More rock collecting (nephrite and jadeite)

[MMtwo]

It’s so hard to tell by eye MMtwo. That’s why I just bought heaps from my trusted sources and then stopped.

It’s a lovely colour at any rate! Post lots of pics for us when you get it!

A trusted vendor ia 100% the right way. This is a 250.00 gamble. I really liked the color (minus the two dark beads I will remove). You did it right and you have beautiful jewelry to show for it.

Most of my stuff is from a trusted source, but jade from a Tennessee pawn shop is not a terrible gamble. In any event, fun to wait and see. Plus I get to practice my knotting.

 

[dk168]

In a way, I am glad jade does not agree with me; otherwise it would mean more spending!

DK

 

[MMtwo]

It’s absolutely a slippery slope. Glad for you too, DK!

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

A trusted vendor ia 100% the right way. This is a 250.00 gamble. I really liked the color (minus the two dark beads I will remove). You did it right and you have beautiful jewelry to show for it.

Most of my stuff is from a trusted source, but jade from a Tennessee pawn shop is not a terrible gamble. In any event, fun to wait and see. Plus I get to practice my knotting.

I hear you! I bit the bullet and bought my recent lavender from Japan because the price was reasonable, setting was platinum and the overall cost vs quality ratio made sense (neither too cheap nor too expensive in the event of a mistake).

Sometimes despite knowing what reports you should get etc, certain situations warrant just buying the darn thing!

 

[dk168]

It’s absolutely a slippery slope. Glad for you too, DK!

I have some pieces that belonged to my mum and dad, now mine, and there is at least one other piece, quite a big piece suitable for a brooch or pendant that I like lurking somewhere.

Don't know what to do with them yet.

Two pieces are likely to be re-purposed into something that I can wear.

One is a saddle ring which is way to small for my middle and ring fingers on both hand (my dad had delicate hands). I might repurpose it as a ring by using the saddle/flat part only, and for the curved section to be broken up and set into sections in a bracelet.

The ring would either be simple with a Rose Gold metal halo to bring out the green for the rest of the ring to be in White Gold; or a small diamond halo.

The other is a rod shaped pendant that belonged to my maternal grandmother who died when my mum was in her teens, which is way to small and delicate for my chunky neck. I might set it whole or broken up in smaller pieces and set in a bangle bracelet, like the ones I have seen with Turquoise, something simple like this:



I shall take some photos of the jade pieces that I have when I go back home to the UK in November 2024.

DK

 

[dk168]

I hear you! I bit the bullet and bought my recent lavender from Japan because the price was reasonable, setting was platinum and the overall cost vs quality ratio made sense (neither too cheap nor too expensive in the event of a mistake).

Sometimes despite knowing what reports you should get etc, certain situations warrant just buying the darn thing!

Throwing cautions to the wind approach works in our favours some of the time, jewellery or otherwise!

DK

 

[MMtwo]

I have some pieces that belonged to my mum and dad, now mine, and there is at least one other piece, quite a big piece suitable for a brooch or pendant that I like lurking somewhere.

Don't know what to do with them yet.

Two pieces are likely to be re-purposed into something that I can wear.

One is a saddle ring which is way to small for my middle and ring fingers on both hand (my dad had delicate hands). I might repurpose it as a ring by using the saddle/flat part only, and for the curved section to be broken up and set into sections in a bracelet.

The ring would either be simple with a Rose Gold metal halo to bring out the green for the rest of the ring to be in White Gold; or a small diamond halo.

The other is a rod shaped pendant that belonged to my maternal grandmother who died when my mum was in her teens, which is way to small and delicate for my chunky neck. I might set it whole or broken up in smaller pieces and set in a bangle bracelet, like the ones I have seen with Turquoise, something simple like this:



I shall take some photos of the jade pieces that I have when I go back home to the UK in November 2024.

DK

DK, I look forward to seeing your treasures when you get back to the UK. I love that you would find a way to repurpose and wear your family jade. The saddle ring sounds like a very good idea to wear your father's ring. Also love the idea of a bangle. Do you have a jeweler that can work with the jade and cut it down?

