Is My Jade Real Follow Up

I got a lot of comments and guesses by email, but only a couple readers actually commented.  I think this is a difficult format to comment on because your comment doesn't show up until I manually post it.  Anyway....

The top jadeite bangle is one from my personal collection, wearing it during December because it has the white jade color qi for keeping healthy in winter, along with a good basic green vein.  It's one of the "sisters" purchased when I bought all of the jade bangle bracelets he carved from one jadeite boulder.

The bottom jade bangle is one I purchased on ebay a few years ago as grade A.  I thought it really would be as described because it is very slender and classic round style, and fit part of the requirements for Qing Dynasty old mine lao pit jadeite.  When I received it, I tested it with refraction and it's real jadeite.  But it didn't "feel" comfortable on my wrist.  I kept removing it and setting it aside.  When I went through my personal collection of jade bangles to see what I should sell instead of hoard, I found it again.  But it had changed.  It was a C grade jadeite, meaning it was washed with acid to remove color, then color enhanced.  The polish was gone from the acid working on it, and the pretty veins had merged, like melting together.  

You may notice in some of the jade bangle listings a description of when it was purchased, and most were purchased between 2001-2007.  The jade bangles I personal purchased were from jade carvers in southern China near the Burma border, where most of the jade carvers are traditional and don't make jade for export or commercial selling.  I also purchased some in the Guangzhou jade market, and for the sellers to advertise they sell A grade, they must get government approval, with spot testing from monitors.  When I couldn't go to China, like the year we moved from Ohio to Florida, I bought jadeite from a contact I had in Guangzhou.  At that time, my jade business was growing because I left my "real" job to do online jade selling full time, in 2004.  Every dollar I had went into buying jade.  I saw the prices rising quickly, but didn't know an embargo was in the political works.  I just bought every jade bangle, carving, pendant I could get my hands on.  I packed them in boxes, and kept them in dark, cool and moist location.  By keeping them so long before selling them, I could discover if the color changed, so I would know if they weren't natural color. 

As one of the comments states, you have to get your jade tested to know if it is real, if it's jadeite, Chinese jade, or something else.  And time makes a great difference in jade.  If the color changes, you can know it's color treated.  And if it remains the same because it's natural, then you have a fine quality jade, that will increase in value because that kind of jade gets more rare as time passes.

Very vintage old mine lao pit jadeite pendant by one of China's bestjade carvers purchased in 2001 and listed on Jade Heaven today.Item #JHP111 Monkey, Peach, and Lucky Coin

How do I know if my jade is "real"?

I often get the question "is my jade real".  And I often get unsolicited photos of a jade piece with the sender asking me to "tell me about it".  A very difficult task.

The only way I know if the jade I sell is "real jade" is by testing it with a refraction tester. 
Most jewelry stores have a gemologist (GIA is the "gold standard" for gemologists") and they can usually test your jadeite to let you know if it is truly jadeite.  Most gemologists don't know about or acknowledge Chinese jade as being a gemstone, and their standard  jade is nephrite.  So they can test Burmese jadeite, or Guatamala jadeite, and nephrite.  And that's what you should do if you really want to know what your jade is.

A couple of years ago a woman sent me a photo of a blue bangle she found when going through her mother's things after she died.  She thought it was jade because her mother loved jade.  But she couldn't find anything online about blue jade, other than it's usually fake jade.  She told me she took it to a Chinatown store that sold jade and was offered $20 for it.
There was "something" about that photo that made me think it was really jadeite.  I recommended she get it tested by a gemologist.  She found a gemologist in her jewelry store, and amazingly, it was jadeite.  The gemologist consulted with a Chinese person whose knowledge he trusted about jade, and was told the most interesting things about blue jadeite.  Neither had an idea of the value, so I suggested she take it to an international auction business.  They valued it at $500,000. 

Now that's a good reason to get your jade tested.

The other part of "is my jade real" concerns if it's natural color.  And yes, color treated B and C grade jade is "real".  Most gemstones are color enhanced to make them pretty, and jade is also.  It's still real jade when it's color treated, because refraction proves it.

Do you you think these two jade bangle bracelets are  "real" jadeite?  Do you think either of them is color treated?  Why?

Comments can be written below.  You won't see them right away, I have to log in and accept comments, but next blog will discuss them. 

