Qn on jade bangle

[clairejune]

Silver Mom, about the UV light, it's a hand held box about the size of a brick. Its a simple plug in with a strap on top to slip your hand into. There's a switch on top which changes it from long to short wave UV. This is very important because polymers and dyes often will not glow under one, but the other depending on the chemicals used. Almost all polymer will show up, (B jade) and most dyes. You want to put the bangle down on a counter top, like in the bathroom, with the main room light turned off. Then hold the UV light over the jade, but NEVER look directly into the light because it can damage your retinas! I have to ask my husband where he got his, but I know it was online, and it cost around $200. It's a great investment for checking your jade and any future jade purchases. For detecting dye, most gem labs do UV, then microscope and finally infared spectroscopy. But most dye will be detected by the first 2 methods. Under magnification, dye will be seen as faint, spider web like concentrations between the crystals within. If you have a bangle with VERY fine grain and thus microscopic crystals, Magnification may still be uncertain, so they do spectroscopy to be sure. If you want to know the brand name of the UV light, let me know and I'll get it.

 

[druzy]

Clairejune, don't worry about it. I'm so glad for your generous sharing, it's great to check in here, with a bunch of girlfriends with the same love for jade.

 

[Silver Mom]

Silver Mom, about the UV light, it's a hand held box about the size of a brick. Its a simple plug in with a strap on top to slip your hand into. There's a switch on top which changes it from long to short wave UV. This is very important because polymers and dyes often will not glow under one, but the other depending on the chemicals used. Almost all polymer will show up, (B jade) and most dyes. You want to put the bangle down on a counter top, like in the bathroom, with the main room light turned off. Then hold the UV light over the jade, but NEVER look directly into the light because it can damage your retinas! I have to ask my husband where he got his, but I know it was online, and it cost around $200. It's a great investment for checking your jade and any future jade purchases. For detecting dye, most gem labs do UV, then microscope and finally infared spectroscopy. But most dye will be detected by the first 2 methods. Under magnification, dye will be seen as faint, spider web like concentrations between the crystals within. If you have a bangle with VERY fine grain and thus microscopic crystals, Magnification may still be uncertain, so they do spectroscopy to be sure. If you want to know the brand name of the UV light, let me know and I'll get it.

Wow, that is cool. I didn't realize that they cost so much. I am going to ask my jeweler if she has one and maybe she can test for me if I need it. Thanks so much clairejune. You are awesome! I wish I could buy it but I just blew my whole budget on the blue bangle. LOL

 

[BreadnGem]

Indeed a lovely way to pass time by just going to a few of your fav jade shops, talking shop with the gem masters there and just browsing. If you have a good dealer, he or she should know to contact you when a piece of your interest shows up. easy access can easily spoil one person indeed, I don't think many here in my country buy online since their local dealer is just anyhow no more than 20mins drive away, there's really a lot to choose here. Same in hong kong, taiwan, malaysia for example. we also have a gem institute so its fairly easy to find out if our jade is grade A jadeite or not, very much like your GIA I think. For you ladies here who may not have a store nearby, it does make sense when you say you buy from a reliable site, most importantly it is known to you and that you FEEL comfortable with. I'm maybe more old school and like seeing, feeling, inspecting these accessories in person.

Jadite, can u recommend any reputable brick and mortar stores that sell Grade A jade in Singapore? If i get a chance to go there will be fun .

I know in their Chinatown there are many stores selling jade, but hard to tell which ones are selling the real deal.

 

[jjtt]

Really curious about this too. Thanks for asking.

Hi I'm also from Singapore but I'm rather new to jade. I only bought my first bangle from a local gold jewellery shop which happened to have A grade jade (i sent it for test and confirmed that it is A grade) awhile ago. I am currently waiting for the arrival of my second pc which I ordered from jojojade. A number of gold jewellery shops in Singapore carry jade and when u ask them, they will tell you frankly if they are A or B etc. Many of these stores carry only grade B. It's rare to find Grade A and if so they can be quite expensive. However recently I chanced upon a store that specialises in jade and they are willing to send their pieces in for certification at a local gemological institute. Let me know if anyone wants the name. will b glad to pm u. I'll leave it to jadeite to share more about buying jade in singapore coz she seemed a lot experienced in this area.

 

[Silver Mom]

Hi I'm also from Singapore but I'm rather new to jade. I only bought my first bangle from a local gold jewellery shop which happened to have A grade jade (i sent it for test and confirmed that it is A grade) awhile ago. I am currently waiting for the arrival of my second pc which I ordered from jojojade. A number of gold jewellery shops in Singapore carry jade and when u ask them, they will tell you frankly if they are A or B etc. Many of these stores carry only grade B. It's rare to find Grade A and if so they can be quite expensive. However recently I chanced upon a store that specialises in jade and they are willing to send their pieces in for certification at a local gemological institute. Let me know if anyone wants the name. will b glad to pm u. I'll leave it to jadeite to share more about buying jade in singapore coz she seemed a lot experienced in this area.

Thank you jjtt. So nice of you to let us know what is happening in Singapore. It really helps to learn about different places so that we can be informed when we want to make a purchase. Thanks so much for sharing. Be sure to share a picture of your new jade bangle when you get it from JoJo.

