The JADE thread!

[Jade4Me]

Thank you Claire and crosso! I can't wait to see your jade ball pendants, Claire! For a gorgeous high end fine jewelry inspiration, have you seen Silver Mom's EB ball pendant with diamonds? And another Siberian jade bangle?! Very exciting!
For the leather knotting idea, I don't mind at all crosso if you want to try it with your barrel beads. I'm sure I was inspired by someone else's work to try knotting with leather!

 

[clairejune]

Thanks jade4me! These ball pendants were not very much, so I just want something commensurate...something fun! I found this seller and felt that they could perhaps be a great seller since they are at the source. But, they don't have many machine tools...and I'm curious about what they consider quality. So, this truly is a try out thing....
The bangle is in very light green/white Siberian. I hope it goes with the funky green nephrite ball ring which I got from aloha last Fall.

 

[2boys_jademommy]

Both gorgeous, but I like the princess better. The D-shape looks thin. Is its walls less than 6mm thick?

I don't know how thick my d shape bangle is but it is quite thin and flat.

 

[2boys_jademommy]

Well ladies...I took another gamble. I bought an absolutely vivid, vintage blue lavender ring. The setting is a loose, 18k yellow gold one consistent with a 1970's design. It's a 13x17 double cabochon oval.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure by the look and the fact that there are a few red pin prick spots that it's not B grade. But the question is whether it's dyed.
I've been reading up on the arsenal of tests done by labs for dying. I had the floresent light, and the high magnification gem microscope, but not the right spectroscope for dye analysis at home. Husband has since aquired one...so I'm going to pop it out of the setting and try these tests. Will let you know how it goes.

If I'm certain that it's not dyed, then off it goes for re polish, and then I'll reset it and scrap the gold. The seller will offer an exchange for the money if I'm not happy with it.

I'm really hoping I found a treasure in this, because it's my dream color , but it will be fun to try this either way. Wish I had vendor pics to share, but she's removed the listing. Post up this story as it unfolds...

How exciting Claire! I hope it turns out to be natural grade A jadiete with no dyes. Keep us posted

 

[2boys_jademommy]

Solana looks so soft, delicate, and feminine in the sunshine - lovely!


My belated reveal shows that we're sort of on the same jade karma cosmic path! While you were figuring out the design for your big dragon ball, I was in the middle of working on my black Guatemalan jadeite ball - around 20mm. At that time it was temporarily wired while I was waiting for something to arrive so I didn't mention it. Only yesterday did I finally finish wire wrapping it. Its texture and polish is just like Maya's, but without any yellow/blue streaks. Meanwhile my black grey jadeite barrel beads have been sitting around for weeks while I'm trying to decide if I want a focal bead with them or not. Then recently you posted your grey black barrel beads! Mine are a mottled black grey like yours, but a little darker. (Sorry for the bad out of focal late evening pic.) I plan to knot them on leather cord similar to how the black freshwater pearls (8-9mm) are knotted. Without a focal it'll be a surfer-style choker necklace. With a focal it'll be longer.

I love the simple design of your bead pendant. It's very modern and the jade is so shiny!

 

[clairejune]

Thanks Jademommy, I hope so too lol! It's my only chance to obtain this color because if it were new,known to be grade A, and it was nicely set, it would be so far out of my reach it's ridiculous. The seller got it in a lot of rings, and clearly doesn't know much about Jade. One can tell from the gold that it was loved and worn lots. The Jade looks good, and would be a new piece In a reset. But I'm not investing until im sure.

As soon as it arrives, I'll know a little more. It's definitely a gamble. I'll keep you posted for sure.

Anyway, my husband was so excited about this equipment and brought it in some time ago, 😄but needless to say that my response was underwhelming.😁 so I guess it's a good thing to try😃. And now I'm very happy to have it!

 

[Jade4Me]

I love the simple design of your bead pendant. It's very modern and the jade is so shiny!

Thank you and I recommend Guatemalan black jadeite if you ever want a solid jet black look. I've read that solid black jadeite (or nearly so) only comes from SA and black jadeite from Burma is actually mottled grey black like mine and crosso's jade barrels.

 

[2boys_jademommy]

Thank you and I recommend Guatemalan black jadeite if you ever want a solid jet black look. I've read that solid black jadeite (or nearly so) only comes from SA and black jadeite from Burma is actually mottled grey black like mine and crosso's jade barrels.

Good to know thank you Jade4Me. I don't own any black jade. I feel like I need a black bangle, a yellow bangle, and maybe even a fu lu shou bangle. Oh and another green and of course lavender bangle😉 I want it all.... Unfortunately I can't afford it all nor can I even find it. I wear a fairly small size so to get the price, size AND look I want is difficult. But it's part of the fun!

 

[clairejune]

That's SO true Jademommy, that's part of the fun. If you get everything within a short period...,well then what's left to find? I think Jade 'hunting' is so fun! It's got to be more then half of the fun.

 

[2boys_jademommy]

That's SO true Jademommy, that's part of the fun. If you get everything within a short period...,well then what's left to find? I think Jade 'hunting' is so fun! It's got to be more then half of the fun.

