What Does A Gift of Jade Mean? And What Makes a Good Jade Gift?

 Chinese, Asian people often give a gift of a jade piece they wear all the time, because they believe that the jade has become part of them and by giving it to a family member or close friend, they are giving a part of themselves. Jade qi helps to balance the body, and the body qi flows into the jade.

These days, people often prefer to give jade they have not worn, or even jade they have had, but not used, and want to share the pleasure of it with someone special.

We are nearing the holidays, and now is a time when we give and receive lots of gifts!  So if you love jade, and want to give something special to someone special, what makes a good gift?

People are buying online now, so I am learning what is becoming popular for gifts.

One of our most popular gift items over the years has been jade rollers.  They are good for everyone, to keep their qi moving smoothly for health and wellness, and using a jade roller makes you feel good, cool and relaxed.   Ying Yu Jade has a variety of jade rollers, different sizes and styles.  They are genuine and natural Chinese jade made by our jade carver in China to Chinese medicine standards.  And you can even package them very nicely to make them even more attractive.

Ying Yu Jade Rollers for Health, Wellness, Beauty
More styles on Ying Yu Jade

This year one of our most popular gifts is the Chinese jade gua sha tool with comb.  Gua sha tools also work well with jade rollers, and they are used to smooth the body qi for health and wellness.  The gua sha tool with comb on one edge has become used so much because it is used to stimulate the scalp.  Our heads need good stimulation to keep hair follicles clean, stimulate blood flow for good hair growth.  I use one every day and it feels so good!  It has helped my thin hair to become thicker.

Ying Yu Jade Gua Sha Tool with Comb

Jade carvings make good gifts for everyone.  When you know someone well, you also know what is meaningful to them.  Our jade carvings are very traditional, symbolic.  The meaning of the carving is included in the description.  The jade "money toad" has been very popular because it is symbolic of luck and fortune, financial security.  With more people working from their homes now during this COVID crisis, a money toad that faces the office, or room where most of the business takes place, has good energy for luck and fortune.  

These are just some of the most popular jade gifts, and in our future blogs we will discuss more jade that makes good gifts.

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.

Genuine and Natural Jade - Will I Find Grade A Burmese Jadeite and Chinese Jade at a Wholesale Gem Show?

 I was so happy to finally have a gem trade show to go to this year.  The G&LW Wholesale Gem Jewelry Show and Sale was a few days ago.  I "wander around" the show first, up and down all the aisles, in all the special rooms, then I can decide what to buy.   But my main goal of going to gem shows is to get inspired, and learn about what kind of jade is being sold, and the wholesale prices here in USA.

There are usual at least five sellers that know I am one of the first buyers "in the door" and set aside special jade pieces for me because they know I like their jade and prices.  This time only one seller, and I purchased some very good quality Burmese jadeite pendants, and jadeite beads for stretch bracelets.  These are for sale on both Ying Yu Jade and Jade Heaven.

There was only one gem seller who had a small collection of Burmese jadeite bangle bracelets on display.  They had fewer than 20 pieces, but they all were genuine and natural grade A Burmese jadeite.  He had a refraction tester but with my years of experience, I could tell they were grade A.  An interesting thing was that they were all smaller sizes, 53 mm -59 mm.  We discussed that 20 years ago, when I started selling jade online, those were the sizes that I purchased.  I still have a supply of these sizes that are not listed, but now most women wear larger sizes.  And we both agreed that unless the larger sizes include certificates of gemology testing,  we need to test to make sure they are genuine and natural.  The wholesale prices he had listed were actually very close to the regular prices on Ying Yu Jade and Jade Heaven.  We all enjoyed our discussion about jadeite.

Was there "fake jade" at this gem show?   Of course!  When I confronted the sellers of nephrite, quartz, aventurine, they were reluctant to admit that.  But eventually agreed it was not genuine and natural jadeite or Chinese jade.

"Rainbow Jade" beads at Wholesale Gem Show

The "jade" beads in this photo were very pretty.  And gem show visitors were buying them, some people as fast as they could before they sold out.  When I asked to step in and take a photo, someone asked if I was going to "grab them up" before they could, and I said, no, that I bought and sold only genuine and natural jade.  And I was told by the buyers that they loved to sell these color treated jade beads because they could sell at a very low price, and their buyers love them.

If you like "pretty, colorful jade", buy it!   Enjoy wearing it.   I personally have a few jade bangle bracelets that are color treated grade B, C Burmese jadeite I wear for special occasions, goes with some of my "outfits".

