Traders are blaming a lack of Chinese buyers for the slump in jade sales in Myanmar. China is the primary market for Myanmar jade and is experiencing an economic slowdown.
Traders also say there is a lack of top quality jade. The scarcity has driven up prices for quality material, slowing sales at that end of the market.
The brief story can be found here.
There has been no mention of the impact of increased traffic in British Columbia nephrite jade to China.
Some indications of that increase include an announcement by Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd. in partnership with Dease Lake Jade Mine Ltd. consigned 35.6 tonnes of the 2015 jade production to Xin Yaun Yu Cheng in Beijing. The Chinese firm is set to open the first ever jade retail and wholesale outlet in China exclusively selling BC jade, according to an announcement.
Related news came in a September announcement of shipment of 18 tons of nephrite by Electra Stone to buyers in Shanghai. If all goes well, Electra expects to conduct extensive trade with Chinese buyers in the future. (Update Nov. 28, Electra has made another shipment for a total of 36 tons).
Other BC firms are also quite active in China; it was reported that in recent years 400 tons of Canada jade have been exported annually with most going to China. That figure came from an extensive GIA survey of the global jade market published recently. The article (found here) states that Canada is the major supplier of nephrite to China.
Friday, November 27, 2015
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
A Stone Worth $16-Million?
Friday, November 13, 2015
Book Review: Points of Judging Jade
This little booklet (16 pages) by Peter Goodwin (Fellow, Gemmological Association of Great Britain), published by The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, is more a collectible than a reference work due to its age and brevity.
The booklet, subtitled "A guide to prospective purchasers," is undated but appears to have been printed in the 1950s.
Goodwin makes shopping for quality jade appear to be somewhat child's play. He offers a few clues to identification as though they constitute a reliable guide, and perhaps in his day that was true.
It is easy to suspect that he wrote to entice rather than warn off the prospective purchaser, given that the booklet was no doubt a hand-out provided to visitors who might trade with the newspaper's advertisers. However, he does warn the tourist and traveller that fakes are likely to abound in smaller shops catering to those passing through.
As noted, the booklet provides only a brief overview. For example, in answer to "Is it jade?," Goodwin advises that real jade has 1) good green color (sometimes mottled); 2) a slightly greasy look; 3) a slightly uneven surface. Substitutes, he notes, are likely glass or plastic, or chalcedony. (Today, quite a few more are recognized).
As an addition to the library of the collector or researcher, the booklet can be found priced in the $10 - $15 range -- at least that was my experience. As a guide for the prospective buyer it will not have much value in a day when the Internet abounds with all sorts of advice, some of it of value.
The booklet, subtitled "A guide to prospective purchasers," is undated but appears to have been printed in the 1950s.
Goodwin makes shopping for quality jade appear to be somewhat child's play. He offers a few clues to identification as though they constitute a reliable guide, and perhaps in his day that was true.
It is easy to suspect that he wrote to entice rather than warn off the prospective purchaser, given that the booklet was no doubt a hand-out provided to visitors who might trade with the newspaper's advertisers. However, he does warn the tourist and traveller that fakes are likely to abound in smaller shops catering to those passing through.
As noted, the booklet provides only a brief overview. For example, in answer to "Is it jade?," Goodwin advises that real jade has 1) good green color (sometimes mottled); 2) a slightly greasy look; 3) a slightly uneven surface. Substitutes, he notes, are likely glass or plastic, or chalcedony. (Today, quite a few more are recognized).
As an addition to the library of the collector or researcher, the booklet can be found priced in the $10 - $15 range -- at least that was my experience. As a guide for the prospective buyer it will not have much value in a day when the Internet abounds with all sorts of advice, some of it of value.
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Toxic Jade? Can The Stone of Heaven Send You There?
A number of posts can be found on the Internet suggesting or exploring the assertion that jade contains arsenic and is therefore hazardous to your health.
The discussions become quite complex. For one thing, it is mentioned that asbestos is not a mineral per se but a sort of generic commercial term for a group of similarly-constructed fibrous minerals. So the assertion should be more specific, what sort of asbestos is jade alleged to contain?
Nonetheless you find asbestos often described as a mineral in its own right, though I would venture the mention refers to one type of the various minerals clustered under the generic term.
