That bird would not be safe around me!
Hi Crimson! I feel like it's been so long since I've been on here...I missed all the jadeite discussion, the shinies, and learning from experts like you! <3
I looove those bird rings at Kathy Jade and would love to own one, but I just feel like I'd be walking around cradling my hand
I'm not sure if you're interested in coloured diamonds, but here's a link to some videos of the marquise I'm considering along with a few other pinks! https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC4RBv
Edit: Flickr is being so weird and compresses some of my videos while leaving others at a higher resolution
I really like this marquise, just a bit worried about those grey patches that show up when it's tilted!
It is lovely! I am no expert, just enthusiastically learning.
The pink marquise is lovely. I love the pink lemonade combination.
I think most fancy coloured diamonds are more included. I was considering a marquise green one for a while. We both love marquises
Back when I was looking for a pear jadeite piece, I would have been entirely lost without you and the lovely PSers on here who were around to share so much knowledge, and provide feedback and tips on where to look for good jadeite!
What beautiful icy earrings!
Loved your description of the Classic Jade shop. Without a doubt I would love it. I appreciate your lovely description. Very vivid, I would almost imagine being there. I loved seeing their online merchandise. I love to support small community minded shops, too.
Following up on a couple of items. First is the little microscope my daughter sent. It's a simple USB plug in, with a secondary USB-c. You can view it on a computer as an auxiliary camera, as well as the provided screen. The unit is rechargeable, too. I have enjoyed increasing the visibility of my collection. I don't know what I am doing all the time, but it is so much fun to see the details, something I no longer take for granted with older eyes.
Also, there is some sad news on the green bi. It has decided to disappear. The lab reports the box was empty. It was sent in a sealed Postal Service bubble envelope that was undisturbed when received. In no way do I think the lab is dishonest or did anything. They quite obviously hated this too, and felt bad for me.
So this comes down to me and a probable senior moment. My husband and I went through the whole house, took the trash apart twic, moved furniture, books...everything, and no bi. And no bi at the lab...so what the heck happened? I don't know, but I feel rather sad and heart-sick. There was one very long shot possibility, as I returned some shoes on the day it was sent out and maybe it fell into the box? I reached out to their customer care, but at this point, guess I will bless it and assume the universe distributed it to a new home. Agh, but now I will never know if it was treated.
I guess on a happier note, I did buy a couple more things from Kathy Jade...one being the spicy noodle (snake) pendant that shocked my husband a bit, and another dark green but saturated bead necklace.
Oh, and this item was not the same as I saw on screen, so it is returning. It sort of dissappears into my skintone.
I am so happy you will buy a microscope. No doubt you will enjoy looking at all the beautiful gems.
. I am so glad she found that bracelet. That would feel so good after the distress of misplacing something so valuable. When my daughter visits, I will see if she can help bring me luck too. That would be wonderful!Oh dear... I hate to hear that. Which lab? Did the package say anything about "gem" on it (as in Gemological Institute of America, etc.)? Are you certain the package couldn't have been opened and resealed? Like you said, I doubt the lab is pulling any funny business. I had a FedEx package stolen (I wrote only AGL on it, but it's not difficult to decipher what's inside when you're a delivery person). It was a Saturday, and I was told weekend courier employees are often temps who are less reliable. I've never shipped again with a possible weekend delivery attempt. Did you insure it? I sure hope she turns up.
Oh a happier note, lovely neck pieces!!
I am so happy you will buy a microscope. No doubt you will enjoy looking at all the beautiful gems.
Luckily, my husband is somewhat flexible. I showed him the snake pendant again, and this time he agreed it was lovely, and even helped me buy it. He has been very accepting of my "jade-itis" recently. It's so wonderful when you share the cultural meanings. I do know I am a snake baby (65) but didn't know they are like dragons.
I think losing the bi sort of snapped me out of my fixation a but, which is good. We continue to search, and still no new clues.
How lucky for your aunt! Or, you were lucky for your aunt
Thank you dear Autumn. The package just had the name of the lab on it, but no "gem" or "jewelry" in the name. I hesitate to name the lab on here. I do not doubt their innocence in the situation and they are a small company that I am very glad to have in the US.
Since there is no signs of tampering, insurance will not cover it, so I am out the money. Thank you for the weekend shipping tip, I will use that going forward. I may also ship registered mail (custody chain) going forward. Just so mystified!