But if you want only genuine and natural jade, be careful of colorful, "pretty" jade.

I treat my customers the way I want to be treated.   The descriptions are honest and can be backed up by GIA gemology testing.  

Buy what you like, items that make you happy.   You know where to shop online for the best quality at reasonable prices.

Ying Yu Jade, Genuine and Natural Chinese Jade and Burmese Jadeite

Jade Heaven, "Heavenly Jade for You"

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.

How Much Should I Pay for a Jade Bangle Bracelet? How Much Does Jade Cost?

 Not a very new topic, this has been discussed in the past, but with the holiday season approaching, and dealing with craziness from COVID, time to add to the conversation.

The Chinese saying:   "Gold and Diamonds have a price, but jade has no price"   Diamonds and gold are often valued by carat and karat weight, so prices can be consistent for them, although the details of the item will add to the value.

Burmese jadeite and Chinese jade prices are based on what people want, and what they are willing to pay.  When I bought the jade for Ying Yu Jade and Jade Heaven web sites, I went to China personally to purchase it.   There are no prices on jade when you buy wholesale directly from the jade carvers.  I had to arrive in China two days before I started shopping, with cash only, take it to the Chinese bank, and exchange it for Chinese money.   Real jade sellers who sell real jade take cash only.  And China allowed only a certain amount of foreign money each day to exchange for Chinese money.  Of course I truly enjoyed my time in Beijing, Tianjin, visiting friends, my Chinese doctor friend, and traveling, eating, exploring.  

Then I went north to Xiuyan where traditional Chinese jade is mined, met with my jade carver, shopped and ordered for shipping to me.  I learned so much about Chinese jade from the jade mines, jade museums.  And that's how I can spot the "fake jade", what I often see at gem trade shows, in regular stores in USA, and online especially from jade sellers in the south of China, around Guangzhou.  Jade mined there is often nephrite, or something else color treated to look like jade. 

Then traveled south to the Myanmar (Burma) border for the Burmese jadeite.  I was trained by a vice president of the China Jade Association how to know if jade is grade A, or B or C, color treated.  There is a photo of us working together on Ying Yu Jade Facebook page. 

All the Burmese jadeite had to be "bargained" for.  The price was whatever the seller and the buyer agreed on.  When I made a purchase, I left a note in the jadeite I bought so I could decide what to sell it for.  The price includes the actual jade price, my expenses of going to China, what it costs to get it listed on the web sites, and the costs of accepting payment from credit card processing.  And other costs, like accessories to pack, shipping charges, taxes I have to pay, and more.  The hours of taking photos, editing so they look like the "real thing" and writing descriptions has no price, it's a never ending task for me.  

There are some long time jade sellers in China, and Hong Kong who look at my websites and give me feedback about prices.  99% of the time, I am told that "my prices are too low", the jade bangle bracelets have higher value.  But, selling online is not like selling to tourists in China, Hong Kong, who can see the "real thing", touch it, feel the good qi energy.  And with all the fake jade being sold, I understand it's difficult to trust online sellers.  I have guarantees on the Jade Heaven and Ying Yu Jade, if you purchase Burmese jadeite that I claim is grade A, genuine and natural color, and you get it tested and get a certification that it is not grade A, I give a full refund, and great apology.  I have not had that happen in the 20 years of selling jade online.  

AND, if you look at Jade Heaven and Ying Yu Jade, you will notice that many items are on sale now, prices marked down.  The holiday season is approaching.  The shipping companies are raising their prices because more people are buying online, and higher prices will go into effect in December.  And the worst part is shipping may not be as reliable.  If you buy a gorgeous jade bangle bracelet and it gets delayed because of shipping problems in the systems, or lost, or delivered "somewhere else", you will not be happy.   So now is a good time to shop before holiday shopping starts.

AND, if you see a jade item you like, but you think the price is too high for you, you can "make an offer", just like shopping at a jade market in China!   The web sites have email addresses for you to contact me with the item number, description, and what you would like to offer.   Your offer will either be accepted, or a counter offer made.  Again, just like shopping at a jade market in China!

If you want good quality, genuine and natural "real" jade and Burmese jadeite, trust Ying Yu Jade and Jade Heaven.  Check the Deal of the Day on Ying Yu Jade, and "Heavenly Jade Sale" on Jade Heaven. Ying Yu Jade sells both kinds of jade: Chinese jade and Burmese jadeite, and a variety of items like pendants, jade carvings, Chinese medicine jade health tools like rollers, gua sha, facial masks.  Jade Heaven sells Burmese jadeite, some of the highest quality and best bangles and pendants I found while shopping in China.  

