For the last day of March, Women's Health Month, a jade bangle for beauty, and jade eggs for health. The "lao pit" charcoal and black jadeite bangle is a rare larger size just gorgeous. I've blogged this month about a jadeite bangle from my inventory that I've had on my desk and am so tempted to keep it, and today I officially cut it out of the packaging and put it on my wrist, so I got a new bangle! And the end of March is an auspicious time to get a new jade bangle, end of the first quarter of the year and moving into spring. And one more time for the clearance jade eggs on sale. I had several boxes full of these and am down to my last full box. They are a good green jade color, but have a little dimple on the end from the carver's tool, so have offered them at clearance price and they are a good deal. So end March, a month for women, with something special for yourself. March 30

We're trying a "free shipping" experiment on the JadeBangleBracelets web site to see how it will work out. Shipping to USA addresses is free by first class mail with an option to add on USPS Express service. International shipping is by EMS with the shipping fee showing as the customer checks out. International customers on both web sites are required to add the EMS express mail fee to their order when they check out on orders $100+ so their order can be tracked and insured, It's an add on they agree to in the terms of purchase but sometimes don't add it. So now the countries we ship to will show the shipping charge, and if they are a customer in a country we usually don't ship to, they must add the charge or their order will be cancelled. The other change is all the light green Chinese jade bangle bracelets must be purchased on the YYJ web site. Because of the price increase in jade and carving, and shipping from China, the prices on the Chinese jade bangles have been increased, and having fewer in our inventory requires us to keep them on one web site so we can keep track of inventory. It took several days of work to get the shipping charges to work properly, so if you encounter a problem when you check out, please inform us. We hope free shipping to USA addresses is something our customers will like. March 29

What I like best with jade is China Sea pearls, luscious and lusterous and natural like jade. White pearls and green jade is not only beautiful together, but also has great energy especially for early spring. The green jade has yang energy for growth and new beginnings, and the white pearls are more yin, calm and peaceful. Also the white pearl are the color of the lung meridian, according to Chinese medicine, and if you suffer from the yang of spring allergies, the yin of the white calming pearls help to balance and ease allergies. The beauty of green jade and white pearls regarding spring is the green is like new growth coming through the earth that may still be covered with snow. So you have beauty and wonderful energy to wear on your body. March 27

I've been organizing my jade inventory and it's always amazing what I find. I was thrilled to find a box of A quality jadeite bangles that I had set aside as an investment, really fine quality I purchased years ago knowing that good quality jadeite would be rare and the price get higher, which has happened. Black natural jadeite is really rare as is the old classic rounded style of jade bangle. Of course I wanted to share these right away, so they are on the web site as weekend specials. And at really good prices because they need to be on wrists, not in boxes! March 25

All of our jade photos are taken in natural outdoor light so the true color shows. Outdoor natural light can also show if a jade has been color treated because you can't hide that in natural daylight. The photo for the Daily Special was taken late in the day and there wasn't enough light to bring out all the color and texture, and show off the great polish. If you purchase it before the photo gets taken again and all the work and expense is put into getting it listed on the web pages, added to the shopping cart system, and all of it linked up and uploaded on the server, you will save big. I really like to offer low prices, but photos and web work add to the price because it's costly paying for web space, web hosting and shopping carts. So get a deal when you see a preview price because there's about $100 worth of "work" and expense not added to the price yet. March 24

A reader suggested that we sell jade rings on the web site. I have a small bag with Chinese jade solid jade rings, but I don't have a method to size them, because it's different sizing rings than it is jade bangles. And because rings are hand carved, the sizing would be more varied than a metal ring's sizing. It's difficult for jade carvers to make jade rings because of the size and small tools and much hand work required, so really good ones cost almost as much as jade bangles, and will have lots of those imperfections "the carver always leaves somthing behind" (if it's genuine jade), so I'm sure there would be complaints about that. Customers often ask for rings because they want a ring to match their jade bangle, and all natural color jade is different, so there would probably be a lot of disappointment even if I did my best to match a ring and bangle. And finally because a ring is solid jade you wear on your hand, its life would probably not be long and would be susceptible to breaking. So I am sorry to say that is why jade rings won't be sold on YYJ, much to my and many customers regret. March 23

