A reader asked about different colors of jade, how they occur naturally in the jade stone. The Chinese river jade bangles on this page are a good example of different minerals that get into the jade stone and cause colors. The river jade really gets more mineral activity seeping in the jade, giving it beautiful, natural color. The Chinese river jade bangles are also carved in the old style, and they're not as perfectly rounded and smooth because they're done all by hand. They're really beautiful "in person" and when people come to my home intending to purchase a classic green jade bangle, they often choose one of these colorful jades, they look and feel wonderful, the energy is great. Chinese jade is not "gem quality" because it's not traditional to color enhance them, so there's no A.B or C rating. They're just pure, natural, gorgeous beauties to wear. January 28

I went to the Orlando Convention center this weekend for the New Age and Gift Show. I often find some interesting items to buy for both Calm Spirit and Ying Yu Jade. One of my favorite exhibits is the healing singing bowls, and they have mostly quartz crystal bowls which are available in clear quartz as well as citrine, amethyst, ruby and a variety of gemstones. A chiropractor demonstrated most of them on me and it felt wonderful. I truly believe vibration therapy is healing for many chronic illness, including cancers, pain, degenerative diseases. I've been using metal singing bowls for healing for years, and would love a set of the crystal bowls. There were quite a few Chinese suppliers and the goods were much more expensive than last year which is related to the falling US dollar as well as prices being higher due to our government policies. I bought some magnetic points for healing which are placed either on acupuncture points if you know meridians and which points you need for qi flow, or you can use them to press on parts of your body that bother you. Many of the vendors I was looking forward to ordering from weren't there this year, and I was surprised at the low turnout of buyers. It's usually packed. A sign of the economy, small businesses are spending less, being cautious. I also am reluctant to expand my inventory now. My last stop was at the 22-24k gold jewelry from an Indian vendor out of New York. He had only one small 22k solid gold bangle which I purchased. Gold prices are going up and 22k gold jewelry is a good investment as you can sell it immediately for what you paid for it. Plus is looks great with jade, especially the white with yellow jadeite bangle I've been wearing. I bought one last year, so now I have two and it feels really good to wear that high quality of gold and hear them clink together. The photo below shows the "new" gold bangle in the middle. I'm having camera problems, and need a new one so that was another reason I didn't want to take risks buying things at the trade show that I didn't know if they would sell. Even though jade prices increase, I want to keep Ying Yu Jade prices as low as I can. Small business like YYJ can't absorb losses like larger businesses can, so I am a very careful buyer. January 27

Send A Blessing ecards, click here for a sample. These are truly unique and I enrolled to send them. This one is for my Ying Yu Jade blog readers. January 26

Today you can get $5 off your order of $95+, use coupon code SAVE5 on the order form, internet orders only. Use it for something special for Chinese New Year! January 25

What kind of jade is auspicious for Chinese New Year? Check out todays special. It is carved with lucky coins, feng shui for attracting wealth in the Year of the Rat. Fu lu shou three color jade is auspicious and lucky, fu lu and shou meaning happiness, longevity and luck. Coins are lucky. One of the most lucky and traditional jade carvings is the jade three-legged money toads. It's very rare to find these in the USA in jade. They're usually plastic or resin. The dragon bracelet listed is also very lucky and for protection. Lots of auspicious jade on Ying Yu Jade web site! January 24

We had a big birthday party for my husband yesterday. He invited 80 people, and I have been cooking and getting our home ready since Saturday. It turned out great, and couldn't have asked for a more perfect day as weather is important here in Florida so you can extend your parties to the porches and outside. I have been wearing my icy white with a little "hong" jade bangle since our "Wear your jade for World Peace" days, and intended to change to a more classic green jade bangle to "show off" at the party, but every time I put on a "prettier" green bangle, it felt too "yang", was giving me too much energy. I had an abundance of nervous energy getting ready for the party, and needed the calm, cooling energy of the little white bangle. Hong jade color has energy for dealing with ordeals, so the balance was perfect. However, I did have to explain to several of the women who commented on it about jade and colors. Most of the people were Tom's friends and don't know I have a jade business. Jade is becoming more popular now, prices are getting higher, as it's one of the "in" things to wear especially in this year of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. January 23

