What Kind of Jade to Gift for Holidays

I see a lot of customer browsing activity on the jade web sites, especially during the holidays.  Then I get emails asking what jade makes good gifts. 

Yes, we all love jade bangle bracelets!  But unless you know the inner diameter size of the person, buying a jade bangle can become a disappointment if it doesn't fit.  Disappointing for the receiver, and the giver.   An alternative is stretch jade bead bracelets. 

Ying Yu Jade Rollers, view the selection of styles

Jade Mask for face and eye health

and jade carvings.  Sometimes customers know exactly what they want to purchase, and some customers give me some information about what the receiver likes, and I can suggest recommendations.   These are some of Ying Yu Jade most popular jade carvings being purchased this season.

These jades are also what I give my special family and friends for gifts. 

It's true!   I buy the kind of jade I personally like, and treat customers the way I like to be treated

Have fun shopping!

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What's the "Best Jade Bangle Bracelet" for You?

As I have mentioned in previous posts,  the "best" jade bangle for you is the one that attracts you the most.  It's the jade bangle you see for the first time, it kind of takes your breath away.  You keep coming back to look at it.  It gives you "feelings" inside.  That's the qi energy that works best for you "calling to you".  And that's the jade bangle you will be very happy and healthy wearing.

I often get photos from customers who purchased a jade bangle bracelet, and they are wearing it on their wrist.  Sometimes they are customers who have purchased more than one, perhaps several, jade bangle bracelets.  But when they put their new jade bangle on, they feel like they will never take it off.

The problem I have is that I handle jade bangle bracelets every day.  I get them ready for their photos.  Then we take at least 10, usually 50 or more photos of the more expensive ones.  Then the photos are slightly edited so they show the color and quality as best as possible, and look as much like "the real thing" as possible.  We would rather you be pleasantly pleased when you receive it and see it is so much more pretty than the photo shows, as opposed to being disappointed because it doesn't look as good as the photo.  We never "photo shop" our photos.  That's how we can show how they look.  Then I handle them to describe them as best as possible on the web sites, measuring them carefully and spending about 30 minutes getting each one listed. 

And that's where the problem for me is.  The "small ones", my size, look more pretty as I handle them.  The qi energy of the jade bangle may truly respond to me.   And I struggle listing it to sell, because I want to keep it for myself.  The more I handle it, the more I want it.  And if I put it on my wrist, that's the end of selling it. 

JHBB577 is an example of this "problem".   It's a Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet I purchased in 2002 when I was shopping near the Burma border, directly from the jade carver.  Classic "fu lu shou" coloring, "hong" reddish-honey color, green and white.  Moderately translucent. 

JHBB557 "Old Mine" Burmese Jadeite Bangle Bracelet

When I first purchased it, I couldn't wait to list it.  It was one of the most expensive I bought and I wanted to get it listed and sold.   But a few weeks after I listed it, I decided I wanted to keep it for myself.  So I removed it from the Jade Heaven web site. 

Today I added it again. 

I couldn't fit it in the drawer where I keep my personal jade bangle bracelets without removing one to make space for it.

Within a few hours of listing it, I got an email from a jade seller in Hong Kong who is always criticizing me for selling the "old mine" jadeite bangles too cheap.  He thought it should sell for around $100,000.  Sure, that would be nice, but I really do price my jade cheaper than you would buy it in China.   And there's a statement is ships to USA addresses only, because Chinese and Hong Kong jade sellers really believe some of the prices are too low and they could sell them much higher priced.

I would keep it if I thought I would wear it often.  But most of the time I still wear my "old" carved Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet I "traded" a woman on a train in China for.   This one has the best qi energy for me:   calming, soothing, healing.

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My Day at a Gem Trade Show: What's Going on in the World of Jade

Earlier this month I went to my favorite Gem Trade Show.  Every space of the building is filled with people selling all kinds of gems.   I always go on the first day, and try to be there as it opens because some Chinese gem sellers set aside jade to show me.  But the jade sellers seem to be going out of business because the usual sellers have not been at the past two shows.

But I wander around every area at least three times with my eye out for jade. 

There was a lot of green stone being sold as "jade" that was aventurine quartz,  they had labeled it "aventurine jade".  When I asked if they sold jadeite, I was shown  all kinds of green "stuff" that was certainly not jade.   The most disappointing "jade" I saw for sale was huge boxes filled with "jade" rollers.  They weren't jade, they were plastic!  When I mentioned it to the seller, I was told that it was real jade they ordered from China. 

Classic Chinese Jade Double Roller

Genuine Natural Chinese Jade Acu-Roller for Chinese Medicine

There were a few sellers who were selling real Burmese jadeite, and it was priced much higher than at the last show.  Any jadeite that is green in color and natural, and is well carved is rare, and the price reflects it.   I had an interesting conversation with a Chinese gem seller who does not shop for his jade near the Burma border, like I do, but travels to Guangzhou Jade Market.  He always takes a look at my web sites, and he told me that the same jade bangles I sell are priced higher in China.  He said tourists pay the most, often don't get genuine and natural jade, but pay the premium price. 