I love jade, and sell only the jade quality and jade items that I personally love and would wear, want for myself.   

And I treat customers the way I like to be treated.

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.

Is My Jade Bangle Bracelet Cracked or Scratched? What Does a Crack Do to a Jade Bangle Bracelet?

 I personally take the photos of all the jade listed on the web sites.  And the photos are taken outdoors on our screened sun deck, in natural daylight so the photos can be edited to look like the "real thing", not photoshopped to look "perfect".  I take a few pieces of jade, bangle bracelets, pendants, carvings, beads in a basket with a towel, a polishing cloth, the "double dragon" metal piece I use to hold bangles, and use a background for other jade items.  When I get set up, I polish the jade piece and examine it carefully in the daylight to look at the color patterns, "feel" the jade qi energy, and get a "feel" for the description title when it gets listed.  

Sometimes I find an "imperfection" on the jade piece.  There's a Chinese saying: "the jade carver always leaves something behind".  All of our jade is hand carved, not machine carved, and hand made items are not always "perfect".  But sometimes that's what makes them so special.  In fact, genuine and natural jade with a small imperfection is always more valuable than a color treated or "fake" jade.  

But I understand most customers do want "perfect" jade.  So I do my best to make sure that if there is a small imperfection, it is detailed in the listing information.  

And if I "need a new jade bangle for myself", (like I have so many now!) it's an "imperfect" one I keep.

This is one of my favorite jade bangle bracelets:

I can barely get it over my knuckles and onto my wrist.  It is quite wide, which makes it seem smaller than the usual size.  But when I do get it on, it's the best bangle I have because it stays close to my wrist and doesn't "fall up my wrist" when I'm active.   This is genuine natural grade A Burmese jadeite, purchased before the "fake jade" became popular so it doesn't have a certificate of gemology testing.  When I was "bargaining" for it from the jade carver, he had it packed with two other very similar bangles.  The color is very good green, and some of the veins are the rare and precious imperial green.  I really wanted only the other two that were in perfect condition, to sell online, but he wanted me to buy all three.  I put this one on my wrist.  It was stuck because it was so hot in south China near the Burma border I could not take it off to continue bargaining.  So I pretended that I agreed to buy all three.  And I got very good prices for the lot of three because of this.  Being an "American", he knew Americans expected "perfect" so he felt like he "won" the bargaining deal.  But I knew I won, because I fell in love with it.  

It's not easy to see from the photo, but there are small cracks throughout the deep and imperial green veins, on the bottom they appear grey.  And there is a one inch+ "clarification line" on the white color that is on the side you can't see in the photo.  It is visible but it really just looks like part of the natural jade.  And that's another reason I wanted it:  clarification lines are formed while the jade is being formed when there is a lot of pressure in the ground.  The clarification line took the pressure off  and actually makes the jade stronger because on the round style, it's easy to break of dropped or struck hard. I wear this bangle most of the time, and I'm active, and it has lasted through many years.   A crack goes up and down the width.  A clarification line goes "around".

I do my best to include anything that is not "perfect" in the description, but sometimes miss a little "something" that "the jade carver leaves behind".   Our "old mine" Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet are best quality overall, rare to find today because carved before 2008 when the political problems re-started in Myanmar. So if you purchase one of our jade bangle bracelets on Ying Yu Jade or Jade Heaven and see a "little something", of course we will exchange if you are not happy with it.  But hold it first:  "feel" the qi energy; "feel" the history of this jadeite.  "Feel" how your body, mind and spirit are attached (or not attached" to genuine, natural jade.

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.

Chinese Jade Teapot and Tea Pot Sets for Jade Lovers and Tea Lovers

 I love Chinese tea. When I went to China, I always ordered tea with meals and drank as much tea as I ate food! My favorites are jasmine tea and green tea, and I still drink these every day. So of course I loved the jade teapots and shopped for jade tea pot sets while I was in China. They are big and heavy when packed to bring back to USA so I could bring back only one or two sets each year. And kept them in the office where I can see them often. 

I kept a set that I don't use for making or drinking tea, but they can be used not only as decor but also for steeping and drinking tea. When a friend in China who is also part of the China Jade Association had a tea ceremony for me, these are the kind of jade tea sets he used. Small pots of delicious tea poured in small cups, and drank "ceremoniously".  

The price reflects the quality of the jade, the hours, days taken to carve these, and the high cost of packing and shipping to you. They ship to USA addresses only

View Ying Yu Jade Teapot Collection

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.

