Ying Yu Jade
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This is a follow
up to yesterday's blog referring to the "mosquito strips". The
strips I purchased are yellow plastic and saturated with citrine or something
that repels mosquitoes. There are holes in them to make them adjustable
for wrists, ankles or to attach to something. I attached mine to my belt
which was black, and the dress was white and black with yellow accents.
People thought I hadn't removed the price tag! I don't remember where
I purchased them, but I bought a dozen. Each one is in a plastic resealable
bag, so when you remove it, you can put it in the bag to maintain the
repelling chemical. They are supposed to be good for up to 60 hours. I
usually put one on my ankle when I'm outdoors as that's where I get most
bug bites. I don't like insect repellant and chemicals on my body, so
these work good for me, and it's amusing that I get more comments about
them than I do my jade bangles.
June 30
The best part of going away is coming home again. We enjoy visiting family, and it was a good visit. Saturday was a niece's wedding on the family farm in Ohio. It was a real mix of traditional and casual, good turnout of extended family we hadn't seen in a long time. The only jade story is not a real story. One of my cousins asked if we still sold that "green stone stuff", she couldn't remember what it was called. I got more comments on my anti-mosquito strip that I attached to the belt on my dress than I did on my fabulous jade bangle! I am humbled to be reminded that jade is of interest to only a small segment of the USA population. But those of us who love it make up for the small interest by our great love and obsession for it! June 29
We're visiting family for a few days, so no new blog until after June 29 unless something interesting jade related happens. None of the women in my family are interested in jade, but enjoy the pearl jewelry and the crystal pendants. I usually carry a few pieces with me, and have sold jade bangles right off my wrist in airports, travel plazas. It's fun to meet people who attracted to the jade, and I DO talk to strangers when I travel. I'll put some coupons on the Daily Special if you want a "deal" while I'm gone, and will ship when I get home June 29. June 24
I often receive emails asking about information they read on the internet about jade, especially information that conflicts. Internet information about jade is like internet information about anything else. Each writer has different motives for the information they write. Ehow and Wiki are often regarded as the best information, but did you know that anyone can write anything as an "expert" on most of the information web sites. I'm sure you read information about topics you are very familiar with, and noticed some information is very incorrect. The same thing happens with jade information. So keep that in mind, and do ask questions. I even had some incorrect information about jadeite because my Chinese is limited and it's difficult for me to comprehend entire Chinese conversations, and it took me a couple years to understand what I was being told about "lao pit" jadeite, about it's excellent quality as jade stone, but there are other things to consider about it. For example, just because it is "A" quality, doesn't necessarily mean that all of it is very pretty fo jade pendants and bangle bracelets. The current trend is not NOT bleach out the colors, spots, but to leave them natural, and NOT to fill the veins with resins and/or color but to leave those natural, too. Natural, yes, but not always what customers want to buy because they're not green enough, translucent enough, for what they like. So, read everything, ask questions when you need clarification. June 21
From a reader:
"Since you are offering a lavender piece as today's daily special,
could you talk some about lavender jadeite one of these days? I believe
quite a time ago in your blog you mentioned that the Chinese reserve the
wearing of lavender bangles for mature women? Why? That is so interesting
and has always stuck with me! Also, you used to say that you don't like
lavender jadeite very much; I can't imagine why! Do you still feel that
way? I think it's lovely and unique"
I didn't realize that Chinese women considered lavender jade for "mature
women" until I started doing my own jade shopping in China. And that
was 10 years ago. China has become much more modern since then, and modern
young Chinese women do like lavender jade now. Several years ago it was
difficult to buy natural color lavender jade and most of it was color
treated, but now I know where to go to find the natural color lavender
jade, and I have come to like it very much personally. Maybe it's also
because I'm more mature! I still don't carry very much lavender jadeite
because it is more rare and more expensive, although I have few lavender
jade bangles, and some lavender jade pendants. The lavender color is formed
by minerals entering the jade stone. Highly translucent lavender jade
is very very rare, very expensive, and to get a good natural quality,
none of the lavender jade I sell is glassy translucent. So to honor lavender,
this weekend the specials will be the Guan Yin pendant that was Friday's
special, and the "bi" symbol of heaven pendant. June 20
There is nothing more peaceful than a beautiful jade Guan Yin pendant. Guan Yin is the Buddha of Compassion, she is protector of women and children, and her pose, or "mudra" is signficant. Today's Special is Guan Yin sitting on an open lotus (symbol of enlightenment) in a Peace pose. It's the Daily Special because she seems so peaceful and our world needs peace now. This beautiful lavender jadeite pendant looks beautiful to wear. I also have a Chinese jade Guan Yin I have attached to a "purse jools" and carry it on my handbag, with energy for peace going wherever I do. June 19