Thanks so much for your purchases during our days of fundraising for a donation to the International Red Cross for relief to Japan. The news focuses on the nuclear reactor problems more than the suffering of the people, and I can't even imagine the pain of the people who lost everything during the horror of the earthquake, then the tsunami. A customer/friend purchased a Guan Yin bead mala bracelet to wear to remind her to be more compassionate and wrote today to tell me how bad she felt that she had so little to donate, but how good she felt to be part of our YYJ fundraising effort, and she will remember each time she wears the bracelet that even her small actions of buying a simple jade item can have a big impact. That's Karma! Today is the final day of the fundraiser, and I will donate the total amount of the jade bangle bracelet that's the Daily Special to help the people in Japan. Thank you all for your generosity. March 22

My friends in China have told me that iodized salt is completely sold out in the stores in China, because the Chinese people are so worried about getting radiation from the Japan nuclear disaster. And many health stores on the USA Pacific coast have sold out of iodine pills. There are many things we need to be protected from in the world today. It has always been good luck to wear the zodiac animal of the current year in Asia, and there's also a run on jade rabbit pendants and carvings. They symbol of rabbit will protect you and bring you luck during this Year of the Rabbit, and if you purchase the daily special you will already start to see your luck by getting a $10 discount. March 21

A customer complained about the "cracks" in her new jade bangle. I had checked it carefully and reviewed the photo and didn't see any cracks, but the jadeite had really nice varied green veins of color that she thought were flaws. I tried to educate her about the qualities of jadeite, but as she explained the "problem" further, I realized that she probably was not familiar with genuine and natural jadeite, and her other "jade bangle" was probably so color treated that it had lost all of the characteristics of jade. But if you don't really want a "stone" or jade bangle because of natural stone pattern, then you will never be happy with jade that is natural. Acid bleaching takes out the lines you often see, and color treating gives uniform color so you can't see the stone. I have had comments on my jadeite bangle I wear all the time, such as why do I wear a cracked one, and then she will show me her highly dyed bangle that she believes is such a better quality. My gorgeous old mine "lao pit" jade has highly prized veins that give it lots of fascinating color and glow, and that is what genuine jadeite is supposed to look like. March 20

Many women love lavender jade. In China, it is traditional that lavender jade is worn by mature women, because it's symbolic of wisdom, spiritual development, and is a color often worn by healers. The tradition for older women to wear lavender has really changed, because I have seen many younger Asian women wearing the color, because they love it! And that's what is important: wearing what you really love. March 19

What goes around, comes around. A reader asked why I chose the Red Cross for our donation to the Japan relief effort. In 2004 following six weeks of three hurricanes blasting right over our area, we were cleaning up the community of trees, branches, other debris including parts of roofs that were torn off by wind, there was no electricity, and it was a mess here. A Red Cross bus brought in hot meals and I can't tell you how much that was appreciated. And we want to "give back" by donating to the Red Cross that is responsive and well organized and much of what they receive they use to offer relief. The jade pendant that is daily special is symbolic of "what goes around", Karma, and you can choose to get your shipping refunded if you pay with Paypal, or donate the shipping charge to our fundraiser for Japan. Write either "refund" or "donate" in the comments box, and then receive your beautiful jade pendant that will remind you that what you do, how you live your life, affects not only you but all of the universe. Wow! March 18

Ying Yu Jade has many friends, blog readers and customers who live in Japan. We are heartbroken to see how devastated their country is from the earthquake and tsunami and want to help by having another Red Cross fundraiser to benefit the country and people of Japan. Ying Yu Jade has a long history of doing fundraisers and donating to the American and International Red Cross to aid people throughout the world who are suffering from disasters. When you make your purchases on Ying Yu Jade and JadeBangleBracelets web sites between March 17-22, 20% of profits from sales will be donated to the Red Cross for Japan relief.A gift of jade is always welcome, as well as a special treat for yourself, and you will enjoy this jade even more knowing that your purchase is helping those who are suffering. Jade has a history in Asia of connecting qi energy from body, mind and spirit which makes it a very personal gemstone to wear and give as a gift. The Japanese people have a special love for jade, and wear jade for its tradition as well as its beauty. A suggestion for purchase is a Guan Yin, Buddha of Compassion jade pendant, click here to view the selection.If you are not ready to purchase jade at this time, we urge you to make a donation to the International Red Cross for the Japan relief effort. March 17