Three "Daily Specials" in assorted sizes for your jade shopping pleasure! They are all so pretty, I couldn't decide which ones to choose for the daily special. Will try to put on three jade bangles every day this week. January 20

A reason jade sellers, me included, don't like to take returns and exchanges is because of the chance of damage during shipping. I was delighted to receive an returned exchange bangle packed very securely, with bubble wrap, popcorn, a box and it arrived in perfect condition. I wish she were my shipper! However, sometimes even the shipping company can damage a well packed jade. Most single jade bangles are small parcels, and if the parcel gets a heavy item dropped on it, the package might not get damaged, but the jade can suffer a crack. I experimented with this when I first started shipping, after watching a middle school science class developing protection to keep eggs from breaking when they dropped them from a balcony. In most cases, a damage crack is an up-and-down crack in a jade bangle. This is not to be confused with the natural pattern of jade stone that might look like a crack that runs around the circumference. It amazes me that the bangles I get shipped from China are only in a box or wrapper, then in a rather flimsy box, but mostly arrive perfect. So how does the postal service damage a well-wrapped jade bangle in a box, with bubble wrap, and in another box? Your items are sent to you insured, and this cost is reflected in your shipping charge. But it's still disgusting to see bad things happen to good jade. January 17

One of my girlfriends stopped by this afternoon to visit and asked me to shorten a jade necklace I made for her. The necklace has a jadeite Guan Yin pendant, and jade beads, crystal and silver accents, and the ends are chain. She wears it a lot, and it brings here comfort and calm so she wanted the pendant part to hang over her thyroid when she was wearing it. She told me her hand seems to go over it often during the day and she thought it would be more healing to have it a little shorter. She is also an energy practitioner and healer, and very sensitive to jade healing energy. She also likes her jade bangle tight to stimulate her acupressure points on her wrist, both for healing herself and others. I made a jade necklace for myself with and adjustable length chain, because sometimes I want the pendant over my heart, and sometimes over my thyroid. Those of us who are sensitive to energy have learned to adjust our jade to meet our energy needs. January 15

Chinese New Year is February 7, year of the yang earth rat. What kind of jade to wear? Rat pendants or carved bangles with rat. Fu lu shou tri-color jade is festive and very auspicious to wear during the holiday. This week fu lu shou jade pendants will be on sale, $5 off with coupon code FLS5. I have a good selection of fu lu shou jadeite bangle bracelets and carved jadeite bangles. Then comes Valentine's day. Try some jade with red or "hong". There's a one-of-kind YYJ necklace on sale this week, only one. And a beautiful organza gift bad, red with gold hearts, is free with any Ming Dynasty Pottery shard this week only. I have only one pack of them, so the offer is good while supply lasts.
January 13

One of the blog readers identified an estate "bangle" pendant as an unsigned Ming's jade piece. She wrote that Ming's jewelry was often unsigned, although signed Mings has a high value. The workmanship is excellent, very detailed. The opal appears genuine, the birds and gold branches are finely detailed, and the gemstone "eyes" have been set in small holes to let light through. It's all set inside a small jadeite bangle. I didn't get the gold tested, and think I probably should because it really looks good and I've had it a long time. Jade items like this are good investments, very unique jewelry you can wear, and collect. And I really, truly appreciate readers taking the time to share their knowledge with me. January 12

Here is feedback I received:
First, let me say that I love your jade. I get offers to buy the pieces that I have bought from you all the time. My question is this; I was reading off of some news website that said that congress is trying to pass something to the affect that Burmese Jade could no longer be brought in from Myanmar due to (politcal accusations), and so forth. I know that you sell some very nice jade, and such quality ONLY comes from Myanmar. How will this affect you, and is this why the price of jade has skyrocketed in the last 3 years? I've got pieces that I paid $100.00 for 5 years ago, that are valued much, much higher now. That's nice but I collect jade, and it's getting a little expensive now. Thanks for any information that you can give!
Blog readers have read my discussion about this topic in the past. Yes, this topic has been discussed recently in Congress. And that's a big reason I'm going shopping in March. I want to purchase as many jade bangles as possible now. I bought as many as I could in 2007, but sold many and don't have a big inventory now. Also, taking into account the devalued US dollar, and exchange rate, and fees to exchange US dollars to Chinese RMB, my purchasing power is almost half of what it was two years ago. And I'm still selling Burmese jadeite bangle bracelets for less than $200! That's because I want to have bangles in every price range. But prices are increasing. Bangle of the Month ends next week as I won't be able to offer 20%. I don't artifically inflate prices so I can always have a "sale", the prices are as low as I can offer them. The jade you purchase now will increase in value, and if you collect jade will truly become an investment. January 12