I have a few jadeite bangles with nice imperial green veins that when you study them, they appear visually slightly different from most jade bangle bracelets. They don't seem as round, and even, and when you feel them all around, you can feel that they are not perfectly rounded. The other different thing about them is an "orange peel" surface where the good green veins are. A woman who insists on a "perfect jade bangle" would not like these, but in fact they are really special. The irregularity is caused by being hand carved, not carved by the modern jade carving tools. And the slighly rough "orange peel" is purposely caused by not highly polishing this jade to make it all smooth, which adds interest to the jade. This kind of jadeite is also the old mine lao pit, deep mined with fine grain, the best and most precious. So why is it made like this, so "imperfect"? Jadeite is auctioned, sometimes called "gambling on jade" because there is a small window in the jade stone and then the buyer has to guess what the inside of the stone is like. Some jade carvers are not full time carvers, they may be farmers who work on their farms when they need to, then carve jade when they have time. They might gamble on a jade stone and then keep it as an investment. Not being full time jade carvers, they haven't invested in all the tools jade carvers have, and they do most work by hand, therefore the irregularities, not perfectly rounded are a result of hand work. And they are very careful to space the precious coloring to show it off at it's best. The lack of polishing the veins area is a trademark of hand crafting, it is very "old fashioned" to do this as most people want smooth and highly polished jade, but if you appreciate very natural things, then you will love these "old timey" jade bangles. Ying Yu Jade price for the best of these with imperial green veins will be $8000 when I get it listed. Not for everyone, but for serious collectors and lovers of true and natural jadeite. June18
A reader who purchased
one of the new "summer white" jade bangles asked what kind of
necklace might look good with it. I recently had some of the Ming
pottery shards made into necklaces with big beautiful white jade beads.
The white jade looks especially stunning with the classic blue and white
shards. Check them out, they are perfect for summer, or anytime, and make
a great gift. June 17
China shopping and culture trip, anyone interested? 10-12 days, first stop Beijing with sightseeing the Great Wall, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, being treated like royalty thanks to a Beijing business man. Jade, pearl, furniture and antique shopping, fabulous dining, foot massage, tea, acrobat show and more. Then fly to the Guangzhou and shop at the jade market. Then the train to Hong Kong and leave from Hong Kong after a day of sightseeing there. October is the best month with the most nice weather, April/May is nice, too. If you are interested, you can check out airfare to Beijing, and leaving from Hong Kong, ($1300-1500). Airfare from Beijing to Guangzhou is about $350-400. We'll get discount hotel rates, there's the cost of eating, sightseeing. It will be a unique experience because we will go places, see and do things that regular tourists don't get the opportunity to do. Let me know if you're interested and if you would want to go 2009 or 2010, and if I get a good response we'' firm up details. June 15
A writer asked about "red jade" bangles she had noticed some Asian women wear. When she looked closely at it, she wasn't sure it was jade, and she thought it looked more like agate, She described it as being a brownish red. This color of jade would be very rare if natural color and probably not used to make an entire bangle because of the high cost it would be. Some of YYJ bangles have veins of "hong", sometimes I describe them as "butterfly" pattern because the color looks like butterfly tracks, very delicate and subtle. When it comes to any jade that is highly colored, examine it carefully. Look for the "flowery" stone pattern characteristic of jadeite. If it feels heavier than you expect, it might not be jade, or might be highly color treated with resins. Tap it with you fingernail and listen to the chime, and compare it to your jade: a "thunk" indicated gemstone other than jade, or colored resin. Unique colored jadeite is rare and will be priced high. Look at the prices on YYJ, which are what you should expect to pay for high quality natural A grade jadeite. If you read the blogs and information on this web site, you have learned a lot about jade and can make a good decision. June 14
I've been adding new jade bangles and other jade items to both YYJ and JBB. As I have been choosing the bangles to list, it occurs to me that the most recent bangles are generally a better quality than the older ones.Prior to 2005, the jadeite bangles were purchased for me through my supplier who would travel to Guangzhou and shop for me. I gave him a price range and he was very thrifty in his purchases, with low price being more important than quality. When I started going to China to purchase the bangles, I paid more for better quality, and when I ran out of money, then shopping was finished. If you've read my travelog and blogs, you know the wholesale jade sellers take cash only, no credit cards, so when the cash is gone, the shopping is done. The value of the US dollar has gone down, jade prices have gone up, jade is more scarce because the mine has reduced output or shut down, but I am still able to offer wonderful quality "A" jadeite, most of them under $500. I check out how much jade bangles sell in China, and price them around the same. So jade you buy is truly a good "deal" and you are getting great quality. June 11
