What Kind of Jade Should I Buy? How Do I Know if it is Real Jade?

During this COVID-19 time, when many people are home, self isolating, working at home, so many are using the internet for information, education and shopping.  I have had more contact from new customers than usual.  There are discount sales on Ying Yu Jade and Jade Heaven every day so you can get a lower price.  And most of them want to "know about jade". 

One of the recent contacts was from a man who wants to purchase a jade bangle bracelet for a girlfriend.  She never had a jade bangle, but wants one on her wrist now. He sent me a photo of a jade bangle bracelet he thinks she might like.

"Jasper" is not jade.   But it's green, it is often advertised as "jade", and the good green classic jade color makes is look desirable.

We spent a few days emailing each other about jade bangle bracelets, what is "real" jade, and what women like.  He then decided he would purchase a green traditional Chinese jade bangle from Ying Yu Jade, I gave him a discount coupon code.   A day later, he asked what size she might wear. 

That's a whole other topic.  You can watch the videos at the beginning of our jade bangle bracelet collections to learn how to measure and what to consider when finding your jade bangle size.

He decided to get the jasper bangle shown in the photo, because jasper price is lower than jade price and it looked like "the perfect green jade bangle bracelet".

The only way to really know if your jade is "real",  Chinese jade, or Burmese jadeite and if it's grade A natural color, or grades B, C, color treated by bleaching out the color, then adding color it to have it tested by a gemologist or a person which much experience in jade.  We test all of our Burmese jadeite by refraction, a gemology test, to make sure it is "real", and have the experience to know that it is natural color because we personally shop in China near the Burma border, directly from the jade carvers so we can see them at work, and the quality of the stone they are using.

But, I personally own a few Burmese jadeite bangle bracelets that are grades B, C, color treated.  Some are so pretty and fun to wear, it does not matter to me if it's not grade A.  It is still "real jade", and it's what I want to wear.

When you shop for jade online, and you see jade that really appeals to you, makes you smile when you look at it, maybe even makes your wrist tingle as you look at it, maybe you drool over the picture, and you keep coming back to look at it,  that is the jade bangle that's right for you.  If you are looking for jade as an investment, want a jade bangle that is worth thousands of dollars, either get one that has a certificate of gemology testing, or a guarantee that if you get it tested by a GIA gemologist and it is not genuine, or the grade A  you expect, you can return it for a refund.  And we offer that guarantee on our web sites.

Also, if you do want to invest in a high quality jadeite bangle that will increase in value,   you are welcome to "make an offer".   Look in our menu for Contact Information or "Make an Offer" and use the email to let us know the item number and what you would like to pay.  We accept most offers because jade bangles really do belong on a wrist, not sitting in a box in storage.

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Jade Mask and Rose Quartz Face and Eye Mask Health, Healing, Love, Gentleness, Stress, Spirituality Active-Corona Virus Season

The Covid-19 corona virus spreading throughout our world is taking a toll on all of us.  Many of us keep busy, enjoying our self isolation time at home, while many of us are also very stressed about isolation.  And many people are working in the health care fields, risking themselves and working hard, exhausted at the end of the day.

Jade face and eye masks have been used in China and Asia for health and healing.  They are cool, and help relax the forehead, upper face and around the eyes.  People who get headaches often find them very helpful.  When you have had a long stressful day working, especially now, because they feel so good and are helpful, they may reduce your risk for becoming ill.  And if you are bored, watching television all day, or working to home school your children, they offer relief.

Traditional Chinese jade masks, genuine natural jadewith qi energy for health, healing and beauty

Jade facial masks are also used in spas for health and beauty

While jade is our primary product that we sell, I have also been a fan of rose quartz over the years.  When shopping for jade in China, I purchased rose quartz items because they are so beautiful, but also have a good "feel", similar to jade.  Rose quartz is related to the Water element, and the Heart Chakra. The energy is related to Love, Gentleness, Emotional Healing, Stress and Spirituality, Unity with the Divine, according to culture and alternative health (reference "Book of Stones").

Rose quartz face and eye mask made from natural rose quartz

I purchased a few, and was surprised at how quickly they sold out.  They are very popular now, along with rose quartz rollers and gua sha tools.   And we added rose quartz to Ying Yu Jade because we want to offer customers the best products for health and wellness.   Rose quartz costs 2-3 times as much as jade does, but if you "feel good and happy" when you look at it, then it is probably a helpful item for you to use for your health. 

