Ying Yu Jade
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Thanks for your
response regarding Paypal. Those of you who LOVE Paypal are very loyal,
and so I will continue accepting Paypal payments, give it another chance.
Of course, we always accept your credit card-Visa, Mastercard and American
Express. If you use Discover card, then you have to go through
the Paypal checkout.
Can you believe it's the last day of September! I'm going to change my
jade bangle bracelet and will write about what I change to and why I change,
for the energy, and show a
photo. Tomorrow the online newsletter will be ready with information
about Chinese medicine for October, and other information.This last day
of the month is "Make
an Offer Day", so if there's something you really like, make
your best offer today. September 30.
I have a love-hate
relationship with PayPal. Paypal is a "safe" payment system
for buyers, you register with your payment information, then when you
pay you do not need to share your credit card information with the seller.
Paypal is a Ying Yu Jade and JadeBangleBracelets payment option. As a
seller, Paypal is more of a headache for me, and I am considering removing
it as a payment option. Paypal has notified long after I have shipped
that a payment was fraudulent or invalid, while a credit card payment
will show immediately if there will be a problem. Then Paypal freezes
my account until it takes a week or so to make "a determination".
In the meantime, the customer is offended and angry, and will probably
not be a repeat customer. And there's more, but it makes me upset just
to think about it. So what I want to know from my dear readers who pay
with Paypal is how important it is for you to use Paypal when you shop
online, and if you are a Paypal user will you be comfortable paying with
your credit card. Both Paypal and credit cards charge a fee plus a percentage
of the amount being charged to the seller (me), so neither is an advantage
but Paypal gives me no end of problems. Click the "earth" feedback
form and let me know what you think about paying with Paypal.
September 29
I spent the weekend with my mom in Ohio, and visited with two of my brothers and their families, so very nice family time. As I mentioned in previous blogs, my family isn't very interested in jade except for a sister-in-law, and she was wearing her jade bangle which still looks great since I gave it to her 8 years ago. She's an active mom and works in a medical facility, so it gets a lot of use, and still looks good. While I was gone I received an email from a friend who told me her smooth jade bangle had lost its polish. The polish should be permanent, but wearing your jade may cause scratches and that's what dulls the polish. So put some car polish on it, as that has fillers, and will often make your jade look good as new. If you don't have any, spray on some Pledge spray wax, and polish with a soft cloth. Should perk it up, and if not, maybe it's time for a new jade bangle! September 28
A reader commenting on the Vogue article about jade becoming "the" fashion item: will the price of jade increase? And since this is a "fashion statement", will this mean a glut of highly color treated jades to appease the Western appetite for green-green jade? Probably. But if you love the color, then you should get it, and it will probably be color treated if it is real jade, or a synthetic jade to get that good green color in affordable fashion jewelry. So enjoy it. Wear it with your real and precious jade. Have fun! But when you want the "real thing", shop at Ying Yu Jade or Jade Bangle Bracelets. Sept 24
Yesterday a woman purchased her first jade bangle from YYJ and wrote that she had been wearing the jade baby bangle that was given to her when she was a baby. She described it as a small white jadeite bangle with veins of green, a very traditional jade color for babies and children because the white color is symbolic of purity and the green jade has energy for growth and thriving. When she grew up and it became too small for her, her mother bought her a gold chain for her to wear it as a pendant. And she's been wearing it for a long time. It occured to her that she would like to start wearing a jade bangle on her wrist as her mother did, so purchased a classic fei cui green jade bangle bracelet similar to her mother's. She is an Asian woman who appreciates not only the actual jade, but the traditions that go with it. Jade is not only beautiful, but soothing, comforting. September 23
A friend wrote to tell me that the October issue of Vogue magazine has an article about the fashionistas appreciating the beauty of jade. I went out to look for a copy but Orlando is so backwards that it probably won't be out for awhile here. If you have read the article and have comments, we all would love to hear them! September 22
I've been working for at least three years, trying to get some very unique jade bangle bracelets, carved from Chinese jade, that are replicas of the ancient Chinese dynasty styles of jade bangles. The jade is the same kind of jade that has been used in China for centuries, but modern jade carvers now use different tools to carve them, and the carving is not very inspired. Modern jade carvers, as most modern Chinese people, are moving forward to become more modern and leaving the "old ways" behind. So it has taken a great deal of research and photos, as well as some of the jade bangles from my collection to send to my associate in China to make these for me. The quality of the jade and the skill of the carving make most of them more expensive than burmese jadeite, as the best quality of Chinese jade is often nicer than mid quality, commercial quality jadeite. The newest ones are the honey/brown double dragon with pearl jade bangles, and Monday's daily special is one of them. While the other styles of jade bangles in the Dynasty Collection are very detailed, and wide, these didn't turn out like those so they are lower priced. It's an opportunity to get really good Chinese jade in an ancient carving style. September 21
A neighbor just returned from a trip to China, and as soon as they get over their jet lag we'll get together and hear all about it. But she had to tell me about one of the women on her tour. The first night at the hotel, she bought two jade bangles for $200 each in the hotel jade shop. The next morning she saw they had big cracks in them, and of course the shop would not take them back. My neighbor guessed they were glass, but if they were glass, they probably would not have cracked. They were probably jade that had been bleached with acid to remove imperfections and poor coloring, then color treated to make them "pretty for tourists". This is the worst quality of jade you can get, the acid makes the jade so brittle that it doesn't even resemble jade anymore, and they will crack, chip and lose their color over time. My neighbor said they went to so many jade shops, and they jade bangles were more expensive than the ones I sell, and although she enjoyed the "show" those tourist "jade factories" offer, she knew enough about jade to know it wasn't very good, and very overpriced. I told her to get lots of sleep and hurry up to get over that jet lag so we can talk! September 18
Pamela is a true
Jade Princess, and has an exquisite collection of jade bangle bracelets.