I have a small
box of jadeite bangles that are unbleached natural white jade with soft
hues of green of lavender on white, and are "summer white" jade
bangle bracelets. Often white jade is bleached with acid to remove all
color and white resin is added to make it true white. Natural unbleached
white is softer and icy and cold, and these are old mine "lao pit"
jade bangles, with high chime from the fine grain, excellent "A"
quality. The soft lavender hues give this jade the appearance of blue
hues, and is called "chalk blue" because the bangle is translucent
and the lavender is a little more solid, giving the appearance of "chalk"
with the hue of "blue". Blue is not a natural color for Burmese
jadeite, so it's exciting to find the "chalk blue hues" jadeite
to add a little variety to a jade collection. They are lovely for summer
hot weather, the softness from the hues glows more as you wear it. Watch
for these as I am listing them on both web sites. June 9
Several times a year, we have "Make and Offer" day, an opportunity for you to make an offer and a jade bangle you have been looking at, wishing to have on your wrist. June 9 is your opportunity to make your own daily special and get a special jade bangle at a great price. The Make an Offer form gives you some guidelines and suggestions. So....make your best offer. June 8
What kind of jade to wear for warmer weather: icy, pale, translucent old mine "lao pit" with fine grain and high chime. This kind of jade has energy for balancing your body qi in any weather, but in summer the "yin" soft cooling energy will balance the body heat. The part of the bangle that falls away from your wrist will always feel more cool than the parts that touch your body, so when you move around you will feel the coolness from the jade. We had a pleasant surprise of an unexpected supply of these and will offer them as long as they last at a great low price. If you need a certain size, do ask, because we have an assortment of "Chinese sizes" (not larger than 61mm). Click the "earth" below to contact me. June 7
I am often asked how I know if the jade is "real and genuine" jade and jadeite. The refraction index test is a gemology test used to identify gemstones, and the standard by which jade and jadeite are tested to be absolutely sure it's genuine. Jadeite tests at 1.66 and the Chinese jade refractive index is around 1.58. Our jade is tested when we purchase it, and if a customer requests a certificate of authenticity we do the refraction index and other tests in the Ying Yu Jade lab. We don't "guess" if it's genuine jade, we know it is because it's tested so you can be assured you are buying genuine jade, not glass or another mineral. June 5
A customer asked
me about the difference is using a jade
gua sha tool vs the more traditional buffalo horn tool. The buffalo
horn comes from a dead animal. Enough said? Jade qi and body qi are very
compatible, as the Chinese have known for centuries. Energy practitioners
use their hand for healing, and feel the energy exchange with the person
you're working on. If there is a tool you're using, you want a good flow
of energy through it. My Chinese qigong master taught us to flow qi through
our hands. In fact, we were required to do a practice that involves the
qi flowing through the hands and fingers before we were allowed to practice
qi healing on others. Tai chi is a practice that balances qi flow and
moves qi through the body. The best healing practitioners also do a daily
personal qi practice. The best acupuncture doctors play taiji sword, not
as a weapons training, but as a flow of qi.When you use a jade gua sha
tool, or pointer, or jade roller, you not only get the healing benefits
of such a tool, but also the qi energy from the jade itself. And that
wonderful jade qi is the reason I have sold only natural jade and jadeite.
I can feel the jade qi from good jade when I touch it, and so can you
when you pay attention to it. June 3
Some of the newly listed jade bangle bracelets in the value section of JadeBangleBracelets have the "butterfly" color pattern and the photo on the weekly special also shows this "butterfly" pattern. A reader asked about this pattern and how it is valued. The "peppery" appearance of the butterfly pattern is caused by minerals that seeped in the jadeite stone and caused the color. Sometimes there is a vein or clarification irregularity in the stone that allows the minerals to seep in and make the color pattern. If the vein or clarification is on the surface of the bangle you can feel it and that slightly diminishes the value. The color of the jadeite, including the placement of the color pattern also determine value. For example, a "hong" reddish pattern on white would have more value than a honey color which is more common than "hong". The women in the jade markets really love this pattern and Chinese women don't mind a clarification or irregularity that can be felt because they believe it "proves" that it's natural jadeite and natural color. When they show me the "butterfly" pattern, I can see they truly believe it is precious, their eyes light up, they often put it on their own arm and admire it. Before I did my own shopping in China, I didn't know how cherished this pattern is, and regarded it as "spotty", and when my supplier saw I was pricing these low, he would tell me they were actually more valuable. Everyone has a different idea about what makes a "perfect jade bangle", and I offer a variety, with something for everyone. June 1
The
Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade complete
June newsletter is available online now, click here. This month features
Chinese medicine wellness information forJune 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.