JAD-Jade Acquisition Disorder, a term coined by a jade lover. We just can't get enough. I was looking through my inventory of jadeite bangle bracelets to do an inventory, and came across a beautiful bangle, just my size. I have resisted taking it out of its packet and putting it on my wrist, but it is perfect energy jade for this time of year: creamy white with hues of lavender and big green veins of varied shades. It has the same high chime as the jade bangle I wear daily, and I slid it over my hand while it was still attached with the silk cord to the packet, and it felt truly luscious as old mine "lao pit" jadeite does. I've been looking at it on my desk for two days, resisting cutting it an putting it on my wrist and wearing it. JAD will eventually win out, resistance is futile. March 15

This is Part II about why it's important to trust your jade seller when it comes to jades that are not common, like the mutton fat jade, and the old river Chinese jade bangles. We don't simply order jade from a Chinese seller and have it shipped to us, because we want to sell gem quality, not commercial quality. And it's important to know exactly where the jade we buy comes from. We have traveled to China and then taken planes, trains and buses to the remote areas where the jade actually is mined and where the carvers live and work. You can read some of the travelogs, click here. I buy some of the jade carving equipment so we can get specialized items. For example, the river jades are rarely sold outside of China, there is not a lot of this jade, and there are only a couple of carvers who make it into jade bangles as it is usually used to make carvings. The carving tools for jade bangles were one size, so last week we purchased equipment to make more sizes. When we purchased jadeite from southern China, we went directly to the jade carvers who live in remote regions, 2 hours by bus, not even accessible by train. When my associate in China acquired the mutton fat jade, he took a week long trip to Xinjiang to purchase the rough and get it carved in northern China, and sent me photos of his travels each day. So I know where this jade comes from, and how it is carved. And buying jade this way is a lot of work, unlike simply buying whatever is in the Guangzhou jade market which is mostly commercial quality and color enhanced. But selling jade is not only a business. You see energetic descriptions on the jades, because I have always bought traditional and good quality jade in the Chinese tradition, for your body qi. So I'm certainly not going to buy "junk", you can count on YYJ for high quality jade. March 13

New jade bangles listed on JBB web site, under $200, click here March 12

A blog reader commented about "mutton fat" jade from Xinjiang, which we discussed in our November 2010 blog, when I received the mutton fat jade bangle bracelets. The comment was the confusion about being able to identify what is true mutton fat jade, and not something else. A refraction test should show the jade testing as nephrite jade, so you really have to test to be sure if jade is nephrite or something else. But nephrite could be any kind of nephrite, not necessarily "mutton fat" jade from Xinjiang. So how do you know for sure? This is a time when you purchase this only from a trusted seller who you can believe in. There are several things that can give you clues. If the jade is being sold outside of China, it would be very rare for it to be mutton fat unless the seller had a direct connection to this jade in China. If the seller is a Chinese seller and is located in the south of China or Hong Kong, it is probably not mutton fat because mutton fat jade comes from a remote region in the north, an ethnic Muslim population, and jade sellers from the south usually don't buy northern jade, but sell jadeite they will call "mutton fat". If the jade is set in any metal, it is probably not mutton fat, because it's traditional that the pendants are worn on a silk cord, not set in gold or silver. I have had extensive training in China to recognize and identify the types of jades, both my ancient techniques and modern technology, but to be sure, it really must be tested. You can purchase a certificate of authenticity for jade bangles and pendants on Ying Yu Jade, and we offer a guarantee of genuine jade and jadeite authenticity. Fake Chinese and Hong Kong certificates are very common, I've been to one of the printing shops and seen these, so you do have to be careful. And buy from a trusted jade seller. March 10

The Thursday Daily Special is $3 discount on a pair of jade ben wa balls. I offer these at a low price because I want to make these very available to women, as keeping the woman's pelvic floor strong is one of the best things she can do for herself. With the high price of jade, the cost for getting them carved, the high price of shipping to USA from China, these are very low priced at the regular price, and the Special price is really special. If you are reading this, you can purchase them now at the discounted price. March 9