Here is an excerpt from a comment on yesterday's blog: "I had
to smile at one sentence in today's blog: "Although sometimes you
will find a great deal and get way more than what you pay for." This
is so true. When Deirdre wrote about Jade Acquisition Disease, I was afraid
to count how many jade bangles I own because I don't want to admit how
much I have spent on jade in just six years of buying. Last Sunday, I
finally made the count and was surprised to find 47 bangles in two armoire
drawers. Some of the early ebay purchases are not "A" grade
and some may not actually be jade. Some I never wear and would like to
sell. I have spent from $25 to $988 and I can testify that you don't have
to spend a lot of money to find the perfect bangle. The bangle I wear
the most is one I got from you last April, the "soft white"
at $225. This bangle is super comfortable, looks good with any color clothes,
and looks good in all kinds of light. As you know, some bangles only look
good in sunlight and may look bad in florescent light. This little bangle
shines no matter where it is. Now that I have worn it for several months,
the color has become the palest of pale lavender (very pretty!). However,
in bright sunlight it is still white. The "perfect jade bangle"
is a very personal choice. Some women would look at this pale color and
not like it at all, but it's right for me. Don't think that just because
I have found my perfect bangle that I will stop buying. I'm afraid I have
a bad case of "JAD". Thanks for the comment! September 16
Some of my customers write to me occasionally to tell me how much they enjoy the jade piece they pruchased. And "American women" are always very pleased when an Asian woman comments on how nice their jade bangle is. Good quality jade is worth every dollar that you spend on it, and at YYJ and JBB you will get what you pay for. (Although sometimes you will find a great deal and get way more than what you pay for!). You can wear good quality jade every day, all the time, day and night, and it will become more pretty with your body qi. Good quality natural color jade is strong, and if you get a chip or crack it's often not even noticeable. The color doesn't change where the chip or crack is, and you can continue to wear it know it will be your good friend for a long time. September 15
I've received several emails over the last couple weeks from women telling me about this being a difficult time in their lives due to sadness, grief, and wanted suggestions on what kind of jade to wear that had energy for getting through grief in their lives. In Chinese medicine, grief and sadness is related to the lungs, and the healing color for the lungs is white. White jade heals the lung qi, helps us work through grief, and when we do this work, the reward is getting in touch with our hidden resources and become more powerful, developing wisdom. Tuesday's Special is a perfect example of this kind of healing jade energy. It's an off white, ivory color of white with nice veins of natural imperial green color to boost the healing qi. I've written about how our body qi affects the jade qi, and you can tell how you are doing by how your jade looks. This particular jade bangle will probably become more white, brighter, with a glow as you wear it and work through your grief. It's a jade bangle that's been in a box for awhile and needs to be worn to get some qi in it and look prettier. It's beautiful now, and will be gorgeous as you continue to wear it. When I feel grief in my heart, I put on my white lao pit jadeite bangle, either by itself or along with my regular bangle, and if I'm feeling too much grief to deal with myself, I wear it overnight and let the healing qi of the white jade work for me. September 14
The Weekend Special is a $5 discount on Chinese jade light green translucent "water jade", named because it has a "watery" appearance. The two jade bangles are the new style that is flat inside instead of rounded. These are really pretty, have very good qi energy, and beautiful, natural indigenous Chinese jade, the kind of jade used for centuries in China before jadeite was introduced in the Qing Dynasty. I have been getting my holiday jade order placed this past week, and getting over the shock of the price increase in the Chinese jade. So if you like the Chinese jade bangle bracelets, be sure to get one before the price is increased on them. The jade rollers are also made from the Chinese jade, and I've seen these being sold retail for $40, YYJ price is $22. It's not only the price of jade increasing, but also the cost of shipping these from China, so if you see a jade item you like, get it now before we have to increase prices to reflect the current jade prices, and shipping costs. September 12
I wanted to offer some really good discounts for the Daily Specials this week, following the Labor Day holiday. We work hard for our money, and I wanted to treat my customers with jade bangles that regularly list for $350-500 for under $200. The "moss in snow" pattern in jade has good energy for this time of year. The heat of the summer is ending so energetically the yang of the green compensates and helps your body balance to the cooler weather, while the white yin color helps balance the qi of the lingering heat of summer. Also, they sure are pretty! And you can wear these with all your outfits. If you are wearing pale solid colors, the jade will really pop out and show off. If you are wearing darker colors or patterns, the varied green appears neutral and is a flash of classiness. I was trying on a black strapless dress with one on, and wow, did it look fabulous (both the bangle and the dress!). I would wear only the jade bangle and my diamond stud earrings with the dress for an elegant fashion statement for a special event. Grab one before the price goes up. The ones that haven't sold this week are in the Monthly Markdown and Gifts section while they last. September 10