And the masks also help with appearance.  They are used in spas often.  If you use it regularly, you will probably notice wrinkles less noticeable, that area above the nose may not have the deep wrinkles.  As you have read in other blog posts, I only buy and sell items that I personally use.  It is my intention to share what works for me so you can have access to them, too.

These jade and rose quartz face and eye masks sell well, and we do our best to keep them in stock.

You can click on the photos for more information, and the view the selections.

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Jade for Health and Wellness - And Health and Beauty for Your Plants, Flowers, Bushes

Many of us have been staying at home, away from other people, to avoid contacting the Covid-19 corona virus.   Since it's spring now, the weather getting warmer, it's healthy to go outside and get sunshine, activity working in your yard.  We had a colder than usual winter here in central Florida, and with other things going on in our lives I neglected my yard work, especially taking care of plants, flowers, landscaping I love.  I was somewhat surprised the orchids especially were blooming and doing well.  I am careful about products I use because, like medicine, they sometimes have "side effects" that can cause damage to the plant, and also to the person who is applying it.

Add jade eggs, balls to flower pots,  around your favorite plants, bushes so they get the good healthy "qi energy" too!

One of my shipments of jade from China a couple of years ago was "inspected" during Customs inspection from China to USA, and the box was not well packed afterwards.  My jade carver does a very wonderful job of packing, and there is often more soft packaging than the actual jade so it will arrive to me in good shape, no damage.  But you never know what Customs will do.  Most of the time they just open the box to make sure there's nothing illegal inside.  This box was filled mostly with the jade eggs and ben wa balls that we have been selling for years. And there was almost no packaging material they used to re-wrap, so they were very loose in the hard box, and many were damaged when I received them, small chips, cracks, scratches, the hard materials in the box damaging the gentle polishing the jade carver did.  When I sorted through them, I had a huge box of damaged jade eggs and ball.  I open the boxes of jade I order from China in our driveway and take photos in the natural daylight to show "what's new" on YouTube and on the blog, and it occurred to me that this jade that looks so natural would look very good outside.

So I added jade eggs, balls to my plant containers,  around the orchids, spread them throughout the bushes,  and scattered them around my favorite area where I have small palm trees, most of the orchids, some herbs like rosemary, and they looked so good with the "stepping stones", stone mulch, pots and plants.  That's when I decided to sell them as "Clearance Jade Eggs and Ben Wa Balls for Plant Health and Wellness-13 pieces".   And I sold quite a few sets.   Since it's spring again, I do have more that are available for jade lovers who want their jade outside as well as inside, and on their wrist!

Jade eggs and ben wa balls, damaged in shipping, but mostly still "good green" and look good outdoors

The colors were mostly the darker green "yang" that I paid a higher price for than the lighter green "yin" jade eggs and balls.  So they really do look good outside.

Not only are my orchids gorgeous, but the rosemary, aloe vera plants are there for me when I use them, which is often.   

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Chinese Medicine Jade Tools for Health and Wellness, Resist COVID-19 CoronaVirus

My Chinese friends throughout China have been keeping in touch with me about the COVID-19 CoronaVirus that we started hearing about during Chinese Lunar New Year.  One of my friends told told me he and his wife were traveling south to visit family during that time, and that's when the CoronaViru started causing big problems.  They were isolated in a hotel, had to wear masks if they opened their room door, and could not leave for quite awhile.  He let me know he heard that it had started in other countries and that the USA was "blaming China" for it.  Because Chinese citizens don't legally have access to open internet, it is monitored in China, he wanted to know what our news was reporting.  And then he heard couldn't understand why there were so many people in USA who had caught the influence (flu) virus and so many had died from it, and couldn't understand why our country was was so obsessed with this CoronaVirus. He told me that China was treated many citizens with Chinese medicine, using herbal remedies that have been used for centuries. And now it is subsiding.

We don't have any kind of treatment for CoronaVirus in USA.

My Chinese doctor friend reminded me to keep my "qi energy moving smoothly" to stay healthy through this virus time.  Along with taiji and qigong,  and yoga, I have been using some of my traditional Chinese medicine tools at least once a day to keep the smoother qi flow throughout my body.

I use the jade gua sha tools for scraping.  I start with my neck, shoulder, move down my arms, then back and hips, legs and feet. 

Traditional Chinese medicine jade gua sha tools for scraping, keep qi flowing smoothly
More information on Ying Yu Jade about using these.  Some are on sale now.

