Stefano Canturi

Take a look at Stefano's brilliant designs/collection, especially Barbie with diamond choker. http://www.canturi.com

Ted Muehling

Simply beautiful designs, really. http://www.tedmuehling.com

Random Thoughts

Very expensive women’s jewelry is almost a man’s symbol of ownership. We have a way to go before men are wearing 25 carats around the neck ... unless they are the gigolo and the reverse has happened to them.

- Theo Fennell
http://www.theofennell.com

So true.

Duchess Of Windsor Jewels

Exceptional jewels & precious objects once owned by Wallis Simpson, the infamous Duchess of Windsor, will hit the auction block at Sotheby's in late November 2010. Take a look. http://www.sothebys.com

Jade Collector

Dao Trong Cuong must be a true jade lover. He not only sold his villa in Hanoi, but also borrowed money from the bank to buy the jade at $1.45 million to make the world’s largest jade Buddha statue. Amazing story. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/201001/Largest-gemstone-Buddha-statue-on-the-work-890298

The Modern Jade Story

Alexandra Seno's viewpoint in the Wall Street Journal about jade was interesting and insightful. Today, a string of plain, polished round beads in the much-desired shade of green (imperial jade) can command US$1 million. Spot on. The best colors are rare/old.

Useful links:
http://teufi.com
www.life-of-circle.com
www.qeelin.com

Natural Omphacite

Deep green to black jade has been gaining popularity these past few years in the gem market in Hong Kong and China, and now it is appearing in the Japanese market as well. This material is often called black jade or inky jadeite jade but mineralogically this is not jadeite but omphacite. The labs report on omphacite was educational.

Useful link:
www.gaaj-zenhokyo.co.jp

Antiques Roadshow 2009

It's part adventure, part history lesson, and part treasure hunt. In a record for the show, four pieces of Chinese carved jade and celadon from the Qianlong era (1736-1795), including a large bowl made for the Emperor, were given a conservative auction estimate of up to $1.07 million. The statement said the owner of the jade inherited the collection from her father, who bought the objects in the 1930s and 1940s, while stationed in China as a military liaison. Check out the link www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow

Imperial White Jade Quianlong Yubi Seal

Legacies of Imperial Power: Qianlong Imperial Seals from the Estate of Emile Guimet
http://www.sothebys.com/app/live/lot/LotDetail.jsp?sale_number=HK0281&live_lot_id=2003
http://www.beaussant-lefevre.com/html/fiche.jsp?id=934986
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hYLejNHjf6GyZ1BfW1zLxFH685Wg

A Qianlong Yubi seal carved from snow-white jade sold for about $8.16 million at Sotheby’s.

Jade Buddha

Jade Buddha for Universal Peace
http://www.jadebuddha.org.au/en/Jade_Buddha_Brochure_English.pdf
http://www.jademine.com/jade_blog/2008/04/polar-pride-boulder.html

Useful links:
www.jadebuddha.org.au
www.stupa.org.au

A unique piece of jade, indeed.

Nephrite Jade From Canada

I found nephrite jade jewelry + carvings @ www.jademine.com very interesting. Stunningly beautiful, really.

Myanmar Puts €60 Million Worth Of Gems And Jade On Sale At Mid-Year Auction

The Associated Press writes:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/19/asia/AS_GEN_Myanmar_Gems.php

YANGON, Thailand. Myanmar plans to sell more than €60 million (US$75.4 million) worth of gems and jade at its annual midyear gem emporium in Yangon to foreign buyers, including dealers from Western countries whose governments have barred most trade with the military-run country, a senior official said Wednesday.

Altogether 1,500 gem merchants from 10 countries, including China, Thailand and the United States, are expected to attend the 10-day auction, which began Thursday, Thein Swe, managing director of the state Myanma Gems Enterprise, told reporters.

The largest contingent of 900 gem merchants will be coming from China, which is the main market for jade.

Buyers from the United States have to carry out business transactions in euros instead of U.S. dollars because Washington has banned imports from Myanmar and prohibited dollar remittances to the country, among other sanctions.

How to judge Jade

What is jade?
Jade is one of the oldest known gemstones that have been appreciated throughout history as an object of ritual, and later as an item of barter and wealth. Today jade is perceived as an object of art and personal adornment.Jade refers to two chemically different stones: jadeite and nephrite. Jadeite jade is more popular in terms of value, while nephrite is known for its carving and antiquity.

What are the colours of jade?
Jadeite comes in six basic colours with many variations. These are green, lavender, red, yellow, white and black. Green is the most important and desirable colour. A special category, imperial jade, was mostly possessed by royalty. Imperial jade possesses an almost transparent, emerald-green colour without visible flaws and colour irregularities.Jade often displays multiple colours within one piece. The Chinese have a list of phrases to describe the colour combinations, such as glassy, icy, old mine, dry green, oily green, and pea green.

What is the best colour?
The most desirable colour is the finest green that resembles the colour of fine emerald. Values in descending order for other colours are lavender, red, yellow, white and black. Overall, quality of colour, clarity, cut, translucence, tone and texture affect the value of jade. There is a perception that jade matures and grows green with age. There is, however, no evidence that jade actually changes colour.

Where does jade come from?
The earliest known jade used by the Chinese (nephrite) probably came from northwest China. Today, Myanmar is perceived as the primary source of high quality jadeite jade. Nephrite, found worldwide, is not a rare stone.

Is jade durable?
Jade is the toughest of all known gemstones. What other stone can be fashioned from a single piece of material and endure as jewellery for centuries?

Is jade expensive?
While most coloured stones are sold by carat weight, jade is sold by the piece. Fine cabochons, bangles, carvings, discs and other popular forms of jade jewellery can command high prices. Nephrite by contrast is less valuable.

What about imitations?
Jade may be treated to improve colour or clarity. The common classification for jadeite jade includes: A jade (waxed); B jade (bleached and polymer impregnated); C jade (dyed). Treated jade may display good colour and transparency but its beauty may not last long. There are many natural minerals such as aventurine quartz, soapstone, serpentine and maw-sit-sit that resemble jade. Common imitations are man-made green glass, plastic and assembled stones. As always, if in doubt, consult a reputed gem testing laboratory.