In such a economic downtime, we probably worry about the next month paycheck rather than a piece of jewelry. However, if you have extra disposable cash, to invest in valuable jade is probably a good investment. It’s a great time to bargain with the jeweler if you can let him/her smell the money.
Recently, I heard a quite well-known jeweler has to close all the stores due to the sudden broken cash chain even though he still had hundred thousand dollar worth jewelry in stock. The “Cash King Theory” has never been truer now days.
With the economic problems these days, it is important to maximize every dollar possible. Here you will learn where to get your best deals on jade and discover how to save time doing it.
The mall probably should not be your first choice to shop for jade. Mall stores have very high rent and overhead, so they have to make large profits in order to stay open. The jewelry you will find in a mall store will usually have 2-300% markup.
There are several On-line auction sites. One must be careful with some of those auction sites .What they claim to be retail value for an item can most often be very deceptive. If you pay more than 10% of the “so called” retail price you have probably paid true retail or more.
You also run a very good risk of the quality not being what you expected. Read several unbiased reviews about an auction site before you buy. Keep in mind many of the reviews you will find easiest, will be written by the very same organization you are investigating.
With Internet , the jewelry sellers don’t have expensive over head nor fancy stores to maintain. This allows them to sell the jewelry at substantial savings to the customers. Of coarse not all On-line stores offer great deals, so one still should take the time to shop and compare.
If you have spent any time surfing and shopping On-line for jade, then you already know that there are thousands of sites selling jewelry. It can be very time consuming and frustrating finding that right piece of jewelry at a fair price.
Though they are sparkly, pretty and intriguing, gemstones from the dawn of time have served as talismans of good health fortune and prosperity. Used to ward off negativity in some form, each has their own properties and meanings.
Below is a list of some of the most popular gemstones and there meanings:
Diamonds
- The most sought-after gemstones, i.e., diamonds with the highest level of hardness property—10.
- Diamonds are also considered to be a symbol of infinity. They have been used as talismans to draw away physical ailments.
Pearls
- Pearls have less hardness properties than diamonds and are created within the interior of certain mollusks.
- Pearls, in certain societies, are the symbol for purity. They have been considered to emit certain properties that create mental balance.
Rubies
- Rubies and bloodstones have relative hardness properties –9.
- Rubies have been used as symbols for love, sincerity and health of the heart.
Emeralds
- Emeralds, like rubies possess a relative hardness- 7.5-8.
- Emeralds are believed to endow the wearer with astute insight.
Sapphires
- Sapphires are slightly less durable in hardness properties–9.
- Like the opal (5.5-6.5), the milky gemstone, sapphires have a tendency to crack. Sapphires are said to endow the wearer with a higher level of spirituality.
- Opals, like smoky quartz, are worn to inspire peace and harmony.
- Ancient tribes believed amber held healing properties.
Jade
- Jade comprises of Jadeite 6.5-7 and Nephrite –6.5-7.
- The meaning of specific jade piece is strongly related to the pattern, I will describe the rich meaning of different jade patterns in my next article.
While this list is a good start, there is so much more to learn about all the hidden properties of gemstones. Finding the right gemstone could mean anything from good health, wealth or true love. Just remember to keep your mind open. Who knows what you’ll find with the right stone!
March 31st,2009
Jade Knowledge | tags:
diamonds,
emeralds,
gemstones,
jade,
jadeite,
meaning of gemstones,
nephrite,
pearls,
rubies,
sapphires |
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If you’re a fan of gemstone, there’s one name you definetely need to respect.
Friedrich Mohs (1773-1839),German Geologist/mineralogist. Mohs, studied chemistry, mathematics and physics. He started classifying minerals by their physical characteristics, in spite of their chemical composition, as it was done before. He created a hardness scale that is still used as Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
The scale goes from 1 to 10. Diamond is at the top of the scale, with a rating of 10, Talc is the softest, with a rating of 1. You can use minerals of known hardness to determine the relative hardness of any other mineral.
A mineral of a given hardness will scratch a mineral of a lower number. For example one of your fingernail(2) can scratch a talc(1) specimen or with a broken glass(5) you can scratch a calcite(3) or fluorite(4) specimen.
