Ying Yu Jade
Click the Earth
You can always see what's new, click here
Every day I get at least one email from a customer who tells me how much s/he loves the jade that was purchased. And I'm so happy to hear that, because jade should make you happy. The Joy of Jade is can ease our minds, soothe our stress, lessen our pain. No wonder the Chinese have cherished it for centuries. September 30
End of September, summer is really over. Although it's still hot and humid in central Florida, it's not as hot and those long lazy days are over. A girlfriend and I walked at sunset, and commented to each other how the sky has changed and maybe we need to make some adjustments in our lives now, too. That's Dao: being in harmony with nature. Dao is the origins of Chinese medicine, tai chi, feng shui, so take a look at your life, see if you need to adjust something to stay balanced. I'm adding a small jade peach pendant to wear at my throat to keep my thyroid stimulated as the weather changes. September 29
Another blog raving about excellent quality jade bangles. And this refers to the same bangle in yesterday's blog, a fine grained lao pit jadeite. Today I was in a situation where I had to patiently wait, and I was bored and wanted to get it over with, restless, so I started playing with my jade bangle, flicking it with fingernail. Of course it caused a beautiful high chime and I moved it around my arm listening to the chime at various places, with different flicks of the nail. The entire bangle was vibrating nicely, and looking good, a pleasant way to pass time. I have an app on my iPhone, singing bowls, that I play with when I need to "be patient and wait", but I could chime my jadeite bangle and no one had any idea my mind was somewhere else. The finer the grain, the nicer the chime. September 28
A "jade sister" who purchased a seafoam green veins jadeite bangle from the same rough as one I wear most of time sent me a recent "rave" about how much she loves her jade bangle, and how the color keeps getting prettier. She frequently sends me emails telling me how much she is enjoying it, and hopes I don't get tired hearing about it. I don't! Those of you who read this blog know I rave about mine at least twice a month. That jadeite is so fine, so wonderful that it just keeps getting nicer as I wear it. Sometimes I look at it and have to check to make sure it's really "mine". It brings me much happiness and a healthy glow, and then my qi goes into it and makes it look prettier. This is the ultimate example of the mystery of jade and why Chinese people have cherished it over the centuries. And I never do get tired hearing from her, because we share the same jade rough, and I understand exactly what she is experiencing. We are true "jade sisters". September 27
Sometimes new customers want to know why I don't have discounts on all the jade because other web sites offer varying discounts all the time. Ying Yu Jade and Jade Bangle Bracelets are NOT discount web sites. We set fair prices based on what the cost is to purchase the jade, and don't artificially inflate the prices so you can get a "discount". A weekly or daily special sale is a REAL sale, and you get what you pay for (if not more than what you pay for). For example, you can look at this week's special jadeite bangle bracelets. The price we paid for them is determined by quality of the jadeite, color and amount of jade in the bracelet. The lowest price jade bangle is soft green and was purchased for a lower price than the other two, which have more green, and you can see the quality is higher because you can actually see the jade stone in the photo, all the "flowering" pattern. One of those two costs more because it is wider and has more jade in it. They are all good values, and on these you will definitely get MORE than what you pay for. September 26
I was looking through the Macy's sale pages yesterday and saw some really cute ladies suits in colors that jade would look great with, and the suits looked so appealing to me that I commented to my husband I would almost like to get a "real" job so I could wear a suit and cute shoes to work. He suggested getting one of those suits and wearing it when I work here at home, and then commented it would be an improvement over working in my pajamas or old tee shirts. I work at least 6 hours daily: in the morning with getting the Daily Special uploaded and filling orders that came in during the night, then after lunch for a couple of hours getting products online and dealing with administrative taks, , then after dinner getting out orders and answering emails. But if you work at home, you know how it is: although your time is flexible which is nice in some ways, that same flexibility means you often don't get the respect as one would who goes to a workplace and stays there. So I won't be getting a suit, or career dress, to wear while I work in my home office, but it does remind me that all of us who work hard deserve to treat ourselves with something special. The Fall colors in clothing do look good with jade, so I do need to get some new clothes, and maybe you need to get some new jade! Sept 23
A friend wrote that she regretted she didn't have the opportunity to give her good friends gifts of jade bangle bracelets before they died, and wondered if there was a Chinese tradition to honor them now and pass on the good wishes to them. The Chinese people celebrate "Tomb Sweeping Day" in early April, where they visit the graves of ancestors and clean their graves and then leave offerings, like dried foods. They also bring symbolic items, like paper money that they burn so the "good fortune" goes to the ancestors. So you could print out a photo of a Ying Yu Jade bangle, and burn it, symbolically sending it to the person who has passed, wishing them wonderful jade in their afterlife. September 22