As to jade, statements vary but the majority opinion appears to be that jade does not contain asbestos. There are various reasons for the mis-statement, including a similarity of structure. There are also some minerals associated with jade which may in turn be associated with asbestos minerals. But the direct connection to jade does not appear to exist.
In the discussion linked to HERE it is brought out that the silica content of jade may be more dangerous to workers than would be asbestos if present. Another discussion of the possible asbestos relationship takes place HERE.
And if you don't have enough to worry about, there is also the matter of jade made radioactive through diabolical treatment methods, demonstrated HERE.
The discussions become quite complex. For one thing, it is mentioned that asbestos is not a mineral per se but a sort of generic commercial term for a group of similarly-constructed fibrous minerals. So the assertion should be more specific, what sort of asbestos is jade alleged to contain?
Nonetheless you find asbestos often described as a mineral in its own right, though I would venture the mention refers to one type of the various minerals clustered under the generic term.
As to jade, statements vary but the majority opinion appears to be that jade does not contain asbestos. There are various reasons for the mis-statement, including a similarity of structure. There are also some minerals associated with jade which may in turn be associated with asbestos minerals. But the direct connection to jade does not appear to exist.
In the discussion linked to HERE it is brought out that the silica content of jade may be more dangerous to workers than would be asbestos if present. Another discussion of the possible asbestos relationship takes place HERE.
And if you don't have enough to worry about, there is also the matter of jade made radioactive through diabolical treatment methods, demonstrated HERE.
Friday, November 6, 2015
Photo Tour: Shopping at the Source for Rare Chinese Jade
The authors went looking for examples of rare "white stone" jade in Guangzhou, China's Hualin Street jade market. The tour and follow-up provide insights into doctoring of jade to make it more appealing to prospective buyers. Essentially their conclusion echoes a well-known fact: "Like many gem markets, caveat emptor is the norm as imitations abound." The article can be found here (Link).
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Infographics Overview of Jade History, Value, Interesting Facts
In ancient times, esteemed individuals might be buried in jade suits. Archaeologists discovered one prince buried in a suit of 2,498 plates of jade held together with 2.5 lbs of gold thread.
China's deposits of nephrite jade are now nearly depleted.
Jade in China typically sells at the same price per carat as diamonds in the US.
One infographic is an attractive presentation of a few general facts, worth a glance just for the art, perhaps a useful introduction for young students ... Link here.
The other provides a brief look at prosperous mining activity in British Columbia ... Link here.
These graphics came to our attention via Electra Stone as the firm announced plans to market its BC jade in Hong Kong and long range selling plans for finished jade from China on the international market ... Link here.
China's deposits of nephrite jade are now nearly depleted.
Jade in China typically sells at the same price per carat as diamonds in the US.
One infographic is an attractive presentation of a few general facts, worth a glance just for the art, perhaps a useful introduction for young students ... Link here.
The other provides a brief look at prosperous mining activity in British Columbia ... Link here.
These graphics came to our attention via Electra Stone as the firm announced plans to market its BC jade in Hong Kong and long range selling plans for finished jade from China on the international market ... Link here.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Jade Trade: "The Biggest Natural Resource Heist in Modern History"
As noted earlier, many publications have chimed in on the recent Global Witness report on Myanmar's jade trade and its near-total links to China. Though brief, an article published by the Council on Foreign Relations culls the report for some hard-hitting allegations. And it calls on China, beneficiary of 80 percent of the trade, described as "mostly illegal," to take corrective action.
"The jade trade is rife with corruption, conflict and disease," the article asserts (link).
Among charges and observations mentioned in the article:
The area where mining occurs abounds in heroin addiction and prostitution, abetted by bribed authorities who turn their backs.
There is an "extraordinarily high prevalence" of HIV/AIDS.
The problems extend across the border to China's Yunnan Province, where most of the smuggled jade makes its first appearance in China.
Seventy percent of the funding for the largest extractive operations in Myanmar comes for China.
Jade prices continue their upward spiral, creating more demand.
The article calls on China to stamp out smuggling and expose corruption.
A search does not reveal a formal government response at this time, however it appears that many of the charges by Global Witness date back a number of years and changes favoring more openness about the situation have taken place.
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