MOHS SCALE OF MINERAL HARDNESS
Hardness Mineral Everyday equivalent
- 10 –Diamond synthetic diamond
- 9 –Corundum ruby
- 8 — Topaz sandpaper
- 7 — Quartz steel knife
- 6 — Orthoclase/Feldspar penknife blade
- 5 — Apatite glass
- 4 — Fluorite iron nail
- 3 — Calcite bronze coin
- 2 — Gypsum fingernail
- 1 — Talc baby powder
To use the hardness scale, try to scratch the surface of an unknown sample with a mineral or substance from the hardness scale (these are known samples). If the unknown sample cannot be scratched by calcite (3) but it can be scratched by fluorite(4), then it’s hardness is between 3 and 4. An example of minerals that have a hardness between 3 and 4 are barite, celestite and cerussite(3 to 3.5). You can use this test to distinguish between calcite and barite or between barite and fluorite.
If you wish to test an unknown mineral for hardness remember that the minerals can be damaged and lose value if not scratched properly.
Some Gemstones Hardness
• Diamond –10
• Sapphire, Ruby–9
• Crysoberyl, Alexandrite, Cats eye—8.5
• Beryl, Emerald, Aquamarine – 7.5-8
• Zircon – 7.5
• Tourmaline (Elbaite, Dravite) – 7-7.5
• Quartz (Amethyst, Citrine) — 7
• Jadeite 6.5-7
• Nephrite –6.5-7
• Garnet (Hessonite, Rhodolite, Spessartine) — 6.6-7.5
• Lapislazuli– 5-5.5
• Opal — 5.5-6.5
• Turquoise — 5-6
• Feldspars (like Labradorite, Amazonite, Moonstone, or Sunstone)–6-6.5
Due to different polishing techniques, the luster of jade art craft will last differently. The poorly made ones will lose the luster after 1-2 years or sooner.
A good Care and Maintenance is very important for jade. You shall dust the jade art craft with swifter often. Then wipe the craft with sheepskin. If the ambient humidity is quit low, then better wipe the craft with soft wet cloth to increase the surface moisture.
Don’t put the jade craft under the direct sunlight or spotlight too long. The heat will dry the moisture of the jade and cause fine cracks.
If you are an antique jade collector especially for Chinese jade, then there are few tips you must know:
1. Master the ancient jade patterns. Chinese jade has a rich history of patterns. Certain unique pattern can help to date back to specific era. If you are a Chinese antique jade lover, I would recommend the famous book “Antique Jade Illustration” written by Wu Da Zhen from Qing Dynasty. The author depicted a list of antique jade based on their date, usage, and size. He also provided related illustrations which were highly valuable.
2. Fabricated Ancient Jade can be dated back to Song Dynasty (960 –1279AC). As I mentioned in previous article, the authentic ancient jade shall be dated before Han Dynasty (202 BC). So even if it is an antique jade piece, it might be added hundreds to thousands years by the jeweler. So be careful about the consistency of the key elements, such as the jade material, patterns, and carving techniques etc.
3. The fabricated jade usually uses cheap jade material with the hardness lower than 5.5. While quality jade material shall be harder than 6.
If you are interested in Chinese jade collecting, there is a very import definition to know that is “Ancient Jade (GuYu)”. A lot of jewelers might claim their jade is Ancient Jade. However, it can be very misleading.
Strictly speaking, “Ancient Jade (GuYu)” shall be dated back before Han Dynasty (202BC). In Chinese pronunciation, “Gu Yu” means Ancient Jade while it also can be translated as Antique Jade. So some jewelers might play around this definition and cheat you of the price.
“Intactness” is a very important required virtue of a valuable jade piece. If a jade piece is broken, even to a tiniest extend, the value shall drop drastically. Unfortunately, thanks to the advanced repair technique its becoming more and more difficult for a collector to identify a broken piece.
The key to identify if a jade piece is broken and repaired, is the detail oriented observation. No matter how delicate the repair is, you always can find a clue. Today I will introduce you few jade repair techniques and how to sleuth.
1. If the broken part is obvious, the repairer might use other materials to replace such as gold, silver or even platinum. This technique does sound very obvious too. However if the vendor told you it’s a gold inlaid jade piece and the gold part add some artistic touch shall bring up the value, then you might totally neglect the obvious part . The principal of any inlaid jade is the precious metal shall not coat the intactness of this jade piece. Because the golden rule in the jade biz is no precious metal can be more valuable then the entire complete nice piece of jade, unless there is some flaws.
2. The glued-back and refilled jade can be more difficult to recognize. Due to the advancement of materials, the bond can really make the broken part invisible from bare eyes. Or if there is a chip, the repairer might inject the refilling. After the polish and coating, the broken part might disappear from the glance. However, don’t forget the key– detail oriented observation. If you are careful enough, you always can find the clue under the bright light and magnifier. One import tip is, when you check under a bright light, let the light go through different angles. It will help you to identify between a nature texture and a crack.