The other Chinese medicine jade tool I use daily is the jade roller with "needles" carved over it.  It not only smooths the qi, it stimulates blood flow for health.  It is very helpful to me, helps with nerve pain and "restless leg".  I slowly roll it over arms, back, chest, then hips, legs and feet.

Traditional Chinese medicine jade "acu-roller", "needles" carved into
the roller  head to keep qi flowing smoothly and increase blood flow

We have been selling these more now that this CoronaVirus doesn't have any treatment yet here in USA.  Most people use them while they are still healthy, rather than wait until they become ill.

And of course wear your best, most healthy and helpful jade bangle bracelet all the time!  Jade has good healing energy, and is beautiful.  It's like "wearing medicine on your wrist".

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Jade Bangle Bracelets for Sore Wrists - What is My Jade Bangle Size?

In China for centuries, a family gave their daughter a jade bangle bracelet when she was very young, a young teenager.  When the young girl put it on her wrist, she left it on her wrist all the time, did not take it off.  As she grew older, her arm became larger.  By the time she was a woman, the jade bangle bracelet was close to her wrist, so tight it could not be removed by taking it off.  One of my long time Vietnamese customers told me this was also true in Vietnam, and other Asian countries.  She was getting ready for surgery  when she was "grandmother age", and the surgeon insisted that the bangle must be removed for the surgery that had nothing to do with her arm or wrist.  It had to be broken to remove, which also broke her heart.  After the surgery and her wrist healed from the needles that were inserted into her wrist, we spent quite awhile finding a similar jade bangle because she missed wearing jade so much. One of the problems was that because of her age, after she had the IV's and needles in her for so many days, her wrist was tender.

As we age, we may get arthritis in our wrists, fingers, hands.  This makes it more painful to put on, take of jade bangle bracelets.

My first jade bangle bracelet was in 1999, during my first trip to China.  The jade bangle I purchased was slightly too large, so when I returned to China the following years I looked for one that was really special.  The vintage, Dynasty era carved jade bangle that I saw on a woman during a train ride from Beijing was beautiful and looked "just right" for me.  As I mentioned in previous posts, the woman on the train was obsessed with my handbag, and traded the jade bangle for my handbag, and some of the contents.

My favorite, vintage carved Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet
Different all around, excellent carving.  Thick and heavy

I wore it almost all the time because I loved the history of it, all the carving.   But that carving, the thickness of the bangle inside-to-outside, made it heavy.  And as I got older, I started getting arthritis in my wrist, making it uncomfortable.  Then I got carpal tunnel symptoms, and it became quite painful.  I started taking it off at night, but it became difficult and painful to get on.  Time to change to another jade bangle bracelet (and I was very sad about this).

Of course I have a drawer full of jade bangles that are "my size" that I just can't sell because I love them so much.  I tried them all on and one of them that was very difficult to put on turned out to be the most comfortable of all of them.

Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet I wear today

It's lightweight, thin inside-to-outside, and the way it sits on my wrist it doesn't move around too much.  I don't feel the pain because of the sizing.  The darker green veins seem to give me more qi energy these days.  I feel more alert, more active and happy wearing it  The lighter green, almost white, adds some "yin" to the darker "yang" for balance.  It's good for me now. 

I have another jade bangle bracelet that I like to wear.  It's classic round and quite valuable "old mine" Dynasty era.  I remember seeing a large statue of Guan Yin, Buddha of Compassion, and she was wearing one very similar.  That's another reason I cherish it.  But at this time in my wrist and hand arthritis it just is too "clunky" for me, although I thought a slender classic round bangle would feel very comfortable.

My slender "Guan Yin" style classic round small Burmese jadeite bangle bracelet

If you want a comfortable jade bangle bracelet when your wrist is sore for whatever reason, choose one that is thin inside-to-outside, so it's lightweight, and is very tight getting on so it will stay close to your wrist.  I understand that it is not easy to know how a jade bangle you find online will feel on your wrist, but believe me, I understand and do my best to help customers get their best fitting jade bangle even if it means exchanging.  I treat customers the way I want to be treated, and I want you to have a jade bangle that you feel it on your wrist, but it feels good, not painful.

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Jade Teapot and Teapot Sets - Amazing Use of Jade!