What Kind of Jade Should I Wear Today? Jade is "Medicine"

 If you are a "jade lover", and you search for jade online, sometimes you come across a jade bangle bracelet, jade pendant, jade carving, or other jade piece that you find very attractive  You find yourself returning to look at it often.  And sometimes you feel so good when you look at it, maybe even drool a little.  I am a true jade lover.  And I am also educated about Chinese medicine.   I also practice taiji, qigong, yoga daily.  And have been a Reiki master for many years.  So I really know the qi energy of jade.  

You cannot imagine how difficult it is for me to sell some of the jade items on Jade Heaven,  Ying Yu Jade because when I'm taking the photos and editing them while holding the jade so they look accurate, most like the "real thing", sometimes I "feel" them so strongly I want to keep them even if not my size.  It's the qi energy from them.  BUT...the qi energy for all of us different.

Chinese medicine tools, jade rollers, jade gua sha tools, jade "needles", jade rings with points are all very helpful.  And ours are made from genuine and natural Chinese jade our jade carver in China purchases directly from the jade mines and carves to Chinese medicine standards.  Green Chinese jade has qi energy related to the liver meridian, with healing qi for body, mind and spirit.

Jade Rollers for Health and Beauty

And years ago, our jade carver was able to buy and carve Chinese "river jade" that was formed in a river giving it the natural colors of the other meridians:  red "hong"  for heart; yellow for spleen; white for lungs; black for kidneys.  He made these into jade bangle bracelets.  So when you see one of these you are attracted to, buy it!  Because then you can wear your "medicine" on your wrist.  

Chinese River Jade Natural Color "Powerful Woman" Bangle Bracelet

Burmese jadeite also has qi energy related to the colors.  But Burmese jadeite is a gemstone, used as jewelry.  However, the coloring does have qi energy.  One of the colors Burmese jadeite has that Chinese jade does not is lavender.  And lavender is related to the central neural meridian, spirituality, compassion, the "good things in life".

Burmese jadeite lavender and green grade A bangle bracelet on Jade Heaven

One of my customers told me that she can no longer wear a jade bangle bracelet because of surgery on her arm and wrist, and with arthritis she cannot get a bangle over her knuckles and onto her wrist.  But she has a collection of different jade bangle bracelets she feels are true "medicine" to her, and often holds one that she needs the qi energy to benefit from.  For example, when she needs to relax, read a book, she has a river jade bangle that "calms her spirit" and gives her much satisfaction.

If you want to feel better, more happy and healthy, choose jade, do not hesitate to purchase it, and wear it.  Keep in mind that your body changes, seasons change, and a collection of jade bangles and pendants will help your qi energy balance you.

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.

 When I went to China for jade shopping every summer, I would shop from Dandong in the north, and then go south to the Myanmar border for Burmese jadeite shopping.   I would first fly into Beijing.  Then the next day take a train from Beijing to Dandong.  The train departed Beijing around 3:30 in the afternoon, and arrived in Dandong around 7 am the next morning.  I traveled with my Chinese doctor friend, and our compartment usually had a total of four people, so it was quite an interesting trip.  When we arrived in Dandong, my jade associate met us at the train station.  We still had quite a way to travel to Xiuyan to meet with our jade carver.  The jade carver makes Ying Yu Jade Chinese medicine tools, jade rollers, gua sha tools, jade eggs and ben wa balls for kegel exercise to Chinese medicine standards.  And he carves very good quality jade bangle bracelets and pendants, and more.  

The bus ride to Dandong was long, slow, up the mountains, and if we took the bus we didn't know how or when we would be able to return, especially if we had much jade with us.  Taxis would not take us that far. Somehow we were able to access government limousines, the drivers were very interested in the "American woman" and actually felt priviledged to take us.  After the long train ride, when I got in the limousine, I was amazed to find jade seat covers on all the seats.  Oh, my, how good they felt!  And they looked so awesome.  And around Dandong, many of the cars had jade seat covers in them.  So of course I had to buy a set of two from our jade carver.

And did I use it in my car?  No!  It took me a long time to get good photos, make a YouTube video about the jade seat covers.  During summers here in Florida, I pack my favorite jade items carefully for storage because summer in Florida is hurricane season and I do not want to lose my jade, especially the rare items like jade tea pot sets, carvings, and these jade seat covers.  A few years ago our home was damaged so badly we had to have a new one.  Almost all the jade went into storage during that process, and I'm still finding jade items that were packed in storage. Including these jade seat covers.

