CWN Jewellery Shop  

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Jade has been a royal gemstone in China for 5.000 years. The Chinese character for Jade is like a capital I with a line across the middle, the top representing the heavens, the bottom, earth and the centre, mankind.

The Chinese use the word ‘yu’ to describe it; a word also used to call something precious as we use gold.

This stone was found in emperor’s tombs and was believed to preserve the body after death. One famous emperor’s tomb contained an entire suit made up of small pieces of Jade, and created to assure the owner’s immortality. 

For thousands of years Jade was a symbol or virtue, love and status. The Mayans, Olmecs and Toltecs treasured Jade and used it to make masks and carvings. The Aztecs ran a tax with the stone, which, sadly meant the recycling of many artefacts.

Jade’s history in Europe is not so distinguished, but early axes and carvings have been found by archaeologists and after the 16th century, jade objects of jewellery began to come in from China and then central America. The Portuguese, brought jade from Canton, in China. They called it ‘the stone of the loins’ because it was believed to help kidney ailments. The word nephrite, (used for Chinese jade) comes from the Greek word for kidney: Nephros.

The material called jadeite is different from Chinese jade. Jadeite came from Central America. The Chinese knew about it but called it ‘the kingfisher stone’ and did not consider it to be real jade.  It became popular in the 18th and 19th century when Burma opened up trade again.

Today many people consider jadeite to be the real jade rather than nephrite and it can command high prices due to its more vivid colours and finer translucency. Jadeite comes from Myanmar (formerly Burma) and every year they hold a gem, pearl and jade emporium to sell to jade dealers from all over the world.  Jadeite dealers take the risk of buying boulders intact, with only a tiny window revealing the interior and not knowing what exactly is inside. It may be green jadeite or mixtures of other materials and they can only go by instinct as they pay out hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

Fine quality jadeite is cut into semi-circular dome shapes called cabochons. Jadeite bangles are popular in Asia and the beads make beautiful necklaces and bracelets. This is also an excellent material for carvings and a popular shape is the donut, which is worn on a necklace, (and is called a pi). The sacred image of the buddha is another popular form and is often carved out of green jadeite.

Jadeite jade is adored in all its beautiful green shades but it also comes in lavender, pink, yellow and white. Nephrite is found in dark green, white, brown and black.

Jadeite is mined mainly in Myanmar and some can be found in Guatamala. Nephrite is found in Australia, US, Canada and Taiwan.

Jade has long been used as a lucky charm, for warding off spirits, for safe journeys, wisdom and long life or for slowing down ageing.  This stone is said to bring peace and serenity and to aid high blood pressure, and to help heart and circulation problems, diabetes and kidney and bladder problems.

TRUE NATURE GEMS at  the Creative Women's Network

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Jade

Jade luxury carved necklace with amethyst, jade and carnelian beads and ram beads - £35 (ask for animal carvings available)

Chinese jade and rose quartz necklace with animal carving (includes tigers eye and aventurine beads) - £19.99

New Jade 20mm donut on hand crafted Indonesian bail with chain, (sterling silver) - £16.99

New jade ring - £5.95 - (please ask for sizes available)

Jade teardrop on cord  - £5.99

New jade smoothstone on cord - £12

New Jade Nugget bracelet - £8.50

New Jade (Bowenite) power bracelet  - £7.99

New jade 4mm bead bracelet - £3.99

Chinese jade long chip necklace - £15

Jade Buddha with sterling silver chain - £9.99

Jade disk necklace - £29.99

Large sterling silver cabochon nephrite pendant with 18" chain - £17.99 (25x18mm stone)

Nephrite Jade 20mm donut with handmade Indonesian bail and chain (sterling silver) - £16.99

Nephrite Jade drop pendant with sterling silver chain - £7.99

(available in dark, medium and light olive shades)

Nephrite Jade  twist pendant provided with length of black cord - £10.99

Nephrite Jade knot of eternity pendant  (approx 2" long) provided with length of black cord - £12.99. Choose from Nephrite or light jade. (small Nephrite 1" knot £9.99) .

Jade claw on cord - £12

Nephrite jade ring £5.95 (enquire for sizes)

Nephrite jade smoothstone on cord - £12

Jade round silver stud earrings - £9.99

Jade drop on cord choker - £4.99

 

Jade large hearts, supplied with long length of black cord - £12 (choose from Bowenite (light) or Nephrite (dark)

Jade Fish necklace (with black cord to cut to required length)  - £7

New Jade star choker with black cord - £4.99

New jade sun choker - £4.99

Jadiete stone pendant with sterling silver chain - £7.99

Purple Jade puff heart on 16" sterling silver chain - £9.99

(Matching earrings available at £10.99 per pair)

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