An Overview: Jade Value Tripled in Five Years

Here you will find an overview of the international jade market focusing on the British Columbia nephrite supply and demand. A very positive report mixed with insights into why the market exists. The link is here: http://www.mining.com/web/b-c-s-2016-jade-mining-season-starts-on-a-high-note/

Magical Jade: Folk Tales of Jade Objects Moving About

I'm linking directly to the site for this claim about the ability of jade artifacts to move from place to place, rather than copy the material here. I haven't been in touch with the site owner for permission to reprint. These are folk tales but will have meaning for those who share a belief in jade's mystic powers. Click here for the link.

Six Top Auction Houses for Buying, Selling, Viewing Jade

Some of the finest and certainly most expensive examples of jade artistry are found at auction, particularly the high-end international auctions. While prices may be prohibitive for many of us, on-line or print catalogs provide rare views of these objects.

Here are some of the top auction houses and links to pages where some of their jade offerings may be

What's In a Name? $1.25 million

 A Canadian mining firm is purchasing the domain name "Jade.Com" for $1.25 million, according to report on a site monitoring the domain name business. CDN Jade Mine Resources Inc. announced the agreement, according to Domainnamewire.Com. The firm said the purchase "could significantly expand our customer reach by developing a strong platform for the global trade of jade." As yet there has been no comment from Future Media Architects, present owners of the name.

Where is China’s Natural Jade Located?

It is difficult for a westerner with no knowledge of Chinese language to follow the trails to sources of Chinese jade. Information on the internet varies greatly in credibility and is often confusing or contradictory.

Many sources say there is no jadeite in China, only nephrite jade. It seems most likely that jadeite is found but it is not of gem quality. 

On the other hand it is stated that good quality jadeite is found in Tibet, now claimed by China. You may also find it said that there is

New Film Explores Realities of "Jade City"

A documentary shedding some light on the life of fortune hunters in war-torn Kachin in Myanmar Burma has premiered in Berlin. "Jade City" is the work of Taiwan-based director Midi-Z, who was born in Myanmar. Although framed by the hopes and problems of jade miners, the film is centrally a family story, a search for a long-lost brother.
I didn't see a reference to the language of the film, a trailer located here (link) seems to be silent. There is also a post on YouTube claiming to be the entire film but you are directed from there to another site, I didn't follow.
Some criticism focuses on length and low-key approach; without seeing the film I offer no criticism here. The film industry magazine Variety provides a review of the film located here (link).
UPDATE: Found another review which mentions subtitles. And gives further insight into the quality of the film, comparing it to home movies but at the same time praising the insights into the shadowy world of freelance jade hunting. The review is found here.

An Important In-Depth Interview with a Master of Scholar Stones

Scholar stones are also known as viewing stones and Suiseki, a valued cultural treasure that is becoming a popular collectible. Although composed of many types of stone, it is not uncommon to find them in jade. This interview, conducted by the editor of the Jade News & Notes blog, will provide substantial insight into a fascinating field. The interview may be found here (link).

New Jade Market Opening; Editorial Discourages Buyers

A new jade market is opening in Muse at the China border for the benefit of Myanmar sellers who do not want to go into China to trade. Sellers cite various difficulties in taking their business into China, such as cost of living and the likelihood authorities will side with locals in any dispute. Muse is adjacent to Ruili in China, where a lot of trade now takes place.
The project involves a cooperative effort between the Shan state government and a construction firm. In addition to the large marketplace there will be apartments, hotels and a bus terminal capable of handling a thousand vehicles. It is also quite possible that the annual Myanmar jade auctions will relocate to the new market.
Here is a related story from the Myanmar Times.

In other jade news, the noted financial publication Hong Kong Economic Journal has called for a boycott of Myanmar jade. Many shops in Hong Kong feature Myanmar jade, where the unsuspecting buyer may be offered a $9 object for $9,100.
The article criticizes the jade trade of Myanmar as painful and brutal. "The best jade mines in Myanmar are controlled by the elite class, and the miners are often drug addicts. Yaba, a cheap form of meth, whips up their systems to work long hours in harsh conditions. In shooting alleys, heroin numbs the pain in their bodies after extended shifts." The article says buyers of Myanmar jade are contributing to the desperation of laborers in that country.
Instability and corruption in the jade trade in Myanmar cause problems for dealers in Hong Kong and China, according to the article.
Here is a link to the article.

Jade in Arizona? Maybe So...

I recently saw a mint-green rough rock advertised as jade from Arizona. To my mind the sources of jade in the US are the Pacific northwest and Wyoming, possibly some areas adjacent Wyoming.
There was quite a discussion about this on the "Rock Tumbling Hobby" site, as someone had posted a find of black jade from Arizona. Well, I have found what could be termed black jade in Arkansas but a dealer told me it is jet. The consensus on the hobby site seemed to me that the material is something other than jade.
The fellow who found it had a web site but it has disappeared. He said in posts on the hobby site that he was having the material tested. I found nothing further about it.
In the discussion queue there is a quote from John Sinkakas: "At this time (1997) I can find no confirmation of either jadeite or nephrite in Arizona." 
I would tend to take that as gospel, Sinkakas is the man when it comes to gemstones. Above is a photo posted on the site of material from the "black jade" discovery. The entire discussion may be found here (link).

Fake Jade: Three "Buyer Beware" Guides

These days it almost goes without saying that much of what is labeled jade of one sort or another is enhanced or fake. Quite often, poorer quality nephrite or jadeite is treated in order to make it more appealing. Another significant problem is that many materials labeled jade -- quite often with modifiers such as "Yellow Dragon" or "Mexican," just to mention two -- are not true nephrite or jadeite.

I have visited a great many sites offering clues to the identity of fake jades. Here are three sites that should provide a very good overview for the wary buyer.

The number and variety of these fakes may be daunting but, on the other hand, these guides may save you some future disappointment. For example, when I was about to purchase a piece labeled "yellow dragon jade," a bit of research revealed that this probably refers to steatite, not true jade.

Molly Kalafut did us a great favor some years ago by surveying the various materials often identified as jade on the eBay auction site. "African jade," "Alaska jade," "Australian jade," "Dushan jade," "Happy Camp jade," "Honan jade," "Mexican jade," "New jade," "Transvaal jade" and "Vesuvianite jade" may be familiar, and there are many others listed on this site: "Identifying Fake Jades"

R.V. Dietrich's site is rich in information, taking us first through various names given to jade from different locations, and then into "simulants." This is a more extensive list than that noted above and includes warnings about "greenstone" and "yu," two terms covering a variety of material often mistaken for jade. There is also mention of glass and plastic in the list to be found at this site: "The Jades"

Eric J. Hoffman offers a thoughtful essay proposing q estions that should be asked by the buyer of antique jades. Firstly he gets into the question of "What is jade?" and observes: "Without becoming a mineralogist, how can the collector tell jade from pseudojade? First, of course, is to see and handle as much true jade as possible. Jade, especially, is a tactile material."
Other considerations are covered such as "Stylistic Analysis" and "Provenance." The site, addressing "a growing number of collectors chasing a limited supply of older jades," thoughtful essay proposing q may be found here: "Old Chinese Jades: Real or Fake?"