They are for sale, a set of two.  I searched online to find jade seat covers, get an idea of the price, and cannot find genuine jade covers made like this.  They are heavy and I finally found a box that I can ship them in, so now they are listed and for sale.

Here is the YouTube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CelEzTw-Xec

And this is a link to the jade car seat covers on Ying Yu Jade (if they have not been sold)

Visit Ying Yu Jade

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted

Is My Jade Jade Bangle Real or Fake? Lots of Fake Jade on Etsy

I really liked Etsy for shopping for personal items.  It seemed to be a well managed and to oversee products.   I decided to sell jade on Etsy a few years ago, and within a week Etsy management removed all my listings because they were "jade".   No real explanation.    Last year I realized I had a lot of yarn that I used to knit with, way more than I needed, so decided I would open a new account to sell it on Etsy.

Every morning when I log it, the first page shows me my search results.   Yes, I look for jade  because curious about what kind of jade is being sold now.

Look at these photos and decide which ones are genuine and natural, and which jade bangle bracelets are "fake" and/or color treated but described as "natural":

None of these are genuine natural Chinese jade or Burmese jadeite, but they are all listed as genuine natural, and all being allowed on Etsy.

And of course Ebay is the same.   

I am amazed at some of the photos people send me showing a "jade" bangle on their wrist from a different seller, and wondering why our prices were not as low as what they paid for.  Some people even purchased from China, so felt assured it was real and genuine.  If I reply that it's either quartz that color treated, or jade that is bleached with acid and color treated, it will make me seem like I am insulting them, so I don't reply with my professional opinion.   My jade associate in China who I shop virtually with near Burma border for Burmese jadeite bangle bracelets has told me that in southern China, they Chinese jade there is very poor quality so they either color treat it, or as they do with the Burmese jadeite, bleach it with acid and add color.  And since quartz is very available there, they sell quartz as "jade".

All of our jade is genuine and natural.  If you decide to get it tested and it is not, we offer full refunds, but that has never happened in the 20 years of selling jade online.  

Jade Heaven  sells only Burmese jadeite grade A, some with certificates of gemology testing.

Ying Yu Jade sells genuine and natural Chinese jade made by our jade carver in China to high standards.  Ying Yu Jade also sells genuine and natural Burmese jadeite.  Some have certificates of gemology testing.  The "old mine" jadeite purchased before all this "fake jade" became popular to sell is tested in our lab by refraction so we can know it is genuine jadeite.

The photos in this blog are pretty, and I'm sure the owners are happy to wear them.  But if you want "real jade", visit Ying Yu Jade or Jade Heaven, and pay more for the "real thing".

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.

What Kind of Jade Bangle Bracelet to Buy? Here's How We Shop for Jade in China

My jade associate in China and I "shop together" using our smart phones.  When he goes to the Burma border to purchase Burmese jadeite bangle bracelets directly from the jade carver, he shares his experience with me.

People often ask:  why do you have to purchase directly from the jade carver?   Jade is not an item that you can make good purchases unless you are physically present with the seller.  There is a Chinese saying:  Diamond and Gold have a price, but Jade has no price".   Diamonds and gold are priced by carat and karat, but jadeite is not like that.  When you go to a jade market, there are no prices on the jade.  Everything you purchase must be negotiated, bargained for.

The real jade markets, not the markets for tourists, are quite huge and different than "shops".  This is what you see:

Then you start negotiating and chatting with the jade sellers.

We need to purchase larger sizes now because I still have a good inventory of Burmese jadeite "old mine" bangle bracelets, mined and carved around the turn of the century, and the sizes are mostly 51-60 mm, 60 mm being one of the largest sizes.  Now more men want to wear jade bangle bracelets, and many women are more active, larger than the traditional small Chinese and Asian women 20+ years ago, so the shopping today is for sizes 60-72 mm.

During the "old mine" Burmese jadeite selling day, there was no question that the jade was "real", genuine and natural grade A.  You could see what the carving shop was working on, and you could see it was genuine, natural and not bleached and color added.  So certificates of gemology testing were extremely rare.   Then there was the USA conflict with Myanmar and sanction put on bringing jadeite to USA . Sanctions were dropped on everything except jadeite until only a few years ago.  During that time, sadly many people sold "fake jade", or color treated grades B and C but described it as "real, grade A".   That's when it became common to purchase Chinese gemology testing certificates.