f you sent me emails the last couple of days, and not had a response, it's because my hosted email hasn't been accessible, the problem starting on Thursday. It looks like it will get resolved today. i spend a lot of time responding to emails, and although it's not my fault when I have a problem like this, it makes me look bad! The daily special today is $25 off bangles $285+, coupon code BB25, on Ying Yu Jade and Jade Bangle Bracelets web site, internet orders only. Hope that makes up for lack of email response! January 11

I asked after one of my friends in St Louis, and area that experienced storms and tornados this week. Thankfully, she was fine. She told me that she had to deal with a situation where she didn't want to be taken advantage of, and wore a high energy "dragon green" color jade bangle, with lots of yang energy, and dealt with the situation with confidence and a positive outcome. She also wrote that she had a physical task to do, and she gained strength and energy from the bangle to handle it. Jade energy is not only physical, it's also psychological. When you look at your jade, and see the energy, your brain registers and makes chemicals, like endorphins, that are beneficial to you. When I worked at a counselor in a public middle school, I kept a Guan Yin bead bracelet on my bulletin board, and almost every day a girl would ask to wear it for the day because she "needed it", then return it at the end of the day. The boys thought that was unfair, so I put a pendant on a cord on the bulletin board, and that didn't go out as often as the bracelet, but it got worn. The teachers told me sometimes they'd see the kids holding them during difficult assignments or exams. There's a lot of good energy in jade, for your body, mind and spirit. January 9

Before I went to Guangzhou the first time, I purchased a Pimsleur Cantonese language program to learn some very basic Cantonese. I can get by with Mandarin, but Cantonese is really different. It was helpful, and I have it for sale. The jade sellers don't speak English, although some of them understood my Mandarin Chinese, and I knew a few phrases of Cantonese. Comprehending is more difficult than speaking. I found a software for my Palm that I purchased and am playing with. It's a small program, mostly phrases, some you can customize, and it shows the phrase in Cantonese on the screen, and speaks it very clearly. I'm making some shopping, directions and eating phrases for "my favorites" so I can get at them quickly. The problem is, I'm so exhausted most of the time in China, from jet lag, and the busy schedule, that I often don't do what I intend to do, like actually use it. So I am familiarizing myself with it now to be more comfortable with it when I'm actually there. Maybe I can learn all the phrases on the plane, annoying all the passengers trying to practice with them! The long trip makes me crazy, and I'll have to carry a jade "worry stone" in my pocket! If there's any left, as they are selling fast. I fret on the plane so much, I'll probably rub it to a nub! January 7

Inventory is low, and our shopping trip is scheduled in March. However, jade will probably be more expensive to purchase and in order to keep our prices reasonable, we probably won't be able to offer 20% off if Bangle of the Month resumes when inventory is higher. If you've been thinking about buying three bangles and getting a great discount, now is the time. If you choose the option of getting all threejade bangles now, you'll get free shipping in addition to your discount. Offer ends January 15

Things have a way of working out. I was unsure about when/if to schedule another China shopping trip and if I should go all over China shopping and visiting friends. Yesterday NWA emailed special fares that included Asia, and after searching flights several hours, it worked out that the best airfare price was round trip to Guangzhou and the date March 11. Including Beijing would have tripled the price of the airfare, and it's cold with dust storms in Beijing in March, so only Guangzhou for a week this time. It's a long trip with travel time 27 hours each way. We don't have enough miles to upgrade to business class, so it's coach again. I'll just have to try to sleep and dream about all that wonder jade I intend to buy! January 5