I received an email from a customer who told me she and another woman were showing each other their jade bangles and she commented on how hers got prettier the more she wore it. The other woman told her she was lucky because her bangle didn't get prettier. Why is that? Jade qi and body qi are closely related, and your jade will show your body health, it might get dull when you are ill, and be brighter when you are feeling great. If you have a chronic illness, your jade may reflect that "stuck" qi. Or the jade may be poorly color treated or a low quality of jade, or maybe even not jade. The "lao pit" jadeites and the Chinese jades are the kinds of jades that people notice the most for getting prettier as you wear them. September 8
It's difficult
to explain how much nicer and better quality some of the old mine lao
pit jade bangles are. I have had emails from readers telling me that it
looks so "plain" and asking why is it considered more valuable.
There's just something special about this kind of jade, like an "inner
glow" that picks up your body qi energy and gets prettier as you
wear it. At first it might look "solid" with no translucence,
but when you wear it and look at it, you can see deep into the soul of
jade. Here's a comment from Joy:
"I wanted to let you know that I received the bangle 2 days ago
and to give you some feedback on BB1193. When I opened the package it
reminded me of my other lao-pit and I instantly fell in love with it even
though it was missing the glow. I had to put it on since it is my size
and I'm a newbie jade lover (even though it's a present for my sister.)
LOL, well I wore it to work and when I took it off the next day it had
already changed like it was trying hard to connect with me. I still have
it on and it's becoming prettier all the time. I really don't think it's
my imagination that it's doing these things so soon because I scrutinized
it pretty hard when I received it. The beautiful fu lu shou that I recently
purchased doesn't react like this one. I must admit that I think I'm starting
a love affair with lao-pit jade with it's high chime. This one is not
going to make it to my sister's wrist. My husband says that I need another
jade bangle like I need another hole in !
my head but I told him that he has 18 guitars and only two hands and at
least I can wear mine all at once where he can't play all of his at one
time.... so there.
Anyway, I wanted to let you know that you have another satisfied customer
and is loving her jade.:
September 6
A customer who is having a difficult time deciding which jade bangle to purchase suggested that I make the photos give multi-views, like Anne Taylor, Banana Republic, when you click on it, it shows different views and close ups. I wish! Those are multi million dollar companies with multiples of each item, YYJ is a small business with one-of-a-kind items. Each photo is the best representation of the jade piece, and when it's sold, another one-of-a-kind item takes its place. I DO promise you that the "real thing" is much nicer than the photo, as most of you already know. AND I give you personal answers to your emails, sometimes a special coupon or discount for you to use for the jade item you really like. I wish we had the technology for you to "try on" online, but I do my best to show you the jade, answer all your questions, and offer one-of-a-kind, genuine, beautiful jades. September 4
When I was learning the "Dao of jade business" from my teacher in China, I spent time in his jade shop observing "business". A customer wanted to take a jade pendant to show to someone who was outside, and didn't return for awhile. When I asked if he was concerned about theft, he told me that there was so much bad luck associated with theft of jade that no one would want to bring that on themselves and their families. If someone took a jade bangle without paying, or paid with bogus money, the bad luck would would never end for them. Jade brings good luck when the interactions around it are honest, both as a buyer and seller. Being around Chinese people so much I have become somewhat superstitious! He told me that he comes from a family of jade carvers, and jade business brings them happiness and luck because he treats people the way he wants to be treated. That was very significant for me, and I believe the same thing, and over the years Ying Yu Jade has been online I try to treat customers as I want to be treated. So we will all have good luck! September 3
I finally was
able to remove that very small jade bangle, after hunting for some food
in the freezer, my hand was cold and with the plastic bag technique, I
was able to get it off. Most of us can wear a jade bangle that's 1-2mm
either way of our usual, best size, but this bangle was wider also, so
it was like 3-4mm smaller than my best size. Here's a photo so you can
see the difference in diameter and width. The wide smaller one is 50.5mm
diameter and 16.5mm wide. So if you can wear a 50mm bangle you should
be able to get it on, although it will be a tight fit. 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
.
