possibly get on a smaller size. She had seen an Asian woman wearing a jade bangle that was tight on her wrist, and that's how she wanted hers to fit. Usually women whose bangles are tight on their wrists had them put on when they were young and as they grew, it because tight, and permanent. I've had several customers who had to have their precious jade bangle cut off for arthritis, surgery, and wanted a genuine and traditional replacement bangle from Ying Yu Jade. That's the only way to get a tight one off. If you have flexible hands, and knuckles not too big, or arthritis, and you can deal with pain, you can get on a jade bangle that's 2-3mm smaller than your best size. I leave my jade bangles on for a long time, so I am often willing to suffer a short time in order to get on a very close fitting jade bangle. I have to use a plastic bag to get mine on and off, and I stick my arm in the freezer for awhile before I make the change of tiny jade bangles. But if you change your jade bangles often, then get on you can get on and off with some friction. Most jade bangles do fit with 3 fingers space inside, and ride a third way up your arm. December 8
Did you know you can search for a jade bangle by size? The automated shopping cart section of the web site gives you the option for search for a jade bangle by size, as well as options to search for other terms. When you click the "what's new" at the top of the page, or the "order", on any item, you go to the automated section of the web site. There is a search box in the lower left of the page. If you are looking for a 56mm jade bangle, you can write in "56mm" and all of the jade that is 56mm will show up in your search. Then you can browse through only the jade bangles that are your size. Give it a try! December 7
I had several
responses to the blog about white jade, from customer-friends who own
white jade and love it. One of the comments was that the white jade just
didn't feel right to wear, the appearance wasn't as she hoped. But she
read the blog and decided to put it on:" I put it on my wrist
and it has stayed there as if it was a part of my skin. I have slept with
it, it is now radiant and glowing. It has always looked a little dull
since I first got it and I thought that was the nature of this type and
colour of jade. Boy was I surprised when I woke this morning to see it
glowing. It has gained ever greater luminosity over the course of the
day. I am enjoying looking at it and really loving how comfortable it
feels.". Today I took photos of some white jade bangle bracelets
and the photos looked awful. It's been an unusually rainy and cool day,
and I was on a screened porch taking photos, and didn't think the white
and white with little green veins looked very nice, and they sure did
not photograph well. I put them all on my right arm and wore them the
rest of the afternoon, made dinner, and now they all look much better.
Jade needs to be worn to look good. The jade qi and your body qi mingle,
and that's what makes your jade look so good, and why you need to wear
your jade, not keep it in a drawer! Especially white jade, because it
is so neutral by itself.
December 4
A customer told me that she was wearing her new jade pendant all the time, and at night she was having vivid dreams that were disturbing, and asked if the jade had anything to do with her dreaming. Jade balances the body qi, and if your qi is unbalanced, it might be the stagnant qi that is working its way out of your body that causes unpleasant dreams. If you think this is happening to you, wear your jade all the time during the day so you qi balances for awhile, but not at night. Then after a couple weeks wear it at night and see what happens. I'd like to hear from you if this is something you experienced. December 3
I learn something new about jade, the culture and history every time I have a discussion with my associate in China. He asked if I wanted to buy more white jade, and I told him that white jade wasn't very popular with my Western, American customers. He was surprised, and told me that white jade was reserved for royalty during the dynasty periods, and that it was on the "wish list" of local Chinese women today. He thought the price on the white jade protection stone and white jade Buddha eggs was too cheap, but I told him I'd leave it as it is because white jade isn't valued as much here. I have a white jade bangle that I really love. It has peaceful, compassionate, calming energy, and as I wear it, it looks prettier. I sometimes wear it to trade shows, because the Chinese vendors are more interested in that bangle than selling their merchandise, and it gives me "good face", so I get a good "deal" when I make my purchases. As you read in the December newsletter, white jade has balancing qi energy for winter weather, as it boosts and balances the lung qi which is easily damaged during cold weather. White jade is not only beautiful, but "good medicine" for this time of year. December 2
The
Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade complete
December newsletter is available online now, click here. This month
features Chinese medicine wellness information for December regarding
balance of body, mind and spirit. There is information about what kind
of jade to wear this month if you wear jade for your health, and more
.