Chinese Wellness for December - What Kind of Jade to Wear in December

Now we are in winter, the time when the body's qi, like the qi of our natural surroundings, recedes into the deep Yin layers. Winter's nature is Yin; it is quiescent, cold, and damp. It is a time for introspection, rest, and consolidation of your body's physical and emotional qi in order to get through the long cool darkness of Winter and prepare for the outburst of new life that is spring.

Unlike autumn, when the external factor to protect from is dryness, in winter we must guard against dampness combined with cold, which can harm the joints and sap our body's yang or warming qi. The Nei Ching, an ancient Chinese classic, advised people to go to sleep early and rise late, after the sun's rays have warmed the atmosphere a bit. This preserves your own Yang qi for the task of warming in the face of cold. If you ignore this advice you will unnecessarily tax your body's Yang, which is at a premium in the winter months. In contrast, in the summer, when the days are long and the expansive warm Yang energy is everywhere in abundance, we can afford to stay up a bit later and rise early.

Keep your immune system strong by rubbing your Da Zhui(DU14) acupuncture point, the bony protrusion at the base of the neck.

As in November, December is a good time to wear your white jade, as white is the color associated with lung qi. "Winter white" jade is not pure white, but has other hues of lavender, gray and/or green to help balance the stark white energy. You can also wear your darker green jade for their warming Yang qualities. "Dragon green" is an excellent choice.  Carved jade bangles are also strong Yang for winter, and very unique and attractive, too.

Some of our jade bangle bracelets have the qi description "calm spirit", "soothing", "peaceful spirit'.  The white soft yin color, usually with some veins or hues of charcoal, green are like Chinese medicine.

"Spiritual Bliss" Jadeite Bangle Bracelets BB2726

 

For many people, jade is not just "jewelry", it's medicine for the body, mind and spirit.

Gratitude - Another Reason Why People Wear Jade

Both new and long-time customers have been buying their special gift for themselves with the "excuse" (if you need an excuse) that's it's their holiday gift for themselves.  And women who reward themselves, cherish who they are.  I receive many emails of thanks from customers who receive their new jade bangle, or pendant or other jade item,  and they wish they could post a review, but when the one of a kind item is sold, there's nothing to review on.   They are grateful for their jade, I am grateful to have a jade lover as a customer.

I subscribe to an online medical journal, and the survey this week is "Is a Grateful Heart a Healthier Heart?", a small study with persons who have coronary heart disease keeping a daily gratitude list may reduce the rate of acute events.  94% say "yes".  From a cognitive behavioral point of view,  daily gratitude causes happiness, which raise the endorphin level in your body.  That helps your mood, decreases pain levels and those cognitive positives actually physically make you healthier. 

As I've written before, if you choose jade because you are attracted to it, and you are so attracted to it you perhaps drool when you look at, your heart beats faster, that's the qi energy of the jade working for you.  When you finally receive that particular piece, and have body contact with it, your body chemistry will change from the qi energy, from the psychological and physicals responses of having that jade piece on your body. 

Thanksgiving is an American tradition, but we can all benefit from a daily thanksgiving we personally practice.  Writing in a journal what you are grateful for each day is a transforming process for body, mind and spirit.  Your life will improve.  When you are going through a difficult day or long period in your life, to take the time to write down what you are grateful for is cognitive behavioral positive therapy for yourself.  It helps you have a happier day, and helps you get through difficult times in your life.

Most of the jade bangle bracelets have a description that's not just the physical description of the jade, it's also the qi  description:  "calm spirit", "Dao balancing", "high energy", "peaceful spirit", "overcoming adversity".   This is the qi energy of the jade based not only the energetic "feel", but also the Chinese medicine energy.  The colors are related to your body meridians, and the earth elements.  These are part of Chinese medicine, and the Dao.

"Harmony" Yang on Yin Small Jadeite Bangle Bracelet

"Charming Wealthy Snake Jadeite Pendant"

 

"Free Your Spirit" White Translucent Jadeite Bangle Bracelet

Your jade is something that brings you gratitude.  And gratitude is good for  your heart,
all of you. 

Black Friday Sales On Jade

Black Friday sales start on Thursday!

Our customers are located all over the world, and with all the different time zones, Black Friday can be from my location's  Thursday through Saturday.  We don't want you to miss out, and you can start your shopping now.