 

[dk168]

DK, I look forward to seeing your treasures when you get back to the UK. I love that you would find a way to repurpose and wear your family jade. The saddle ring sounds like a very good idea to wear your father's ring. Also love the idea of a bangle. Do you have a jeweler that can work with the jade and cut it down?

It's a long way off before I have the means to have them repurposed, so I have not started to look for a suitable bench.

However, my first port of call would be to contact the bench I use in China - if they can't do it themselves, I am confident they would know someone who can.

DK

 

[MMtwo]

Okay, I am now on ban island, self imposed...I need to switch my obsessions to something cheaper than jewelry. BUT I'll be wearing this from Kathy Jade while I repent:

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Oh you’ve graduated to Kathy!

Next you’ll be getting big juicy cabs

 

[MMtwo]

The lavender arrived. They look okay. The cord is on the way to restring. The color under UV is sketchy. Some beads have no response, some have glowing streaks, and a few off colored ones glow bluish white. I tried acetone on a discolored bead and that had no effext. So could be a natural cloud, or could be treated. Microscope pictures don’t show dye spiderwebs. I suppose I will send them to Mason Kay for evaluation.

 

[MMtwo]

Oh you’ve graduated to Kathy!

Next you’ll be getting big juicy cabs

Yeah, I am sooo donefor now. I don’t have the budget some PSers do for that to die for cab, but I would love one of them from Kathy.

Their website is much more English friendly than a few years ago. I am having a ball on there. That is also where the bright green necklace came from. Prices are also so much better than USA.

 

[strawrose]

Okay, I am now on ban island, self imposed...I need to switch my obsessions to something cheaper than jewelry. BUT I'll be wearing this from Kathy Jade while I repent:

Beautiful! Collecting Pokémon cards is cheaper.

 

[MMtwo]

Beautiful! Collecting Pokémon cards is cheaper.

Not sure how to do “a little bit” of jade! Right? Jewelry is an expensive obsession.

 

[MMtwo]

Does anyone know if a cert from Kathyjade is “enough” to sell later, or would I need another cert from GIA?

 

[Lentibulariaceae]

Does anyone know if a cert from Kathyjade is “enough” to sell later, or would I need another cert from GIA?

As a buyer, I completely disregard any cert that isn’t from GIA or one of the big labs as a fake scam cert, regardless of what the actual stone is. I’ve had some of them be correct, and some completely wrong, but if you want to resell with a certificate later I’d invest in a GIA cert!

I, however, see nothing wrong with selling without a certification. Some of my most expensive and rarest stones were purchased without a cert!

 

[Lentibulariaceae]

Also, it seems you’ve been wearing off on me, because now I’m eyeing a couple nephrite pieces, and while I’m still trying to stay on ban island!!

 

[MMtwo]

Also, it seems you’ve been wearing off on me, because now I’m eyeing a couple nephrite pieces, and while I’m still trying to stay on ban island!!

Thanks for your thoughts on certification.

Sorry about the jade fever, by the way. Hope you find a cool addition to your collection. Feel free to post it here for appreciation.

 

[Lentibulariaceae]

Thanks for your thoughts on certification.

Sorry about the jade fever, by the way. Hope you find a cool addition to your collection. Feel free to post it here for appreciation.

Don’t be sorry! Nephrite is cool as heck!

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Does anyone know if a cert from Kathyjade is “enough” to sell later, or would I need another cert from GIA?

Can’t speak for anyone else but I’d be comfortable enough to buy with Kathyjade or from someone who bought from Kathy and resold to me. I have a price limit on that comfort though. Not saying I expect a discount but I wouldn’t be buying super expensive stuff.

Haha as I keep harping, jadeite, pretty jadeite in greens that I like are difficult to buy and if I only stuck to traditional sources, I would find it too limiting. I don’t want some sad looking green stone with a reputable cert. It will still look sad. So I would rather take a chance. I was fortunate enough to buy stuff from the same sources as people who actually sent their stuff to the bigger labs and their stuff checked out so I’m pretty comfortable with the stuff I own. Especially the ones with certs from the Hong Kong labs.

