Tuesday, September 14, 2021

What Kind of Jade Should I Wear? Old or New?

 I have been "cleaning up" the office and reorganizing.  You will see on the Sale pages in Jade Heaven and Ying Yu Jade that we are offering "free mystery gifts" with purchase.  These are the "odds and ends" of Chinese and jade items that we will give customers who make a purchase and add the "free gift" to their cart when they check out.

One of the jade items I found in a corner in a pretty silk Chinese page was a small Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet that is my size.  But I didn't know why I had it stashed away for "me" because it sure didn't look like one I would keep for myself.  It's small 53 mm and classic round, quite thin so it's not heavy on the wrist. The coloring seemed to be a muddy green.  I keep the jade, especially the Burmese jadeite in cool dark places, which is how professional jade sellers should do to keep their color and qi energy good.  I put it on my wrist to remind me to take photos and list it.  And I knew that it would probably look more pretty as I wear it, because it blends with body qi and daylight and warmth make it look the way it is supposed to when mined and carved.  It must have been in the dark cool corner for a long time, because when I put it on, it started to look "brighter" and more shiny.  Two days later, I could see rare and precious imperial green veins.  And some "hong" red-ish veins.  And although it is small and thin, it feels cold on my wrist.  

And that's how I know it is genuine and natural "old mine" Burmese jadeite, mined and carved at least 20 years ago. The cold feeling comes because of the grain of the jade stone.  And I tested it with refraction to see it is genuine jadeite.  The "old mine" jadeite is so rare to find today.  When the political conflict started in Myanmar (Burma) the jade mines were closed or damaged, and new mines were opened later.  But the jade is not the same good quality and color as it was prior to 2000.  

The color did not change while it was "lost".  It was preserved.  

And I wish I had taken a photo of it when I first "found" it so I could show you how it looked before I started wearing it.  

A friend who saw it when I found it, and sees how it looks today, doesn't "see any difference".  She is not a jade lover!  And I don't "yak about jade" all the time.  I do have a life!

So...if you order a Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet that is older (usually does not have the modern Certificate of Gemology testing from China) and it doesn't look exactly like the photo when you receive, put it on your wrist and wear it a day or two.  Then you will probably see the color and veins look like the photo, because we take our photos in natural daylight so they look like "the real thing".

That is of course if you purchase it from Ying Yu Jade or Jade Heaven.



"Old Mine" Burmese Jadeite Bangle Bracelet
(Not the one described in this post)



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