I finally listed the jade teapots and teapot set that were "buried" in the inventory.  It took several weeks to get the photos so they look like "the real thing".  Then study them carefully and try to remember the history.  And if you read these blogs, you know that it is difficult for me to list and sell something I truly love.  Yes, it's jade teapots.  I did keep one set for myself.

I purchased the jade teapots during my trip to China in 2000.  I didn't intend to buy teapots to sell because they are heavy, and I had to carry them home in my luggage which means less room for jade bangle bracelets, pendants, all of the things I sell online.  But my first experience was when I went to a Chinese government jade museum in north east China, near Xiuyang. They rarely saw "foreigners" so I got a good look around.  Fascinating jade items.  The good green translucent Chinese jade that Chinese people have worn for centuries.  And that was when I was introduced to "river jade".  Some of the jade mines had rivers that caused the jade to get unique natural color, not only green but also honey, charcoal and black, yellow and red-orange.  I bought my first teapot set there.

Vintage "River Jade" Chinese Teapot Set

That was the year I met a jade carver in China who would make most of the Chinese jade items I sell.  When the person who is still my associate in China took me to the jade market to meet him, he pulled out some teapots that he had stashed away.  Maybe he didn't really want to sell them, like me when I love something!

"Flower and Bird" Chinese Jade Teapot SetA vintage set carved prior to the year 2000

One of my favorites is a large jade teapot with four small jade teapots.  This is a Dynasty, vintage set that is very rare.

Pumpkin Shape Large Teapot with Four Small Teapots

Of course I purchased very unique and well carved jade teapots.  These two are also vintage and unique:

"Power, Strength and Good Luck" Jade Teapot Set

This teapot is relates to the Chinese Spring Festival.  "Rooster Rides Elephant" is symbolic of honesty, protection, wisdom and strength.

"Rooster Rides Elephant" Chinese Jade Teapot Set

Jade always "means something".   That is part of Chinese culture.  When you display one in your home, office or special place. you and those who observe it benefit from the "good qi energy" of jade.  

These are the only teapot sets I bought because of the price, storage, and cost for shipping because they need special wrapping and are heavy to ship.  I do have to resist asking my jade carver what he has to sell now!

You can view the Ying Yu Jade Teapot Collection here.

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Jade Rollers for Health, Wellness and Beauty

Ying Yu Jade introduced jade rollers to USA 20 years ago.  When I went to China in 1999 to learn Chinese medicine with my qigong group, we went to a Chinese medicine hospital for some lectures and experiences.   We learned that most Chinese people kept jade rollers in their "medicine cabinets" along with jade gua sha tools, pressure needles and herbal remedies.   We also had a tour of the hospital.   Each patient had these tools, jade rollers in their rooms, and they were used often.

Jade rollers are used to roll on your skin, usually in a downward motion.  Patients learned where their qi meridians were, and rolled over the meridians and acupuncture points to free "stuck qi" points, so their qi would flow smoothly and resolve health issues.  During the Mao Revolution, Chinese "barefoot doctors" roamed through the countryside and always carried jade rollers and gua sha tools as their medical tools.

I was very impressed with "real" Chinese medicine and returned every year for a long time, so I was able to meet the jade carver and learn how jade rollers were made.  Our jade carver uses genuine and natural jade that he purchases from the jade mine and makes them to Chinese medicine standards.  He made the classic double jade rollers, medium jade rollers with only the large roller, small rollers with only the small roller head.

Ying Yu Jade small, medium and large double jade rollers

Ying Yu Jade carver in China make our jade rollers

I have had restless leg syndrome for many years, and getting treated in China was much more helpful than being treated in USA.  I didn't need prescription medicine that causes side effects.  The jade roller I use often is a larger roller with "needles" in the head.  It improves circulation as well as smooths the qi that is stuck and causes pain and frustrating movement.   I start the roller at my hips and slowly, mindfully roll towards my knees for awhile.  Then roll across knees, where there are acupoints that affect the pain, then from knees to ankles for a few minutes.  There are also acupoints in the bottom of the feet, so I use the roller on my feet for awhile.

Ying Yu Jade "Acu-Roller"

Jade has good qi energy, and the jade rollers are on of the best combinations of a treatment with the jade qi and the roller part.  Now they have become very popular for facial use, smoothing the skin, facial wrinkles, and improving blood flow.  But of course like all jade now, you have to be careful you are getting "real jade", not marble or glass rollers that are sold as "jade".

You can trust you are getting the best quality jade rollers on Ying Yu Jade.

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