Customers often tell me when they receive their jade bangle order, and most of them are so surprised the "real thing" is so much nicer than the photo. You've heard me say it before: jade is extremely difficult to photography accurately. It rarely looks as nice as the real thing. The photo is only "flat" and never shows the lovely translucence that all jade has (and one of the properties that make it so difficult to get a good photo). The Sept 22 Daily Special is a jade bangle, the photo taken with an older camera that sure didn't do a good job of capturing its beauty. It's amazing when I think back 11 years ago, first started selling jade, and cameras took terrible photos compared to today's camera with higher megapixels. I can remember when that photo looked really good to me, compared to the photos from the camera before it. Anyway, it's due for a new photo and new pricing, so if 56mm is your size, this will be a great buy (pssst....if you're reading this Sept 21, you can buy it now instead of waiting until tomorrow, click here). September 21
Let me know what you would like to see as Daily Specials. Or what kind of information about jade you would like to know more about. Next month I'm taking a much needed 10 day vacation, then the holiday season keeps me really busy, so before vacations, holiday craziness, if there's something you want to see on Ying Yu Jade, let me know! September 20
I went to one of my regular trade shows this weekend, and I usually meet with three vendors who bring some special jade things for me. Two of them didn't exhibit, and the one who did, didn't bring any jade, none at all. She said it's too expensive to buy real jade now, that people don't want to pay the price of real jade and she doesn't want to sell fake jade (like me!). A new Chinese seller had 6 jade tiger tooth pendants, which I had never seen before and are quite rare, so I bought them all...and that's the only jade I purchased. I met with a couple jewelry suppliers and discussed the wire wrap and gemstone idea for repairing or adding "bling" to a jade bangle, or making the diameter a little smaller, and bought some tiny gems so I can brainstorm with my jeweler how we can do this. There were many fashion items at this trade show, lots of overpriced handbags and clothes, and it didn't look like people were buying to resell because the prices were quite high. I usually can't resist these, though, and I wasn't even tempted this time. The price of sterling silver has gone up, and there weren't any of the jadeite and sterling silver earrings or pendants. So that's what's going on at the gem trade show, and jade, as it always does, is becoming more rare and increasing in price. September 19
Saturday's Daily Special is a "yin yang" green and white jadeite bangle, with good green color on one side, and lighter jade on the other side. When jade carvers have their jade rough, they evaluate the coloring. The darker green color is more valuable, so they determine how they will get the most use out of the available good green color. There may be a big vein of green with some off-white color. So he carves using some of the green and some of the lighter color to create a jade bangle that will give him the best price. The white part is usually not pure white because it is natural color, and isn't bleached to make it "clear" and get rid of the darker spots. That's how you know the color is natural. The Saturday special is a good example of how the carver uses the jade rough to his best advantage. September 17
I've been reading about how people concerned about the economy are investing in gold, and the concern is that since gold is priced so high now, it's the next big "bust", meaning investors will lose as gold loses its value when the economy improves. Some blog readers have told me they have jadeite in their portfolios, as an investment. Occasionally someone will ask to purchase a very fine, high quality piece of jadeite, and they give me their price range, don't even want to see a photo, and purchase sight unseen. They won't wear the jade, but it will be a part of their portfolio, so it doesn't matter to them what it looks like. And I have to say, everyone who has purchased in this manner has been very happy with their jade. Mostly it is Asian, or Chinese people who do this. I started doing this years ago, buying a piece of jade that was exquisite, and keeping it in a safe. They have all grown in value, as the good jadeite has become more scarce, and as jade carving is not as artistic as it used to be. You can't put a value on it like gold, or diamonds. There's a Chinese saying "gold and diamonds have a price, but jade has no price", meaning the value is what the buyer and seller agree upon. That's how I purchase ALL the jade in the jade markets. It's all bargained for. Lots of work! But that's the traditional Chinese way. September 16
I always look forward to going to trade shows. The one this weekend is my favorite, and a vendor brings some special jade items for me, so I arrive early to get "first pick". It's my best opportunity to get genuine jade, unique items, to sell for the holidays. I've been offering Weekly Specials that are appealing to many people even if they are not jade addicts (as some of us are!) and this week's specials offer free shipping. The holidays will be here in a blink of they eye and not is a good time to put some jades away for those special gifts. Jade has universal appeal, and for a person who is difficult to shop for, jade is a unique, one of a kind item that will please even the most difficult to please people. And I have to admit that whatever I buy, it's because I know I'm going to skim a few off the top for my gifts to people. As always, I sell only products I would personally use, so everything is "good stuff" September 15
