Jade is a misnomer and actually refers to two different stones (chemical composition) - nephrite (lao yi) and jadeite (Fei Cui). The popular green stone popular in Asian jewelry is jadeite whereas nephrite have been used in China since the Hongshan culture (5,000 years ago) until the present, mostly as jade carvings. Western culture does not appreciate Jade because it does not have a strong sociocultural attachment unlike the Chinese (diamonds, emeralds and sapphires are the known gemstones in the western world). So it is not appreciated. But the Mayans of Central America used jadeite extensively (Guatemala is a main source of jadeite in America). Hong Kong was once the hub of jade business but mainland China has taken over because there is a lot of fake jade inundating Hong Kong market at present. Myanmar is still the major source of Fei cui and Yunnan/Xin Jiang and Canada for nephrite.
I disagree. Every precious material that is unknown to the prospective buying population is a risk to them. Being from India, the country that spread the love of precious color gemstones to the world, my countrymen would not pay $15000/carat for a tourmaline, heck, they won't pay 15000 rupees/carat for it, though it is worth a lot more. This is due to a lack of knowledge, it has nothing to do with the 'uniqueness' of the tourmaline. On the other hand, we would pay a lot more for a sapphire, ruby, or emerald than its worth, simply because we know it.
It's amazing to see an underappreciated gemstone(in the West) being put in the spotlight! Thank you!
super interesting, didnt know jade had such an interesting history behind it!
wow this is great man!
Jade is a misnomer and actually refers to two different stones (chemical composition) - nephrite (lao yi) and jadeite (Fei Cui). The popular green stone popular in Asian jewelry is jadeite whereas nephrite have been used in China since the Hongshan culture (5,000 years ago) until the present, mostly as jade carvings. Western culture does not appreciate Jade because it does not have a strong sociocultural attachment unlike the Chinese (diamonds, emeralds and sapphires are the known gemstones in the western world). So it is not appreciated. But the Mayans of Central America used jadeite extensively (Guatemala is a main source of jadeite in America). Hong Kong was once the hub of jade business but mainland China has taken over because there is a lot of fake jade inundating Hong Kong market at present. Myanmar is still the major source of Fei cui and Yunnan/Xin Jiang and Canada for nephrite.
wow i want some jade
I disagree. Every precious material that is unknown to the prospective buying population is a risk to them. Being from India, the country that spread the love of precious color gemstones to the world, my countrymen would not pay $15000/carat for a tourmaline, heck, they won't pay 15000 rupees/carat for it, though it is worth a lot more. This is due to a lack of knowledge, it has nothing to do with the 'uniqueness' of the tourmaline. On the other hand, we would pay a lot more for a sapphire, ruby, or emerald than its worth, simply because we know it.