Specific Gravity of Grade B Jadeite

[ChaiK]

Noticed the blue too... because blue jadeite (besides the winter-day / smoke - like cold gray called 'blue' sometimes) is only on record from Japan - the blue colour appearing as veins in jadeite rock of the kind geologists talk about & no more (www).

Either this blue is entirely new, perhaps such a rarity that it never made enough news to be remembered by - or the colour is not natural after all.

Thinking out loud

My first thoughts are irradiated. Like how blue topaz gets its colour. Could be legit but am not sure.

 

[ChaiK]

However, one of the sellers is selling rough in this blue. The rough is one huge rock with only a bit of this blue showing. So could well be a legitimate colour. But is it jadeite then?

 

[AV_]

@ChaiK

GIA might be delighted to be asked what they think of colour origin. Thee small cabs may not be interesting enough to deserve such effors, but if a substantial pieceof this colour exists & interests you, it would be interesting to contact the relevant specialists and see whay they would want to do: if they feel they have good enough reference samples to give a formal opinion on colour origin.

I am silly enough to try to provide them with such samples, but this is quite a project - not usually worth it for just about any purchase. E.g. if a pair of bangles or a substantial strand of fine quality in this colour exist & you would consider, then whether a major lab can acknowledge natural colour origin becomes interesting in its own right. I know GIA will be utterly professional about it.

I can dig out contacts for jadeite research, but they are not too difficult to find among papers etc.

 

[AV_]

However, one of the sellers is selling rough in this blue. The rough is one huge rock with only a bit of this blue showing. So could well be a legitimate colour. But is it jadeite then?

We were writing in the same time. They know that buyers of important blue pieces will want this sort of reference for laboratory purposes.

 

[AV_]

Obviously, I am intrigued - by the research side.

 

[Burmesedaze]

My jeweller's jadeite mine concessions used to yield bluish jadeite for the river jade deposits. Not as blue or As translucent as these cabs though. So I believe small finds are possible. Anyway, most of their stock were exported to China through auctions anyway.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Or maybe they are like red jadeite? Only heated do some turn a nice rich autumny red? I was asking livestream last night on my leaf that is more of an orangey/russet red. The broadcaster mentioned that if heated, they usually turn darker.

Perhaps the same for some blue jadeite?

 

[Burmesedaze]

We were writing in the same time. They know that buyers of important blue pieces will want this sort of reference for laboratory purposes.

Maybe not enough reference points? Usually, blue is not desirable in jadeite for Chinese buyers (though I personally like them for the stronger colour than the typical lavender I can get my hands on locally that aren't too sugary white patchy).

Just like how alexandrite used to be found in Mogok but only a small pocket and was mined out (an old Burmese tutor's granny had 1) so most labs/ research don't even list it as what can be found in Mogok.

Not sure, just throwing up stuff that pop into my head after just 2.5 hours if sleep and before I board a wretched early morning flight

 

[AV_]

@Burmesedaze Wishing you a restful flight!

Maybe not enough reference points?

It could well be that either - the find is too small, or - the material not enough in demand for GIA HK to care about.

However, it could also be the case that the find is too new. Laboratory work would take a couple of months (to be polite) until everyone agrees on what they are seeing (eg. replicate lab work) & what to say & how.

I can always find out more.

 

[Burmesedaze]

@Burmesedaze Wishing you a restful flight!



It could well be that either - the find is too small, or - the material not enough in demand for GIA HK to care about.

However, it could also be the case that the find is too new. Laboratory work would take a couple of months (to be polite) until everyone agrees on what they are seeing (eg. replicate lab work) & what to say & how.

I can always find out more.

Thank you. Sure if it's not too much trouble, would be keen to see what the labs have to say!

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

I know these are necklaces but what are they made out of? I can never read or copy the description to Google translate.

 

[Burmesedaze]

I know these are necklaces but what are they made out of? I can never read or copy the description to Google translate.

I think there are crystal or bling bling bits in them. Not expensive. Affordable to go with pendants

 

[Duyen]

Hi there,
I have received the bangle and tried to describe below the whole lot as if you were living the experience at my side.

So, it arrived very rapidly, in 6 days time (including Christmas), and very securely packed :


The bangle itself was sweetly nested in an exquisite box :


And when I unwrapped it, I discovered a sweet, sunny apple green bangle :


Very beautiful, and vivid green color with the translucency I was after re the price range I targeted for this « test buy ».
The pictures do not do it justice : it is a real semi translucent apple green, and not bluish apple green as my iPhone has rendered here.
Ah, I also used my long wave UV light for a quick amateur check : no glow nor fluorescence.

Ok, now the problems : the bangle was advertised as a round bangle and just before they boxed and shipped it, they sent me a last check-out picture of the whole lot ie the HK certificate + the EMS papers including my address + the bangle laid flat. This is when I realized that it was oval
Long discussions with the boss, who assessed that it could fit me while not clearly refusing any return, after I made it clear that it was their mistake.
As a reminder my wrist fits 51 to 52 mm at the smallest, with 51 needing a plastic bag and some pain.
The bangle actual size is 52.4 x 45.1 - 11.4 - 6.2, and here below is what I did to myself while trying hard to make my wrist fit in :






My four fingers’ knuckles managed to make it, but the biggest problem was with my thumb.
46 or 47 mm for the smaller inner diameter instead of the small 45.1 mm would have made it.