The Black Friday sale is 20% off jade bangle bracelets. These include the Old Mine Lao Pit jadeite bangles, newer jadeite bangles with certificates, and classic Chinese jade bangle collections.  Check the Black Friday Sale link on the web sites for details.

JHBB572 Old Mine Lao Pit Jadeite Bangle Bracelet

 

 

Traditional Round Chinese Jade Bangle Bracelets

 

 

 

Be sure to check the Black Friday sale link on the web sites to see if your order is eligible for a special free gift.   The sale and gift is our way of "gifting" our jade loving customers for the holidays.

Jade Gifts for the Holidays - Jade Bangle Bracelets Gift

Women who love jade bangle bracelets often want to give a jade bangle as a special gift to someone but don't know what size they should get.  Since most Burmese jadeite bangle bracelets are one of a kind, and you give one of these to a friend, or a sister, and she falls in love with it at first sight, it could be very disappointing for her to exchange it because the exchanged one just won't be the same.

So you can you find someone's jade bangle size?  Men sometimes ask me this question when they want to buy a jade bangle for their wife, girlfriend or mother. 

If they admire your jade bangle and it occurs to you that you might buy one as a gift for them, have them try it on.  If it fits, then you know the size.  If it's a little large or small, you can go up or down a couple of millimeters.  Or while you are shopping with them, you can have them try on a costume jewelry bangle, and then learn the size from one that fits.

Another option is to get as close a guess as you can about the size, then order a Chinese jade classic style bangle from Ying Yu Jade.  These are very similar in color because my jade carver makes them from the same jade rough.  So they are not too difficult to exchange.  There are also some genuine and natural white, and deep deep green almost black jade bangles.

Genuine Natural Traditional Chinese Jade Bangle Bracelets

We often sell these green, black and white jade bangle bracelets to women who need several jade bangles that are similar.  Bridesmaids often all wear the same style, as a gift from the bride.  And sisters, best friends sometimes like to each have a jade bangle carved from the same jade stone.  That makes them special, true sisters in jade.

And of course if you purchase a jade bangle bracelet and it just doesn't fit right, we make exchanges as easy as possible for you.

So consider a special gift of jade, for someone special.

How Do I Bless My Jade?

I often get asked "how do I bless my jade".   Some of us regard our jade as very sacred, and want to honor it, perhaps with a blessing.

I have two small jade carvings of Guan Yin,  Buddha of Compassion, and when I think about blessing jade, they come to mind.  Guan Yin holds a vase, symbol of blessing, and is standing on an open lotus.  I want to hold them, close to my heart.

 

Blog readers know I'm a Qi Healer and Reiki Master, and energy is a part of my life.  When it's time to take photos of jade, especially jade bangle bracelets, I get a box out of storage, and take out the jade bangles a few days in advance, because when they set in the box, and some have been boxed for more than 10 years, they make me wonder why I purchased them, they have no "personality".  We choose a day to take photos when the sun is out, not cloudy, and photograph the jade in natural light, although not directly in the sun.  I want them to look like they really are, and not edit them, so when you get your jade, it's like the photo shows.   While the photographer sets up, they get tested by refraction to make sure they are genuine jadeite, then I put them on my wrists, and when I get my wrists full, they are ready to be photographed.  Touching them for testing, having them on my wrist for awhile, and taking them outside in daylight, they start look much more pretty.  That's why I write in the descriptions that your jade will look more pretty as you wear it.  That's the qi energy.  You are blessing the jade with your qi, and the jade shares the qi with you.

 When customers ask me to infuse their jade with qi, or Reiki, I hold it in my hands during my meditation time.  I feel the flow of qi from the jade to my hands.  The jade gets a "glow" (and the arthritis in my fingers feels much better, too).

How to bless your jade:
Find a comfortable place to sit.  Hold your jade in your hands.  Focus exclusively on the jade in your hands.  Feel the jade.   Smile.  Gather your good feelings, wishes, hopes and dreams and place them in an imaginary gold  ball by your heart (or any color that appeals to you).  Push the gold ball through your arms to your hands, feel  your hands glow with the gold, and let your jade absorb your qi energy of the gold ball.  Hold it, enjoy the feeling for as long as you want to.  Your jade is blessed.