This newer jadeite is different from the "old mine".   It is genuine jadeite, but often not as translucent, rare to find any imperial green color not even veins of imperial green.  But the newer jadeite is still beautiful, just different.

And jade carving is different.  In the Dynasty times, older times, the jade carver would study the stone, decide the best way to use the good features in bangles, pendants, other carvings.  Then on an "auspicious day" the jade carver would carefully carve the jade stone to make the best use of the colors, veins, features.   Today it is like a "job" that people get trained for, and work automatically according to what customers want.

When the jade arrives to us here in USA, we open the box and let the jade set outdoors for a couple of days, then wash it gently with soap and water, and let it set outdoors for a couple more days and a cool shady area so it is clean, COVID-19 free, and ready to photography, and list for sale.

So we have a new supply of the larger Burmese jadeite bangle bracelets with certificates of gemology testing now, and will be getting them ready to list over the next few weeks.  The "China's Favorite Every Day Burmese Jadeite Bangle Bracelets with Certificates" are listed on both Ying Yu Jade (click to view)  and Jade Heaven (click to view).   They will also be in the "What's New" Collection when we finally get them well photographed, edited, described and ready to sell.

Ying Yu Jade

Jade Bangle Bracelets

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.

Burmese Jade Mine Disaster Last Week - 170+ People Killed Another Story

Here is an excerpt from NewsAsia about a disaster in Myanmar at a jade mine last week:

Mandalay, Myanmar - Aye Mon, 30, is left alone with a two-year-old daughter after her husband and younger brother died in Myanmar's worst jade mine landslide that killed more than 170 people on Thursday.

In hopes of finding gems that might transform his future, her brother, Shwe Moe Tun, 22, had travelled more than 600km (370 miles) from his village in Monywa to Hpakant area of Kachin state in northern Myanmar, home to a secretive billion-dollar jade industry.

"My husband had been working in the jade mining business for more than 10 years. But it was the first time for my brother. It was his second working day in the mine," Aye Mon told Al Jazeera.

At least 40 jade pickers killed in the disaster at Wai Khar mine were buried on Saturday, the country's fire services department said on their Facebook page, while 77 others were interred in a mass grave on Friday.

Aye Mon's husband Soe Min, 31, and her brother were among hundreds of jade pickers at the mine when the disaster struck as heavy rains filled the mine with water, creating a lake.

A wall of the mine crashed into the lake, with the huge wave of mud resulting in the deadly landslide.

"My husband and my brother were both buried yesterday [Saturday]. I have nothing to depend on in my life. All I have left is just my two-year-old daughter," Aye Mon said.

In search of jadeite, a stone exported across the border into China, migrants from across Myanmar travel hundreds of kilometres to Hpakant, in hope of finding the overlooked pieces of jade.

The Wai Khar mine had officially shut down because of the danger of landslides, the Hpakant member of parliament, Khin Aung Myint, told Al Jazeera.

But unauthorised jade pickers, who are expected to pay a share of their earnings to rebel groups operating in the area, still flocked to the mine.

The jade industry is largely controlled by firms linked to Myanmar's powerful military and the trade is worth billions of dollars a year.

Rights group Global Witness says the trade funds fuel the armed conflict between government troops and ethnic Kachin rebels fighting for self-rule in the region.

It also said the landslide was a "damning indictment of the government's failure to curb reckless and irresponsible mining practices".

Despite the risks, thousands of workers, including Win Kyaw, are still ready to go back to the mines to scour for precious stones in desperation with hopes to strike it rich.

Officials say that makes it harder to prevent disasters like the one that occurred on Thursday."

Sad story, and some of the information in this article give you more information about "jade pickers" and the how people risk their lives to find jadeite just to make a living.

My jade associate in China was shopping for Burmese jadeite bangle bracelets for us when this happened.  He was at jade carvers near the border, but still in China.  He had purchased a good quantity of jadeite bangle bracelets and was getting the jadeite tested by gemologists, making certificates of gemology testing.  We "shop together" on our smart phones, keep in touch, and make decisions together.  Something happened, not sure exactly what, but prices changed, good quality was removed from markets, and although he had not purchased all that I wanted, he immediately shipped them by the expensive express service so they would leave the country and get to USA before something would happen to them.  If customs inspection in China, then Hong Kong would seize the package they would "disappear".   I received them yesterday, and in the process of leaving them out "in the open" to make sure there is not COVID-19 or other contamination before I complete the unpacking and start listing them.  

