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Jade History:

During Neolithic times, the key known sources of nephrite jade in China for utilitarian and ceremonial jade items were the now depleted deposits in the Ningshao area in the Yangtze River Delta (Liangzhu culture 3400–2250 BC) and in an area of the Liaoning province and Inner Mongolia (Hongshan culture 4700–2200 BC). As early as 6000 BC Dushan Jade has been mined. In the Yin Ruins of Shang Dynasty (1600 BC to 1050 BC) in Anyang, Dushan Jade ornaments was unearthed in the tomb of the Shang kings. Jade was used to create many utilitarian and ceremonial objects, ranging from indoor decorative items to jade burial suits. Jade was considered the "imperial gem". From about the earliest Chinese dynasties until present, the jade deposits in most use were not only from the region of Khotan in the Western Chinese province of Xinjiang but also from other parts of China, such as Lantian, Shaanxi. There, white and greenish nephrite jade is found in small quarries and as pebbles and boulders in the rivers flowing from the Kuen-Lun mountain range northward into the Takla-Makan desert area. River jade collection was concentrated in the Yarkand, the White Jade (Yurungkash) and Black Jade (Karakash) Rivers. From the Kingdom of Khotan, on the southern leg of the Silk Road, yearly tribute payments consisting of the most precious white jade were made to the Chinese Imperial court and there transformed into objets d'art by skilled artisans as jade was considered more valuable than gold or silver.

Jade Category:

Jade can be categorized into two major groups:
1. Jadeite: Ying (hard) jade, more valuable.
2. Nephrite: Ruan (softer) jade, less durable.

Jade Grade:

A Grade: 100% all natural desirable color, texture, and watery luster. Not all natural jade can be graded as A Grade, and neither can all the 100% natural jade to be priced as A Grade. For a piece of jade to be graded and priced as A Grade, it must have all the above mentioned qualities.

B Grade: Synthetically enhanced, most of the time from natural coloration, but acid treated for better translucency. The color may or may not fade over time. Mineral impurities bleached out.

C Grade: Dyed color, mostly from outside. Color will fade within 5-6 years.

How to distinguish quality jade from fake or inferior jade?

1) The weight of the piece. Jade, even the lesser density nephrite jade like Xiu jade, is heavier than regular glass or resin. For Burma jadeite, the weight is very easy to tell, since you can feel the heavy sensation in your palm when you are handling it.

2) Observe carefully, there are tiny air bubbles in fake jade most of the time..

3) Jade has the property of cooling very fast and remains in cool temperature. Hold a piece in your hand until you feel that the temperature of the piece is equal to your body's, then open your palm right away and put the jade aside. After about 25 seconds in regular room temperature surrounding, use the tip of tongue to feel the piece. If there is a very cool sensation, then it is most likely jade.

4) Jade is more durable than glass. If you wear a piece and it breaks very easily, it definitely is not jade. Even the soft nephrite jade should not break easily.

5) Texture, the texture of jade is very smooth. Run your finder nail on the surface of the piece, if it feels bumpy on your nail, but the surface appears to be smooth, it is most likely not jade. This method works better on glass and other synthetic resin fake jade.

6) The Sound test. Let two jade bracelets loosely hang on one of the fingers on each of your hands, and then collide the two bangles very lightly. If the bracelets are made from jade, the sound should have a very clear, pleasant and higher pitch sound than the sound produced by two pieces of glass or other synthetic substances.

7) The method which delivers the most accuracy is to break the piece. If the piece is made from jade, then the inside should be composed by tiny mineral particles you can see. However, if it is made from glass, the broken surface should be smooth with glassy pattern.



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