I do like the thought of a forever bangle....I do have an everyday bangle - one that I wear most of the time but I still feel the want of getting another. A close friend of mine has a pretty bangle and she has been wearing it for about 8 years now and it's her only bangle and no plans or desire to get anymore. I want that because it makes it so special is truly part of her.

 

[clairejune]

I can immagine it well! I know that specialness is beautiful! I'm sure you will find one that is just so special for and on you
I've admired this kind of dedication in other jewelry on my oldest friend. She wears the same few things that she's been wearing for decades, which makes those pieces truly a part of her.

I so enjoy seeing everyone's styles of wearing and collecting jades...bangles, beads earrings and pendants!

Personally, i feel most comfortable with both elements of change and of permanence in jewelry and bangles. I've committed to wearing either the Siberian and or Edwards black as forever bangles..but I change them in position, composition, etc. because there's a dialogue of expression and of feeling. Yet this has to be rooted in deeper messages of dedication, constancy etc...but I love jewelry so much that I will never have finished looking!

 

[2boys_jademommy]

I can immagine it well! I know that specialness is beautiful! I'm sure you will find one that is just so special for and on you
I've admired this kind of dedication in other jewelry on my oldest friend. She wears the same few things that she's been wearing for decades, which makes those pieces truly a part of her.

I so enjoy seeing everyone's styles of wearing and collecting jades...bangles, beads earrings and pendants!

Personally, i feel most comfortable with both elements of change and of permanence in jewelry and bangles. I've committed to wearing either the Siberian and or Edwards black as forever bangles..but I change them in position, composition, etc. because there's a dialogue of expression and of feeling. Yet this has to be rooted in deeper messages of dedication, constancy etc...but I love jewelry so much that I will never have finished looking!

I'm glad you and I'm sure many of the Jadies here can relate. My hubby doesn't get it I have a diamond ring - it's my engagement ring and I love it. I wear it everyday on my ring finger on my left hand. All other rings I rotate on my right hand. I don't feel the need to get another diamond ring. Same with my sapphire ring and my diamond earrings. I could go on about the other pieces of jeweley I have but for some reason with jade I want more.....

 

[Junkenpo]

Well ladies...I took another gamble. I bought an absolutely vivid, vintage blue lavender ring. The setting is a loose, 18k yellow gold one consistent with a 1970's design. It's a 13x17 double cabochon oval.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure by the look and the fact that there are a few red pin prick spots that it's not B grade. But the question is whether it's dyed.
I've been reading up on the arsenal of tests done by labs for dying. I had the floresent light, and the high magnification gem microscope, but not the right spectroscope for dye analysis at home. Husband has since aquired one...so I'm going to pop it out of the setting and try these tests. Will let you know how it goes.

If I'm certain that it's not dyed, then off it goes for re polish, and then I'll reset it and scrap the gold. The seller will offer an exchange for the money if I'm not happy with it.

I'm really hoping I found a treasure in this, because it's my dream color , but it will be fun to try this either way. Wish I had vendor pics to share, but she's removed the listing. Post up this story as it unfolds...

oooo! exciting! I can't wait to hear where this story goes. I've got my fingers crossed for you!

My belated reveal shows that we're sort of on the same jade karma cosmic path! While you were figuring out the design for your big dragon ball, I was in the middle of working on my black Guatemalan jadeite ball - around 20mm. At that time it was temporarily wired while I was waiting for something to arrive so I didn't mention it. Only yesterday did I finally finish wire wrapping it. Its texture and polish is just like Maya's, but without any yellow/blue streaks. Meanwhile my black grey jadeite barrel beads have been sitting around for weeks while I'm trying to decide if I want a focal bead with them or not. Then recently you posted your grey black barrel beads! Mine are a mottled black grey like yours, but a little darker. (Sorry for the bad out of focal late evening pic.) I plan to knot them on leather cord similar to how the black freshwater pearls (8-9mm) are knotted. Without a focal it'll be a surfer-style choker necklace. With a focal it'll be longer.

That black ball is gorgeous! So lovely!

 

[Junkenpo]

And speaking of loving carved jade... found something else that called to me!

My first SC purchase!

I saw her post this bangle over the weekend and the small size and different style of carving said "Push that BIN button!"

She is sooo light! It's very thin, but it does have a chime. Listing says "no cracks" but it does have visible stone lines. It doesn't fluoresce under UV, but I've yet to do a SG test. Once I put her on I decided I was too lazy to take her off again and pull out the scale at the moment.

I'm still mulling over names.

 

[crosso]

And speaking of loving carved jade... found something else that called to me!

My first SC purchase!

I saw her post this bangle over the weekend and the small size and different style of carving said "Push that BIN button!"

She is sooo light! It's very thin, but it does have a chime. Listing says "no cracks" but it does have visible stone lines. It doesn't fluoresce under UV, but I've yet to do a SG test. Once I put her on I decided I was too lazy to take her off again and pull out the scale at the moment.

I'm still mulling over names.

Oooooh, pretty! I almost bought a carved rope one like that from a seller on etsy - old Gumps one, beat up and abraded around the edges, but I still really like this style and have been on the lookout for a similar one since. Good buy!