I was chatting with some women friends about getting our nails done, and one of the women commented that the men at her Vietnamese nail salon also wore jade bangle bracelets. I sold a black jade bangle to an Asian man last month, and he was thrilled with it. He was so happy to find a large size, and wide, more masculine. I make great effort to get some larger and wider jade bangles for men and women with larger wrists. They are costly, they use more jade and jade carvers don't like to "waste" jade making larger sizes, which they assume will be for export, therefore to "rich foreigners" who can afford higher prices. The jade carver I use makes them for men, a little larger, wider and more sturdy, and NOT commercial grade. Chinese men wear jade bangles, too! September 14
The weather is starting to fluctuate for many of us, warm days but very cool nights. If you read the Calm Spirit online newsletter, you learned that the organ needing nurturning this time of year is the lung. The lung is vulnerable to illness from weather change, as well as to allergies from end of the summer ragweed and other pollens. The color of jade to strengthen the lung is white. The best combination is is white jade with some veins or "butterfly" pattern of darker color, such as moss or some deeper, warmer green veins. This will balance the lungs and the liver qi energy. When you look at your jade bangles, or photos on the web sites, the jade colors and patterns that appeal to you most likely have the energy you need for this time of year. While traditional Chinese and Asian women wear the same jade all the time, some of us wear jade as "medicine" to balance our body qi, and your brain intuitively knows what energy you need, and that's why certain jades are more appealing to you. If you think you need some jade to balance you, through Tuesday is a good time get some healthy jade, with $25 off jade bangles $275+ on JadeBangleBracelets web site, and some free shipping deals, check out the daily special. Any jade you wear fills with your body qi, and if your qi is healthy your jade will be, and that jade qi will then benefit you. September 12
I spent the past couple of days updating and rotating inventory on the Jade Bangle Bracelets web site. I added so many new bangles that I had to add a new page in the $250-500 section. It still needs some tweeking, but I want you to be the first to know there are new jade bangles added AND offer you a discount of $25 off any jade bangle $275+ with coupon code JBB25. It was a major job, and I will appreciate if you let me know if there are any glitches, like incorrect prices or item numbers showing up. It's always a pleasure handling the jade bangles to get their photos. But I have to work without any interruptions to get them on the web pages, then in the shopping cart, then link everything up so it works right. I try to convince myself I enjoy all the web site work, but really I just like playing with the jade. I usually put them all on my wrist, up my arm to see how they look, how they feel both as jade, and energetically. Then compare the qualities, and price them accordingly. You always get what you pay for, sometimes you get more than what you pay for, because I do have jade in every price range, even if it's priced below what it would be for retail, in a shop in Chinatown. So enjoy! Click here to see what's new. Actually, some of the newly listed ones don't show up as "new' for some reason, don't know why, so take a look around, lots of beautiful jade! September 11
The energy of natural jade has positive qualities that help the person who wears it. The Daily Specials have had "peace" themes as we approach the anniversary of September 11. While we don't have the power to stop the hate, wars, radical religions, and other evil forces in the world, we do have the power to live our lives as instruments of peace, and be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Jade qi energy helps me to be a kinder, more peaceable person in my daily life. And I believe jade protects me. When I feel in danger, whether physical danger, or feeling the anger of another person, I rub my jade bangle and visualize a protective shield around myself. This helps me get through difficult situations. I hope your jade also brings you peace. I've offered symbols of peace in jade this week at Daily Special prices. September 9
The other to keep in mind about the width of a jade bangle is that since the standard width is 12mm, a wider bangle will fit like it is a little smaller. When you go up in width 3-4mm it will fit like a mm smaller. So if you normally wear a 56mm by 12mm wide jade bangle, and you purchase a 57mm bay 15mm wide bangle, it will fit like 56mm. Same applies on a more slender jade bangle. If it's only 8 or 9mm wide, you can probably go down a size because it will go on easier, AND maybe even fit closer to your wrist. As always, let me know if you have questions. September 8
A customer who has been looking at wider than average, wider than 12mm, jade bangles asked if because she is a small Chinese woman, would a wider bangle look too big on her. The bangles she is considering are deeper green color "high energy", nothing subtle about them! I purchased them because of their width and having a substantial amount of jade in them, so they would hold up well to daily wearing. The woman selling these was a very petite Chinese woman, who was wearing one, and that's what attracted my attention to the jade bangles she was selling. I didn't think it looked big on her, although when I tried one on I thought it might be too wide for me, because I wear a 52-53mm bangle and am small boned and slender. I think the reason it doesn't look big and bulky is because jade is translucent, it's not heavy and solid looking, even when it has a bold color pattern. Natural jade never seems to overwhelm the wearer. The Chinese woman jade seller looked very elegant, and "lush" with that deep color "Chinese writing" jade bangle on her wrist, self assured and well balanced. So that's my opinion, and I hope it helps with decisions about those wider than average jade bangles Sept 7