I saw the trend toward selling non-jade as real jade a few years after I started selling online, about 15 years ago.  Real genuine and natural jade and Burmese jadeite is special.  It has the good "qi energy" jade is known for it.  It makes you feel good, and when you feel good, the jade looks better. 

"Non-jade" is pretty, but you should get what you think you are buying.

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Jade Bangle Bracelet "Surprise" Taking Care of Jade

My husband and I wait until actual voting day to go out and vote "in person".  We learned from experience that new information often gets revealed just before election day, and we don't want to regret that we voted one way, and wish we had the information to help with our decisions.

We went to our local polling place mid-morning, expecting a long wait in line.  We were pleasantly shocked that the parking lot was quite empty, and we walked right in.  There was only one other person ahead of us when we showed our ID's and got our ballots.  When I reached for the ballot she handed me, she asked if the bangle on my wrist was "jade".  I smiled as I looked at her wrist, and saw she was wearing a jade bangle bracelet, too.  And, oh my, did we both want to talk about jade!  BUT...of course she couldn't because she was working. 

Seeing her wearing a jade bangle bracelet was kind of surprising, because I rarely see local residents wearing jade.  There's a woman who has been a long time customer, starting when I still lived in Ohio.  Then when we moved to Florida,  the Poinciana area, I "recognized" her one day because she was wearing one of the jade bangles she purchased. 

If you live in a hot and sunny environment like central Florida, and south, it's important to take special care of your jade to keep it healthy.  Jade stone is formed underground, often in caves, where it is cool and dark.  The opposite of hot southern weather.  I wear my jade bangle bracelet all the time, indoors and outdoors, in the pool, relaxing in the hot tub.   I don't allow it to be directly in the sun.  And after being in the pool or hot tub, I immediately wash it with soap and pat it dry. Genuine and natural jade will survive well, but if it's color treated, especially when acid is used to enhance the color, the color will fade faster in heat.

The jade I sell is always kept inside our home so the temperature can be kept stable, cool.  And it's kept in "the dark".  That means the closets are full, and under the beds are full of boxes. 

Chinese jade seems to be less sensitive to sun and heat.

Carved Chinese Jade Bangle Bracelet

Burmese jadeite needs to be protected more.  When I shopped for jade in China, I trusted the jade shops that looked like they were closed because they had the main lights turned off.  

Burmese Jadeite

I think jadeite actually looks more pretty when it's on a wrist, which is warm.  If you wear a jade bangle all the time, you probably notice the part that touches your wrist is warm, while the part that doesn't feels very cool when it moves around on your wrist.

If you have valuable jade that you want to keep in good condition,  don't expose it to direct sunlight and heat.  Clean it often.  Polish it with wax, furniture polish when it looks like it needs. 

And of course,  the jade in our online stores is meant for every day wearing.  That's a reason why I keep it "in the dark" for several years before listing it to make sure it's a good quality, genuine and natural.

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How "Old" s My Jade?

A few weeks ago I purchased some jade pieces from and estate sale.  Some of it was easy to identify as Chinese jade.  I tested each piece with refraction testing to determine if it was Burmese jadeite. But it is not easy to determine the age of the jade because there wasn't anyone to discuss it with.

Most of the Chinese jade pieces were small carvings.  I listed them on Ying Yu Jade and most of them sold within a few days of posting.  There are still some carvings available.

Vintage jade horse carving

Vintage estate "what is it?" carving

The most interesting pieces are two Burmese jadeite bangle bracelets.  They don't look new at all.  But they don't have any cracks, scratches or damage to indicate they were worn often.  They appear to be carved from the same jadeite rough.  Here is one of the two that I listed. 

BB2918  Vintage Pre-Owned Burmese Jadeite Bangle Bracelet

A few years ago a woman sent me an email with a photo of a "blue" jade bangle bracelet that she wore to a USA China Town shop.  She was offered $10 for it, but she kept it and did online research, and that's how she found me.  Jade is not easy to photograph and capture how it really looks.  But something made me think it was quite valuable.  I suggested she take it to a gemologist and have it tested to see if it was Burmese jadeite and if it was natural color.  The gemologist she used was not very familiar with jade, so he asked a Chinese person who was very familiar with jade to help him determine the value.  They decided to contact Christie's auction, and they determined that it was worth around a million dollars!  She was was not to sell it for $10.

The two I purchased from the estate sale have a similar appearance.  They are not green, but not really blue either.  Perhaps lavender.  It took about 50 photos to get three that could be lightly edited to look like the "real thing".   This jade bangle and its "sister" look different every time I look at them. As I was handling it, it seemed to be so similar in color the my favorite personal carved jadeite bangle bracelet I wear most of the time.

