| Ladies and Gentlemen! If you are looking for a gift with mystical meaning follow my lead…
The Chinese call it ‘yu’ and refer to it as “the stone of heaven.” It symbolizes amongst others, energy, wisdom, beauty, female-eroticism and kindness and is surrounded by a multitude of myths. With its beauty and wide-ranging expressiveness, jade has held a special attraction in the gem world for thousands of years.
The term jade is applied to two different minerals: nephrite and jadeite, which can vary in color from bright emerald-green, pink, lavender, orange to brown and gray. Both are tough stones that don't break or chip easily and are used to create all kinds of jewelry and carved art. The more light that shines through the stone, the better the quality. Jade mines can be found in countries like Burma (officially the Union of Myanmar), Canada, China, Switzerland, Italy and Guatemala.
In prehistoric times jade was considered an ideal material for furnishings, weapons and tools. As early as 3000 B.C it had a special significance to the Chinese empire and was as valuable as gold and diamonds today. The Mayas, Aztecs and Olmecs of Central America also honored this esteemed gem more highly than gold and till this day New Zealand's Maoris still carve Nephrite Jade or pounamu into traditional cult instruments and weapons.
If you fell in love with Jade you won’t have trouble locating an exquisitely carved stone flower tree or a peaceful bear and cub set. You can even find a large and detailed Chinese Jade dragon ship, but don’t ask me for the price! These incredible minerals are more commonly used to create quality A Grade rings, bangles, necklaces or anything else that fits in your jewelry box. You may want avoid pieces with many cracks or other visible flaws and remember that semi-transparent to translucent Jade is more valuable than opaque Jade. Jewelry stones are often dyed, which is not considered a permanent treatment, so don’t be surprised if your favorite pair of earrings suddenly starts to fade. Therefore it is recommended to deal only with a reputable dealer or check out your retail source before you make your purchase. In the end it will save you a lot of disappointment. |