You know how you feel when you order your jade online, and can't wait to receive the parcel, open it and look at it.  That's how I feel.  Can't wait to see what was purchased.  There are some larger sizes, good for men and women who need larger sizes.  I have not yet received my final prices, and when I do it will be interesting to learn if this incident has affected prices, quality, and availability.  These jade mine "disasters" often happen, either by nature or politically.  

And that's a reason why your Burmese jadeite is so special.

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.

What Kind of Jade to Wear During Coronvirus COVID-19

During the winter, until last week, I have been wearing a powerful qi energy darker green veins jadeite bangle bracelet.  There is some lighter green "yin" to balance the darker green "yang".  I felt the powerful qi energy all the time I wore it.

My "yang" deep green veins Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet

Last week I felt like my body was having too much "heaviness".  Not weight gain, just a lot of pressure all the time.   Being summer here in central Florida, it has been very hot, 90's almost every day, and humid.  My "jade bangle drawer" started calling me!  I reached in and fondled the jade bangles, not really looking at them.  Then I touched one that felt "just right".

"Yin" mostly white with soft green veins, very translucent

And it is just right for me now.  And probably good for anyone who wears jade in summer for health and wellness.  The green color is related to the liver meridian for health and wellness of body.  And the white color is related to the lung meridian for lung health, one of the top concerns regarding COVID-19.  The overall translucence gives this "old mine" Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet a "glow" that also makes me feel "glow".  I have more energy, calmness, and body, brain and spirit much improved. During this hot summer, the white light color is "cooling".

It's a very small jade bangle for me, and I will have difficulty removing it, but you can read about how to get a small jade bangle on and off on our web sites jade bangle bracelets pages. Ying Yu Jade and Jade Heaven

If you are like me and wear your jade bangle bracelets not only for the beauty, but also for the qi energy, "medicine you wear on your wrist", then white jade with some green color can be very helpful during this COVID-19 time we are experiencing. 

And a good excuse to get a beautiful new jade bangle bracelet, for summer, and always.

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.

Is Ying Yu Jade Real Jade? Genuine Natural Jade from Jade Carver

I often get asked by customers if the jade Chinese medicine tools, like jade rollers, jade gua sha tools is "real jade",   Earlier this month I contacted my jade carver in China because I needed more of the jade gua sha tools with comb for hair and scalp. 

Versatile jade gua sha tool with comb to use on scalp, curved and rounded for working arms, hands, neck and more. This is not a jade comb for "combing your hair".  It is for using the teeth of the comb to stimulate your scalp.  Medical science has recently shown that physically stimulating the scalp also improves blood flow to the brain.  So your brain gets benefits from using the comb, too.

My jade associate in Dandong, who is also selling the WholesaleJadeRollers, went to our jade carver Kou near Xinjiang to purchase them for me.  Here is his experience:

The path to Carver Kuo

Rough jade at the jade carvers shop

Carving begins

Rough jade not polished

Not polished

Looks much better when polished!

Purchased for Ying Yu Jade

So yes, all of our Chinese jade is genuine and natural jade.  Our jade carver knows the quality and color we want, and my associate in China chooses the best colors, most attractive jade tools for me to sell on Ying Yu Jade.   That includes Chinese jade bangle bracelets, jade pendants, jade carvings, jade rollers, and all the jade we sell.

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.

Is My Jade Real? Jade Eggs and Ben Wa Balls For Women "Yoni" Chinese Medicine Health

Jade eggs  and ben wa balls are designed for women who want an alternative for kegel exercise and to improve vaginal strength and lubrication.

Ying Yu Jade Eggs and Ben Wa Balls for Kegel Exercise

Ying Yu Jade introduced these to USA years ago, when they were rare to find and only available outside USA.  A Chinese doctor and I designed these to be the best size for women. He says that using the eggs is "vaginal kung fu" because it strengthens and tones and gives that part of the body more power and feeling of well being. Doing kegal exercises is easier when you have an object for feedback about what you're doing. Most people who do kegals aren't doing them with enough effort, and these can help. And jade is related to the body qi, energy. Jade energy is healing to the body, and jade qi and body qi work together. That's one of the reasons Chinese people love jade. It's natural stone, smooth, and is compatible with the body.

We get contacts almost daily from companies in China who want to sell us jade.  All kinds of "common" jade items, like the eggs and ben wa balls, jade rollers, jade gua sha tools, and more.  Over the past few months, the "jade" product they have been promoting the dark green nephrite "jade".  And over the past few months I have noticed when I look at the Chinese jade products they have been selling from China that the jade doesn't look very nice, not "clean", all green, and moderately translucent.  When I look at their locations, most are from south China.  The classic Chinese jade is mined in the north east China.  