 

[MMtwo]

Bright green “spicy” jadeite. It is so “happy”.

 

[MMtwo]

Can’t speak for anyone else but I’d be comfortable enough to buy with Kathyjade or from someone who bought from Kathy and resold to me. I have a price limit on that comfort though. Not saying I expect a discount but I wouldn’t be buying super expensive stuff.

Haha as I keep harping, jadeite, pretty jadeite in greens that I like are difficult to buy and if I only stuck to traditional sources, I would find it too limiting. I don’t want some sad looking green stone with a reputable cert. It will still look sad. So I would rather take a chance. I was fortunate enough to buy stuff from the same sources as people who actually sent their stuff to the bigger labs and their stuff checked out so I’m pretty comfortable with the stuff I own. Especially the ones with certs from the Hong Kong labs.

Thanks for chiming in! I would be okay with a Kathy certificate for maybe up to 2 k or so. I just sort of worry about if something happened to me. Would i need certs in my documents?

Your comment about the sad green stones made me giggle. A wise perspective. No one wants sad stones.

 

[MMtwo]

A glow-y glassy jadeite ring for right hand. I have wanted a cabochon RHR for a long time. Very excited.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Haha I’m excited too!!!! Can’t wait to see it on you!

 

[MMtwo]

I owe so much thanks to you and other PSers for showing how beautiful jade can be.

 

[MMtwo]

Catching up this thread. I have been on a tear at the Kathyjade sale.

This pendant really spoke to me. A shapeshifter 9 tail fox and/or dragon tooth. Thanks to Crimson for her excellent sleuthing into the matter. What may have been lost in translation is still a pretty jade piece that will have a bail added. I will enjoy wearing it.
More stuff adding to the coffers…



The bangle shown before and the new beads. There is a mild splotchy effect is some light where patches of lavender are on the light green. At a distance, they are a light icy green. I have been wearing them around the house with my old t-shirts...because why not? Also, nice to rub with the hands like a worry stone. 8mm/34 inches
——-
And then, one more necklace. I was attracted to the color and the splotchiness. It seemed a little icy, but not sure if that is my eyes playing tricks. The colors are less saturated, but that will work with some of my quieter clothing colors. about 6mm/20 inches


I have been busy restringing the green nephrite and will hopefully complete them and the lavender restring this weekend.

 

[MMtwo]

One more note. In the West we are accustomed to knotting beads. Most of the necklaces on Kathyjade are not knotted, save the few that cost more than my house.
Even this one well over a million dollars, no knots.
Hello beautiful...


I wonder in time if not knotting will cause damage between beads. I have no idea! I am knotting the dubious maybe treated lavender and the nephrite, but I also have bumpers on the way to restring again if I don't like the knots.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

I didn’t knot the ones that I bought and one of them I spent a pretty penny on!

They gave me extra string in case I need to restring it one day but they told me it was very strong and should be fine.

I don’t like the bumpy knotted look on jadeite beads.

Funnily enough in Japan, hardly any of the pearl necklaces were knotted!

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

MMtwo I think you are suffering from what I went through five years ago! I bought everything jadeite that I could get my hands on! It was wild! I love the stuff I bought though and you know what they say about when opportunity knocks etc

 

[MMtwo]

I had read years ago on another pearl forum that the knotting is a western thing. As long as the beads are okay, so am I. The dark green flower necklace is only 20 inches, so I will probably knot that one for added length. The chatoyant nephrite can also use the length.

It helps to know others have had a wild jade spree. My husband is being pretty understanding as I have loaded my cart up at KJ with feverish regularity. He helped me pick the newest dark green. Then I showed him the prices grade A goes for in the US. I feel pretty confident I could sell what I bought and be okay.

I think all of the boxes have been checked. Bright, quiet, light, dark, flower, icy, opaque...I think I caught as many as I can afford for now. My wallet is crying. I think I am done for now...until next year. I still need a pair of simple icy green studs.