Today our community held a Mardi Gras parade and many of the guys dress as women, as did my husband. After he was dressed, had his wig on and make up done. I caught him rummaging through my jade bangle inventory trying to find a bangle big enough for him. We found a 65mm jade bangle and squeezed it on using the plastic bag technique, then he wanted another one on the other wrist and found a fu lu shou bangle to fit. So now I not only have to watch for him snitching my clothes, but also my jade bangles. Jade is loved by everyone! March 8

My every day jade bangle finally looks "good" again. When we returned from our vacation it hadn't looked good for several days, and then when we got home some of our fellow travelers were really sick but I seemed to have fought off whatever they were stricken with. But the orange trees are all in blossom and it took awhile to adjust to the pollen in the air so the jade still didn't look good, but today it is bright, the small veins are really green and I can see the good "stone" pattern of the jade stone. I am well, the jade bangle is well, we are in harmony with nature, the Dao. March 7

When we returned from our vacation one of the first business related things I did was try to take photos of new items to list on the web site. I turned on the camera and the macro close-up function didn't work. After fiddling with it a couple of hours, I accepted it was broken and went online to research digital cameras, but I didn't have much time because I can't be without a camera. The local Ritz Camera didn't have the model I want in stock, so I ordered online, and it arrived last Thursday afternoon. Being a new and improved model it has the potential to take better photos, but I will need some time to get adjusted to its quirks. I always want to actual item to look better than the photo, which is a comment I get frequently from customers who are awed by their new jade purchase. While I'm learning to use it, I'll offer really great preview prices this because I know I'll have to retake the photos later, so buy them while the photo is not so great and get a great price. March 6

I've been hearing from customers who purchased jade bangles during "make an offer" days, as they are receiving their purchases. Here is an email that is an example of what I'm hearing: "I just wanted to write and tell you how lovely by oval bangle is! I just picked it up this evening at the post-office. The color is beautiful and I tested the chime by suspending the bracelet from a thread and tapping it gently with a thin metal rod. It rang like a bell! I currently have a nice bangle that was advertised as A grade (“Imperial” ) Its sound was flatter and lower and now I realize the jadeite has likely been treated by bleaching and dyeing. I really appreciate all the information provided on your site – its clear that you love the stone and have real integrity. Its such a “leap of faith” when dealing with vendors online, and you and my new bangle have exceeded my expectations......thanks again"
There is certainly a big difference in genuine natural gem quality jadeite and commercial quality, and when you have a good quality, you know it! March 4

My Chinese jade supplier looked at the jade bangle bracelets I'm selling and let me know that they are selling in China for more than I sell online here in the USA, that the retail price in China is $100 USD. Our prices are $85. He told me the price for the high quality of the Chinese jade and getting them carved in the classic round style has increased, and I will need to raise the price to cover increased price of jade plus the increased shipping charges as you know that fuel prices have increased dramatically, and shipping adds to the price of what I have to pay. If you have wanted a translucent beautiful "watery" green Chinese jade bangle, get it now before I raise the prices later this week. March 3

The Daily Special today is free shipping on clearance jade eggs. These eggs have a small dimple the jade carving tool left when it held the egg in place to polish. They are priced $20 lower than our higher polished set. Kegel and pelvic floor exercise is so important to women's health, and should start right after that first baby, or in pre-menopause. You can do kegel exercise using your own muscle, but the egg or ben wa balls give feedback and offer the healing energy of jade, an object that will also build thin vaginal walls to increase lubrication and more comfort. These are an item I worked with a Chinese doctor to develop the best sizes, and used them myself before I sold them. If you lose urine when you sneeze, gotta go all the time, discomfort due to dryness, try these before you get prescription medication or surgery. A small investment that reaps tremendous health benefits for women. AND free shipping today, a $6.95 value. March 2

It's March! A month of yin and yang energy, big weather changes, and I listed the perfect jade bangle to start this month, with yin yang energy, a balance of powerful color veins and a little charcoal hues (yang) balanced with light green and wonderful translucence (yin). The Daily Special, and at a very good price.

The Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade complete March newsletter is available online now, click here. This month features Chinese medicine wellness information for March 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. March 1

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