3. Second-handed carving. It’s a way to treat the small broken parts. The repairer carves away the chipped part or adds on some new patens to make the jade piece still look as intact. If the repair is through a real pair of master hands, the dropped the value can be minimized. If you find some part of a jade piece looks newer than others, then it might be repaired by second-handed carving. Another way to find out is to check the integrity of the whole pattern.
As a general rule to buy an valuable and expensive jade piece, you shall assume there are flaws. Ask yourself all different issues, and eliminate them one by one.
Nurturing your own unique jade is definitely the greatest joy in the jade collecting experience. Nurturing jade is the course of wearing the jade with you and providing extra care. Its the course of sublimation from a little caterpillar to the beautiful butterfly.
As I mentioned in previous article, according to the renowned literacy “Ancient Jade Identification” from 1700’s, the Art of Jade Nurturing could be categorized into: Gentle Nurturing, Intensive Nurturing, and Spiritual Nurturing.
1. Gentle Nurturing: Wearing the jade piece directly on your body. Warm the jade by your own human temperature and rub it with clean hands every day. If its an antique piece, then you need to place this piece in a beanbag and wear it directly on your body for the first year. 1 year later, you can let it touch your skin. The key is this jade piece shall absorb your body temperature and bond to your body.
2. Intensive Nurturing: Rubbing the antique jade piece intensively, to expedite the maturity. Usually the jade merchandisers adopt this method. After one year’s wearing, the hardness restores gradually. Then you can wrap it with an old white cotton cloth (colored cloth is not allowed), and rub it. In old days, the merchandisers would hire somebody to rub the jade day and night. Usually you need to change to another cloth after a period of time. When time goes by, the color and brightness of the jade piece would return. Of course, it takes much shorter time than Gentle Nurturing to recover an antique jade piece. While the shortcoming is the intensive force might hurt the piece, causing unrepairable damage. Sometime the invisible cracks could be generated.
3. Spiritual Nurturing: It is the course of combining yourself and your jade. It a journey to find yourself in your jade, and find the jade from yourself. Spiritual nurturing is holding and rubbing the jade during the meditation. Ancient Chinese believed the exquisite jade is the perfect birth on the earth by absorbing the elite from the nature. The spiritual nurturing is the interaction between you and your jade piece. The two parties absorb the best from each other, and nurture each other.
Ancient Chinese believed Jade Nurturing is an Art. Because you need to rub the rust away by your hands, from your heart. While if you don’t exert your strength properly, the delicate jade piece also can be destroyed in your own hands.
Ancient Chinese always admire jade more than just gemstone. Jade are believed to have special spiritual bond with the human master.
Jade loses its luster when time passes by. While ancient Chinese believed the human care and nurture can restore the shine or even improve the eminence if the care comes from the meant-to-be human master.
Due to this “Jade Spiritual Philosophy”, Jade Nurturing plays a pivotal role in the Jade Culture.
Especially, if it’s an antique jade buried underground then it was usually covered by some water or soil rust. Ancient Chinese believed the “Human Touch” could restore the lost luster.
The Jade Nurturing is the interaction between the human master and the jade piece. As I mentioned before, ancient Chinese believed everybody had your one piece “Soul Mate Jade”. That unique piece reflects your spiritual body. So the process of Nurturing is also a journey to find yourself and rebound with your spiritual self.
So what is the Jade Nurturing? According to the renowned literacy “Ancient Jade Identification” from 1700’s, the Art of Jade Nurturing could be categorized into: Gentle Nurturing, Intensive Nurturing, and Spiritual Nurturing. I will talk about the details in my next article.
Ox is a traditional pattern for jade in China. People love ox because of its personality. Ox symbolizes prosperity through steady, fortitude and hard work. Since its Ox year in China, lets look at some Jade Ox Collectables:
• Antique Lying Jade Ox from Qing Dynasty.
Height: 6.6cm, Length: 15.1cm, Width: 7.7cm
This lying jade ox was made in 1818 a master piece from Qing Dynasty. This piece was made for the enjoyment of play in hand for the noble class. Hand-playing Jade was a major category in antique jade collectables. This lying jade ox is very nicely shaped and fits hand perfectly.
The creator embraced the natural color and spots of the jade piece. The colors of the horns and nose are outstanding highlights.
• OxCouple Pendant
This pendant is made of high quality famous “He Tian Jade”. The cuddling ox couple represents sweet love and relationship.
• Money Ox
This is also a hand-playing master piece. The original color and texture have been perfectly embodied into the money caring ox.
• Jadeite Buffalo
This is a small pendant. The high quality jadeite brings buffalo alive in front of us.