Dark green nephrite eggs, "yang", not compatible with women's "yin" qi.

From years of selling jade eggs, I know that many women ask for dark green.  We do sell some that are darker green, but not almost black like these.  So why don't we sell dark green eggs and balls?

When you read the descriptions of our jade, most of the time each description mentions the "qi energy" of the jade.  All these jade products were made for Chinese medicine, inspired by Daoism centuries ago.  People often tell me that when they are looking at the jade on our sites they are sometimes really attracted to certain pieces, keep coming back to look at them.  Sometimes their

mouths water when they look at them, that's how much it connects to the person.  And that's the qi energy.  That's why women choose certain jade bangle bracelets, because that benefits their their body, mind and spirit,  like wearing "medicine on your wrist".

The dark green nephrite is often called "jade" but it is actually gemologically a lower grade of gemstone.  Nephrite is not as hard as Chinese jade.  And this dark nephrite is "yang".  Women are not "yang".  Men are "yang."   Women are "yin", feminine.  And that why the light to medium color of Chinese jade is best for kegel exercise.  The qi is more compatible for women.  

So if you want to use jade eggs and ben wa balls to keep your "feminine parts" healthy, the Chinese jade is the most compatible for you to use.  

Both Jade Heaven and Ying Yu Jade sell the Chinese jade balls and eggs.  There is more information on the Collection page. Suggestions include what style, ball or eggs, may work best for you.  And how to use the sizes.   And we include basic kegel instructions to help you get started.  

And of course if you want genuine, natural, traditional Chinese jade, this is where you will get the best available, made specifically for us.

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.

Chinese Jade and Burmese Jadeite - What's the Difference?

Chinese jade is the kind of jade Chinese people wore for centuries, used for carvings, teapots, Chinese medicine tools like jade rollers, gua sha tools.  And especially jade bangle bracelets.  It is mined mostly in the north east China, where weather is cooler in the winter and there are rivers, waters.  Then in the 18th century, Burmese jadeite was introduced, and Chinese people were quite attracted to it.  When I used to go to Beijing, China as my "starting point" for jade shopping and enjoying the culture, and I wandered around the shopping areas for the "locals", there were government owned jade shops that sold only Chinese jade.  They were often filled with customers, men and women couples, the man buying a classic round Chinese jade bangle bracelet for his beloved woman as an engagement gift.  The jade shops that tourists were taken to had some Chinese jade, but sold mostly Burmese jadeite. 

Burmese jadeite is different because it is gemologically considered a "gem stone", and can be tested by refraction and other methods, and labeled as grade A, genuine and natural, or grades B and C, color added, often bleached with acid to remove unpleasant color and replaced with a good green color, "hong" red, lavender.  Chinese jade is not considered a "gem stone".

Genuine natural traditional classic round Chinese Jade bangle bracelet

Genuine natural grade A Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet

We take all the jade photos in natural outdoor lighting, the bangles at different angles so you can see how they look all around, as the lighting varies.  We do not use Photoshop to edit photos because that makes them look "too perfect", not like the "real thing".  It is truly a time consuming process to get the photos, get them edited and listed so they look as close to the "real thing" as possible.  And most customers tell me that that when they receive their jade, it truly is more pretty than the photo shows.

An interesting thing is that more people who purchase Chinese jade send me an email telling me how much more pretty their jade looks and how pleased they are with it.  In my opinion, that's because Chinese jade has more "qi energy", is more alive than than Burmese jadeite.   And that's a reason it is used in Chinese medicine, not only for the tool itself, but for the qi energy of the jade.

Chinese jade roller, gua sha tools and jade mask for eyes and face

This is one of the Chinese jade pendants that looks great in the photo, and customers tell me how much more beautiful it is in person, more detailed, and has a "glow" that the photo just can't show:

"Butterfly Brings Love" Chinese Jade Pendant looks much more pretty "in person"

We probably spent at least an hour, several times, getting a good photo and editing it so it looks like the "real thing", but it is still so much more pretty in person.  And yes, the Chinese jade pendants are lower prices that Burmese jadeite.  But I can not resist getting the best photo possible of this cherished, traditional Chinese jade.  

There's more ways Chinese jade and Burmese jadeite are different, but if you are a jade lover, love to wear, touch, own jade, these are the "basics" as I have experienced both jades over the past 22 years.

Comments are welcome and reviewed to make sure they are not SPAM.

Please allow time for your comment to be reviewed and posted.