SEA Imports, Inc. – Global exotic gift center.

.... jade is a possession to be cherished by anyone who can find it or buy it or steal it. Chinese women ask for jade ornaments for their hair, and old men keep in their closed palms a piece of cool jade, so smooth that it seems like soft to touch. Rich men buy jade instead of putting their money in the banks, for jade grows more beautiful with age. When men die, their families put jade in the tombs with them to keep them from decay and the orifices of their bodies are stopped with jade for purity. The poorest courtesan has her bit of jade to hang to her ears or to use in a hairpin, and the most successful and popular actresses wear jade instead of diamonds, because jade is the most sumptuous jewel against a women's flesh.....

- Pearl S. Buck, My Several Worlds

Crystal System: Monoclinic
Color of Streak: White
Moth’s Scale: 6 1/2-7
Refractive Index: Jadeite- 1.652-1.688, Nephrite- 1.600-1.627
Density: Jadeite- 3.30-3.38, Nephrite- 2.90-3.03
Double Refraction: 0.020
Chemical Composition: Jadeite- NaAlSi2O6, Nephrite- Ca2(Mg,Fe)5(OH)2

Occurrence: Tawmaw & Hpakon (Upper Burma), Turkestan, South Island-New Zealand, Southern Frazier River (B.C. Canada), Guatemala, Japan, Taiwan, and California, Alaska & Wyoming (U.S.)

Descriptive Name:

Ax Stone	Nephrite jade
California Jade	Jadeite and Nephrite
Greenstone	Nephrite, New Zealand
Imperial Jade	Superb gem quality jadeite jade, the best.
Jade	can be either Jadeite or Nephrite
Kidney Stone	Nephrite
Maori	Nephrite, New Zealand
Spinach Jade	Nephrite
Maw-Sit-Sit	Dark green Jadeite w/ black spots, Burma

Misleading Trade Names:

Misnomers	What they really are.
African Jade	Green Garnet
Australian Jade	Chrysophrase Quartz
Fukien Jade	Soapstone
Hunan Jade	Soapstone
Indian Jade	Aventurine Quartz
Korean Jade	Serpentine
Manchurian Jade	Soapstones
Mexican Jade	Dyed green Calcite
New Jade	Serpentine
Oregon Jade	Dark green Jasper Quartz
Sowchow Jade	Serpentine or Soapstone
Swiss Jade	Dyed green Jasper Quartz
Virginia Jade	Amazonite Feldspar

Valuation:

Pricing jade is a very tough issue. Most of the jewelers and gemologist do not have the knowledge to appraise jade. It is best to consult a jade expert.

The 3 most important factors in pricing jade are color, transparency, and uniformity. Other secondary factors includes design, craftsmanship, and antiquity. The best pieces of rough jade will be made into cabochons for rings or necklaces. Following in descending order are made from lesser material, bracelet, bead, carving, and disk or doughnut shaped.

Color is the most important factor. The most highly prized jade is the imperial jade. Imperial jade has the color of a fine emerald. A superb piece of imperial jade cabochon will commence up to a few USD$ millions of dollars. Next in value is the lighter imperial shades of green, then lavender, dark apple green, "forest" or "spinach" green, light apple green, and dirty/ spotty green. The most highly prized are those that are pure, intense, and uniform.

Prices on jadeite cabochon varies a lot. Oval cabs are in greatest demand. Cabs must be at least 10x12mm large, with a shallow cab at the bottom of the stone. Recently, a jadeite cabochon ring at Christie's Jade Auction in Hong Kong, Sale 2035, Lot 1782, closed to USD$1.9 million. Below are some of additional factors for jade cabochons and rings.

Translucency: should be semi-transparent in natural light.
Clarity: should be free of inclusions when illuminated from the back by a strong light. Dark or light veins, spots, or blotches will detract the value.
Color Uniformity: should be uniform, and free of blotchiness.
Brightness: should display a lustrous brilliance or "glow".

Cleaning Guide:

Both jadeite and nephrite will response well to mild soap and warm water. Use a soft toothbrush to clean them.

It is also safe to clean jade in ultrasonic cleaner. No harm done by the ultrasonic cleaner.

Jade is a very hard mineral, thus will only be scratched by minerals that are higher in Mohs scale, like diamond, ruby and sapphire. Jade will likely scratch your gold, platinum, and silver. Store all pieces of jewelry in separate bags.

Overall, it is very simple to care for your jade. They are hard, durable, and resistant. As history has shown, lots of archaic jade have survived for centuries. Your jade jewelry will bring you decades of enjoyment for you and future generations.

Metaphysical:

One who reveres a beautiful vision or ideal can utilize the energies of jade to assist in realizing those thoughts. Jade helps on to cherish ones desires and facilitates the building of ones dreams in this physical reality. It releases ones limitations such that permission is granted which allows one to actualize aspirations and attain limitless achievements. It inspires and induces ambition toward accomplishment of objectives.

It helps to attune one to the needs of others and inspires wisdom during the assessment of problems. It promotes the balancing of ones needs with the requirements of the day, allowing one to recongnize and to care for that which is of prime importance ot well-being.

It also provides confidence, assisting one in the attainment of self-assuredness, self-reliance, and self-sufficiency.

For Sale

Burmese Jadeite Archaic Jade Old Jade