Conclusions : I resolved myself to return the bangle, but will certainly buy my dream-bangle with YY. I therefore proposed them to keep the money for my next buy.

And key, painful learnings :roll :
• when buying a bangle with YY, make sure to verify with them that the shape is a real round one (their pictures and videos are usually not enough to spot the oval shape)
• even with very flexible hands, do count -2 mm at least to decrease from your usual wrist size when buying an oval bangle,
• pay attention to the shorter inner diameter of the oval, this is where your thumb knuckle will need to go past

 

[prs]

Thank you Duyen for a very informative post.

Your hand looks painful, hope there is no bruising!

 

[Burmesedaze]

@Duyen oh dear I am so sorry it doesn't fit and that looks OUCH!

This bangle is what they would call glutinous texture but with finer grain than the usual coarse, so yes, semi translucent.

I think you could use this experience to wrangle a better discount from them for your next purchase.

On another note, I returned with my first batch received from livestream to Yangon and showed my jewellers. They are impressed with the quality and carving. They are also sending in my red jade to the local lab to test but we are pretty confident it's unheated.

They joined me on livestream tonight and I purchased a few items on their behalf.

 

[Burmesedaze]

This is also how we confirm the setting selection and price estimate.

I have a few others that require mods so those they need the factory to reply or confirm on certain points.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Like this...

 

[suzanne2]

@Duyen OUCH!!

 

[suzanne2]

This morning I was very happy that I couldn't speak Chinese. The butterfly is gorgeous and I burst out laughing when I saw the gold pigs...

 

[Duyen]

Thanks very much @prs and @Burmesedaze
Yes, it did hurt a little and yes now I have a big bruise on my hand :


Oh well, it does not matter much because I have learnt a lot with this new experiment, and I hope that it could be useful to you all too.

Thanks @Burmesedaze also for your assessment on my jade bangle. It helps me a lot with my education on jade.
May I kindly ask you whether you could send me a notification should you find what you consider a nice round apple green jade bangle size 52 mm at good price from YY’s offers ?
I am not in a hurry, even less so since I have the impression that their bangle prices are getting kind of higher today

You are so lucky being able to bid live with YY livestream ! And your finds are fantastic at fantastic value for money !
I think that I am going to try and practice more Google translate for oral conversations.
Just in case technological miracles happen

 

[Duyen]

@Duyen OUCH!!

Thanks @suzanne2

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

@Duyen oh my goodness you poor thing. What an ouchie adventure you've had with this bangle. Your hand looks so..... bashed up.

It is a beautiful colour though and good thinking on letting them keep the money to count to your next purchase.

Who is paying for return postage?

 

[Duyen]

@Duyen oh my goodness you poor thing. What an ouchie adventure you've had with this bangle. Your hand looks so..... bashed up.

It is a beautiful colour though and good thinking on letting them keep the money to count to your next purchase.

Who is paying for return postage?

You are a sweet angel, @mellowyellowgirl
Thank you, it will be alright, it does not hurt much anymore.
I do pay for the return, but as Burmesedaze has suggested it, I will try and wrangle with them for a proper discount on the next bangle, which will actually be my “dream” bangle and not a test bangle anymore.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Thanks very much @prs and @Burmesedaze
Yes, it did hurt a little and yes now I have a big bruise on my hand :


Oh well, it does not matter much because I have learnt a lot with this new experiment, and I hope that it could be useful to you all too.

Thanks @Burmesedaze also for your assessment on my jade bangle. It helps me a lot with my education on jade.
May I kindly ask you whether you could send me a notification should you find what you consider a nice round apple green jade bangle size 52 mm at good price from YY’s offers ?
I am not in a hurry, even less so since I have the impression that their bangle prices are getting kind of higher today

You are so lucky being able to bid live with YY livestream ! And your finds are fantastic at fantastic value for money !
I think that I am going to try and practice more Google translate for oral conversations.
Just in case technological miracles happen

I think this is the run-up to Chinese New Year in early Feb so prices will go up. The broadcasters mentioned as much too on livestream. If you could hold out a while it might go down after that.

Green is tricky as you've found out while shooting the oval bangle. I'd actually ask YY what she thinks are good apple greens. But perhsps go for an even finer grain or less glutinous texture if you can to minimise the white patches. My jeweller calls those with white patches young or not so old jade and fear they may "dry out" and be whiter as time goes by.

However, old mine jade will definitely cost more though so it's a trade off.

Don't tell them your budget but see what they surface.

 

[Burmesedaze]

This morning I was very happy that I couldn't speak Chinese. The butterfly is gorgeous and I burst out laughing when I saw the gold pigs...

Lol it's the year of the Pig from Feb 19 according to the Chinese Zodiac hence piggies everywhere!

 

[Burmesedaze]

Got a 33mm moxisha donut today

Missed out on this green jade pendant.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Is that the elusive donut you're hunting for @Burmesedaze or is there another thing you were looking for?

Congrats if that's the one!

 

[Burmesedaze]

Is that the elusive donut you're hunting for @Burmesedaze or is there another thing you were looking for?

Congrats if that's the one!

Another but this is icier

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

We should submit #jadegoals so we can celebrate when we achieve them!

 

[Burmesedaze]

Reddish ruyi head. Unheated.

Big enough ruyi head for a pendant

#1jadegoaldown