All responses regarding traditional vs "modern embellished" jade bangles were in favor of the traditional. Not a surprise, both Western and Asian, Chinese women prefer the good ol' solid jade bangle to wear all the time, for health and adornment. Ying Yu Jade has been selling traditional jade, and that's why you shop here. However...consider this. If you break your jade bangle, or get a big crack in it, would you stop wearing it, or might you get it repaired with embellishing such as wire wrapping with by itself or a few gemstones hiding the damage? When I'm in China, my assistants are both younger, under age 30, Chinese women who like jade, not love it, and would wear it if it didn't look like "mother's, grandmother's" jade. When we're shopping, and we see a jade that is really different, like with darker coloring, the "Chinese writing" pattern, their elders would not like that kind, but they would. So they would like embellished. And here's a thought I have, being selfish of course and wanting to keep more of my inventory of jade bangles for myself. I wear a 52-53mm jade bangle, but have some 55-56mm that I love and wish I could keep, but can't wear. Some wire wrapping, embellishing with make it fit tighter and THEN I could wear it. So that's what I'm going to experiment with, working with my jeweler. And if we work it out, I will offer the services of repairing jade bangles with wire wrapping to disguise the damage. I'm taking a couple very good 55mm jade bangles to start with, and when I go to the trade show I'll be able to purchase the wire and jewels for embellishing. I'm excited! I want to wear both: traditional for all the time, embellished for fun. September 6
Friend jade lover
Karen sent a link about jewelry designers "updating" jade to
make it more modern, including adding sterling silver and gemstones to
jade bangles, photo at end of this blog. Let me know what you think: do
you like the modern touches, do you prefer your jade pure and traditional.
Inquiring minds want to know! I'll report your responses. Click
here for the article. September 5
Yesterday I received my jade order that I requested for the end of July, but was delayed, and was really happy to receive it. 100 pounds of jade! I had sold the last set of three undrilled carved eggs just yesterday morning, so it arrived when I needed it. Jade eggs, jade ben wa balls, I can barely keep these in stock, they take much time to make, and are really heavy to ship. I sold the next to the last jade finger and hand massager Wednesday, got more in this shipment. I ordered Chinese river jade bangles, but got some really pretty mostly-green Chinese jade bangles, unlike the regular "water jade" color I usually get. They are truly luscious, rich color all natural jade, and I need to find out more about them so I can report to you. When I get the information and get everything unpacked and put away, I'll show you photos. T first I thought they were Burmese jadeite, which is illegal to import to USA and some other countries now because the color is so lively and rich, and I have seen these sold as "jadeite" on some web sites, but it's Chinese jade because that's what I buy. Also some new items, so watch for new listings...but first I need to unpack 100 pounds of jade! September 4
The most rare jadeite color is red, "hong", and you rarely see it in the jadeite that is available today. It's also the color that is most color treated to add interest to jade. I've had a few pieces that had some natural hong color. And customers are always asking for it. BB2257 has some veins of hong, very tiny, but they really add a lot of interest. Unfortunately, those tiny veins are not what customers have in mind when they are looking for a red jadeite bangle. If you really want red jadeite, and want to pay under $1000+, there are some nicely dyed red jadeites that are sometimes available. But not all natural "A" color. Too bad, sure would be pretty. September 3
Yesterday there were several emails in the morning from customers asking if YYJ would have a Labor Day sale on jade bangle bracelets. I really had not planned to, because I had sold most of the special purchase jade bangles at low prices during July holiday and August specials. So I searched for some jade bangles I could offer at a really low price, because you work hard for your money, and it IS Labor Day weekend, so you asked for it, you've got it! I even included some 59-60mm jade bangles which cost more, but I hadn't offered that size, which is average size for most of us Western women. Jade bangles larger than 58mm are mostly made from commercial quality jade since they are not Asian size, but I like a better quality and search for those finer gem quality in 59mm+. Sizes 61mm+ are even more expensive to purchase because they have more jade in them, and jade carvers don't want to use their best quality jade for larger sizes that they know will be exported from China for "foreign" women. So unfortunately I don't have any in 61mm+ to offer at low prices. These 59 and 60mm jade sale bangles are the absolute end of the ones I can offer at bargain prices. So get them while you can. September 2
The Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade complete September newsletter is available online now, click here. This month features Chinese medicine wellness information for September 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.
Click the Earth