Was it a high-value gem? Luckily, mine was the oldest and cheapest stone I owned (I think I paid $400 for it waaaaay back when... precision peach tourmaline). After hounding them, FedEx did give me a couple of hundred in compensation (even though I never insured it). Perhaps if you obtained a notarized statement from the lab and sent it to the courier, they may acquiesce? I might also note the starting weight of the package on the label (when accepted for shipping) and the current weight of it empty to prove you did in fact place the gem in the package. That would only work if its inner container had some heft and was also stolen (like a gem box, etc.). I doubt the weight of just the gem would even register. Yes, I'm in the legal field. lol
I am so happy you will buy a microscope. No doubt you will enjoy looking at all the beautiful gems.
Luckily, my husband is somewhat flexible. I showed him the snake pendant again, and this time he agreed it was lovely, and even helped me buy it. He has been very accepting of my "jade-itis" recently. It's so wonderful when you share the cultural meanings. I do know I am a snake baby (65) but didn't know they are like dragons.
I think losing the bi sort of snapped me out of my fixation a but, which is good. We continue to search, and still no new clues.
How lucky for your aunt! Or, you were lucky for your aunt
I saw an interesting post by Classic Jade today. The pair of earrings below is glassy jadeite of very high quality. In the best glassy jadeite cabochons one can see what’s called the “black” and “white” areas of the jadeite. It is also called the opening and closing of the eye because when the cabochon is moved, the brighter area seems to go over the dark.
To answer @Bookwyrm I bought my Crimson ruby ring as is. It was one of the star designer (one of a kind) pieces at a jewellery exhibition before I became a jewellery fan. Somehow. no one bought it and I did so only about years later. So I don’t have any diagrams but here are some photos of the ring from various angles.
The design is so flowy and belle epoch-esque from the top, butlooks so unique and has so much presence from the side! I can certainly see why it was one of your jeweller's star designer pieces!
@Starstruck88, thank you for these wonderful questions!
Jadeite was introduced to China during the Qing dynasty – 1644 to 1911. The Royals took such a liking to it that they ordered that all the available jadeite be delivered only to them.
It was only after the imperial era ended that jadeite could be obtained by non-royals. Even then, only the elite or fabulously wealthy could afford the best green pieces.
In the first rather blur photo you can see the jadeite owned by Soong Mei Ling, wife of Chiang Kai Shek. You can also see her jadeite in this video.
The second pic with the Chinese words shows a necklace that an Indonesian Chinese tycoon and philanthropist Mr Oei Tiong Ham gave to his daughter.
I have also attached a pic from Alain Truong’s site - interesting article which also mentions the royals’ hold on imperial green jadeite.
I know what you mean about the Barbara Hutton necklace. All the beads have to be cut from the same boulder. That’s quite a feat considering that even within the same boulder there are variations. it is true that they are not of the highest transparency. I have never seen a completely transparent jadeite bead necklace. of imperial green and if I did I might think it was fake. The 1 cm or more diameter of each bead, together with the fibrous texture and composite nature of jadeite make it nigh impossible.
There is also a trade-off between intensity and translucency. Considering the kinds of lighting conditions of a century ago, it was important for a jadeite necklace to look consistently green. Most Chinese women would have worn dresses with a Mandarin collar. If the jadeite was too translucent, it would look ugly or less noticeable when worn on certain colours of clothing.
Thanks for asking all these questions! Trying to answer them helped me understand some of the jewelry from my grandmother and grand aunts. When lights are low and warm, colour is paramount, but in today’s kind of lighting conditions, glassy jadeite can put on quite a show.
P.S. High translucency can be found in colourless and light blue or light green beads. It is possible to find glassy cabs because they are usually not as thick as beads.
I was waiting for @Crimson to answer this, but I'll jump in. They are different, in both the physics and the appearance. Full disclosure: I have moonstone but not jadeite.
(Left - jadeite earring; Middle, Right - moonstone.)
The glow of the jadeite earring is caused by scattering (random deflection of light as it passes through the stone). But it has to be the right sort and amount of scattering. The glowing patch and crescent at the lower left are basically reflections from the back of the cab, with the edges softened by scattering. With too little scattering you would see hard reflections. With too much, the stone would lose contrast and you would see a boring uniform grey. Goldilocks is what you want.
The glow of moonstone is adularescence. It's the result of optical interference caused by thin layers (thickness similar to the wavelengths of light) with alternating refractive indices. It's usually bluesish and shimmery, in the front of the stone, sometimes appearing to float above the stone. The glowing patch moves with the tilt of the stone, the viewing angle, and the angle of the light.
Which is glowier? Well... they are different. The glow of moonstone is fascinating when you see it. But the lighting and the stone have to be at the right angle. IMO, the glow of good jadeite is more reliable.
Thank you ! I shall post some more photos later. For now, here more info on the jadeite and other valuables of the Soong family, sold at auction in Hong Kong in early 2024.
That ring! It looks so modern, almost like an emerald because of the cut.
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