I went to a trade show today, one of my favorites for shopping for jade and things that go with jade. There were more Chinese sellers this time and they had a wider variety of jade like carvings. Unfortunately the jade wasn't a very good quality, so I didn't get any carvings. But I found some jadeite pendants wrapped in gold wire and "worry stones". I also bought some black rubber cords for pendants which I think look great and have a pearl necklace on a black cord that I love, and some chains for pendants. I bought pearls, which have greatly increased in price, and jewelry making findings. There were beautiful beads of all kinds and tempting to buy, but that's not what I sell so I pased them by reluctantly. This is the first time I saw jadeite bangle bracelets, but C quality although very nicely made and color enhanced. I learned that most of the beads are dyed and the new process is considered permanent and won't fade, and this is the same process is used for color enhancing jadeite. The problem with color enhancing and using dye on jade was that the color would turn odd and/or fade, but with this new process the colors look very natural and will not change. B grade jadeite is often prettier than A grade, and the process adds expense to the jade, so B is becoming more expensive than jade. I am changing my opinion about B grade, but not about C grade as bleached jade will be more brittle and crack easily. Of course if I sell B grade I will indicate that it is B grade, but I don't anticipate selling it. As a Reiki Master and qi healer, I just HAVE to feel the energy in any stone, as I did with the beads at the trade show, and will probably not like the "feel" of anything other than natural stone. January 4

I received an email today from a customer who was thrilled with her jade bangle she purchased from YYJ. She commented that it was much nicer than the photo showed. It's true! Your jade will be nicer than the photo. Jade has a luminous quality that can't be captured in photos. It's difficult to get light through a jade bangle to show the translucence and keep the color accurate. I take at least 20 photos of each jade bangle to get one for the web site. Usually more than 20. Then it takes diligent effort to edit the photo to keep it accurate. I would rather err on the side of showing the photo as less than it really appears, than adjusting it to look better than it actually is. I think most of the photos on YYJ are not as bright and don't show translucence as much as the real thing. On the jadebanglebracelets.com web site I tried to make the photos brighter to show the coloring more accurately but they look kind of washed out to me. And although I check the photos in three monitors, yours will probably make it look slightly different. But on the "worse" side, not the better side! Your "real thing" will look much nicer than the photos.
Sister site jadebanglebracelets.com is having a buy one bangle, get 20% off your second bangle, click here for details January 3

I changed my jade bangle today from the white and hong jade to a three color fu lu shou bangle. I wanted jade with more yang energy because we're getting some very cold weather here in central Florida, even freezing at night. I was covering up the orange trees, hibiscus, ginger, and other tender landscaping this afternoon and thought I should have some high energy jade to protect me, too. It's easy to get sick when the weather turns cold when you're not used to it. If you like white jade but want more yang energy for winter, wear white jade with hues of other colors, like light lavender or gray, or with some deeper green color, or hong. If it's right for you, it will feel good when you put it on. I receive a lot of emails from readers who wear jade as "medicine", for wellness anc change their jade as their body conditions changes. A fun way to take your medicine! January 2

Happy New Year. Here is an excerpt from the Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade January online newletter:

Winter, according to Chinese medicine, Taoist belief, and many other traditions, is associated with the Water Element. Both Water and Winter are symbolically about discovering the Depths of who we are. It is a quiet and internal time. It is a time to recharge the battery pack of our adrenal systems and kidneys with rest, relaxation, and inward reflection.

Winter symbolizes a holding. It is a time of holding for our bodies, as we, and all the animals, retain an extra layer to keep warm. This holding also symbolizes the gestation that occurs within our beings as we dive deeper into the communication from our souls. Water can also symbolize the Dark night of Soul,... a time when we are called to step into and embrace the Mystery of Life; to dance with the unknown, and courageously trust that we will again step into Light and certainty. Thus, Winter is the best time of year to dive inward, face our deepest fears, summon our greatest courage, and examine our inner most selves.

The Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade January newsletter is available online now, click here. This month features Chinese medicine wellness information for Janury 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. You can also take a look at the jade bangle bracelet I'm wearing now, and reasons why.
January 1, 2008

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