My Qing Dynast carved Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet on top
BB2918 below it

It's not the same "blue" color as the almost $1 million jade bangle, so I don't have a $1 million price on it.  I love my carved jade bangle shown on top of it.  Mine is very old, probably from the Qing Dynasty as the woman I got it from told me its history as we were riding on a train in China.  She offered to trade the bangle for most of the personal items I was carrying on the train, like my hand bag and the "western" things in it, my cosmetics, and some of my clothes.  I wear it probably 90% of the time.  It's not "perfect" but I love the color, pattern and "feel" of it.  It's so calming and beautiful to wear.

There is something special about vintage, pre-owned estate sale jade.  If you are sensitive to qi energy, you can "feel" if it's right for you.  And you know there is very much history behind it.  

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Crusising with Jade Bangle Bracelets

We started October with a 6 day Caribbean cruise.  I felt hesitant about booking the cruise in May because September is the height of hurricane season, and we usually get some tropical storms as late as November.  We traveled with two other couples who enjoy cruising.  As you may have read in previous blogs, I am considering finding a popular port in the Caribbean to rent a store space for 6-12 months to sell out my jade collection and "retire".   I wanted a chance to see closer ports, in the Mexico area, and this cruise stopped at Grand Cayman and Cozumel.  Unfortunately, those two ports were the worst ones for shopping I have been to.  Usually you can find interesting and rare, possibly hand crafted jewelry, clothes and other souvenirs in the port shops, but most of the shops were related to the cruise line so very commercialized.  We took a taxi to downtown in Cozumel and that's the only place we shopped, but rarely do tourists go there.  So, no:   not moving to the Gulf ports.

The fourth day at sea at night we saw waves hitting the fifth deck and decided to go outside and walk around the ship.  Brilliance of the Seas is a very stable and sturdy ship, and our cruise had been very smooth.  We didn't feel the rocking from the waves.  The wind was 49 mph and waves were crashing around.  I grabbed the black Chinese jade bangle I wear for protection when I travel.  It didn't look safe out there, but I felt safe with my black jade.  I had a feeling a storm was forming because the radar maps showed rainy odd areas prior to the cruise.  When we returned to our home port in Tampa we learned a tropical storm was forming.  Not surprised, because we felt it! 

Today it is officially hurricane Michael, working its way up the Gulf of Mexico and expected to hit land in the Florida panhandle as a category 2 or 3, with rain and winds extending to here in central Florida. 

Did the black jade protect us all?  Probably not, but it gave me the sense of safety and protection, and I enjoyed the rest of the cruise not worrying about the storm attacking us.  Black jade is calming and gives that protection feeling.  There's also a Chinese saying that when a jade bangle bracelet we are wearing breaks, it's because the jade took the impact of the danger and protected the wearer.  Mine didn't break.

I wore a classic round Chinese jade bangle bracelet made by my jade carver in China.  I also have a "luminous" deep deep green jade bangle bracelet, but like the true black jade when I travel.

Black Chinese jade bangle bracelets with qi energy for protection

I also had one of the best acupuncture treatments on board Brilliance of the Seas.  Doctor James did my pulse and tongue diagnosis and his explanation of my body needing more "yin".  The excessive yang has been causing muscle tightness, stress and some anxiety.  I felt much better after the treatment and have slept better since the acupuncture.  Now I know what I need to address to my primary care doctor when I have my appointment later this month.

Many people who wear jade have contacted me to tell me how their jade makes them feel.  Some are surprised that jade really does have qi energy.  And most people intuitively choose the jade that has the best qi energy for them.

 

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What Kind of Jade to Wear: October

During September, it was so hot and humid here in central Florida that I stayed in the air conditioned home and areas most of the time.  But being outdoors, especially at sunset, is what I prefer.  I missed my outdoor time, felt some anxiety and stress.

So I used my time adding new products to the jade websites.   After they were photographed, edited, the jade pieces went in a box where I randomly chose a piece to list.  I pulled out a carved Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet and started listing it on Ying Yu Jade.  It is an oval jade bangle, and I add the two inside diameter dimensions to determine how it would fit like a round jade bangle bracelet.   Then I put it on my wrist to check how it really felt. 

And I have had it on my wrist since that time.

The colors and carving are very soothing, and I love looking at the color pattern and the way it's carved.  This is one of those jade bangle bracelets carved in the very traditional way.  The jade carver examined the stone to determine how to use the colors and jadeite stone variation to get the best result.  Then on an auspicious day, he would do the carving.  It looks like there are some clarification lines on the surface that were incorporated to the entire design. Not damage, just part of natural stone.  The colorful side is the side that is on the top of my wrist and contacts my wrist most of the time.

The white side is on my wrist by the veins.  This area is smooth, not carved except lucky coins and lotus where the white meets the carved colorful area.

As I have stated before, I think most people choose the jade that has the best energy for them.  It's October now, autumn setting in, and this color combination is giving me the calming, soothing and transitional qi energy so helpful.

And I have another special Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet in my (never-ending) collection.

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