 

[clairejune]

Silver Mom, the one my husband bought was expensive, but he tends to buy the best. There are probably cheaper ones. Just google around. I know about blowing money, and after I pay for the Yukon snow nephrite jade bangle, I'm going to just save and wait for either a lavender one, or some blue jadeite earrings custom made from jojo. It will be a while. Might be able to do that gold work on the green one meantime.....

 

[Jadeite]

Jadeite, in Singapore are there lots of different colors of jade? For example, is there a big supply of Red and Blue jade? What are the prices like for Grade A Jade? Are they of good quality like translucent with good color? Thanks so much. It is so interesting to learn about different places.

Yes supply is available however most common is green jade, possibly white since it is still the older or middle aged generation that wears jade. Jade here is not quite trendy with young people (i mean in their 20s - 30s) like semi-precious stones or Tiffany is. Red, black is also favored but mostly as pendants or earrings, rings etc and I think, younger people who wear jade prefer the softer colours like lavender. I haven't really seen a "blue" one, I rarely see this on a woman who wears jade. As with any place, similarly in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia there is a lot of jade - we have street markets where vendors sell cheap jade, or nephrite, maybe even flourite , but being sold as"jade", mostly these are just very affordable fun pieces to have. Prices can be very cheap $50-200, just don't expect too much as you won't be getting top quality there. But some are really pretty. On the other hand there are the generic jewellery stores which sells gems, also carry a small section where they sell jade, another member here just mentioned above, that their jade is just "ok" and I think she's correct on that point. A number of jade specialty stores exist here, and these tend to be multi-generation or business that have been in business for decades and are masters of their trade. The jade is top quality, very well cut and prices could well burn a hole in your bank account for a number of years. Bangle maybe is in the range of $3k - $10k and $20k for very special ones.

There is some growing interest in young designers to incorporate jade in their jewellery. Examples are the 2 pictures I earlier posted. They use jade that is probably decent, not top quality but the focus of their design is traditional with modern interpretation. This could well attract a much younger crowd who find traditional jade very boring.

 

[Jadeite]

Some examples of what I mean in younger, modern interpretations.

 

[Jadeite]

Glad you enjoy it Jadeite
Singapore is a beautiful place to live in... beautiful gardens, clean environment, delicious soup noodles...and now I know ... easy access to jade. May I ask how's the jade prices there? I heard that jades are more expensive in Hong Kong and Taiwan now, so there are many chinese tourist who would rather fly over the the States to buy their jewels.

Jade has gotten a lot more expensive in the last few years, the mainland Chinese (Chinese in china) are buying up the market thus sending prices up. So any good supplies are probably first going into china, and, or it's harder to get good pieces without spending more these days.

 

[Jadeite]

Jadite, can u recommend any reputable brick and mortar stores that sell Grade A jade in Singapore? If i get a chance to go there will be fun .

I know in their Chinatown there are many stores selling jade, but hard to tell which ones are selling the real deal.

As a visitor to Singapore with an interest in buying good jade your destination will be Li Hong jade. They are the most reputable here with a very good selection, but pricey however you are assured of they are selling only grade A Burmese jadeite. The shop started out as jade craftsmen and carvers to become the jade retail,store they are now.
https://www.facebook.com/lihongjadepage

 

[Jadeite]

Someone had posted this pic at another forum, this was taken at a shop where our Sands casino is. All very high end shopping. You may be able to see these are all excellent quality pieces, and the exceptional beauty of the bangles both left and right of the necklace. Chinese believe jade brings luck and protection so having a good jade shop near a casino I think is a pretty smart business idea.

 

[clairejune]

Thanks jadeite for all that information and the enticing photos! Regarding the younger generations thinking green and white jadeite are boring and old fashioned, we have so much less in the way of traditions in the West, for me the green and white are gorgeous classics which are totally new in my eyes. This is an interesting subject. If I had to think of an equivalent here, for me it would be graduated cultured pearls that so many army/navy men brought back from overseas during WWII. The pearls graduate from 3mm-7 or 8mm, 16 or18 inches. Though this look is clearly beautiful, but it does seem old fashioned. Either that or the brushed gold and gemstones of the 50's that followed in style the abstract painting that was popular then. There is a big retro/vintage market for those jewels now. I love the modern pieces you posted. They are a great way of doing away with jade snobbery. That jade, which alone would appear rather bland, are made to be brilliant through the contrast of the subtle colors of the jade with the gleam of un polished gold and vividly saturated gems.

 

[clairejune]

Jadeite, I love the carved bangles from the Sand's Casino window. They are striking, powerful, and writhe with color undulation, and crystal pattern. I'd LOVE to have one of those someday.

 

[BreadnGem]

As a visitor to Singapore with an interest in buying good jade your destination will be Li Hong jade. They are the most reputable here with a very good selection, but pricey however you are assured of they are selling only grade A Burmese jadeite. The shop started out as jade craftsmen and carvers to become the jade retail,store they are now.
https://www.facebook.com/lihongjadepage

Thanks! I know of Li Hong, but it's the only reputable store in Singapore that i know about. In fact, i visited it once, but u're right, their things are expensive, though very beautiful. Just wondering if there are other places worth a visit