jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 10, 2013 9:00:01 GMT -5
Like Burma has much jadeite left after 23 centuries of mining it as the main source for Imperial China... and as if anyone in the USA could afford to compete with China to buy or even appreciate the real deal anyway. I remember when I was about 10, I saw a Sotheby catalog for 2 small cabochons of Imperial Jade that sold for nearly 2 million dollars. It's doubtful that Burma even has any real jadeite for export, as Chinese Communist officials probably pre-empt all of it to dust size. That's just political posturing. When you were 10? How many centuries did you say?
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Post by parfive on Aug 10, 2013 12:58:32 GMT -5
Also saw a slew of bumblebee yesterday – I’d park it right next to the pink&purple Brazilians. : )
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Aug 10, 2013 20:10:29 GMT -5
At least it is naturally colored. So they have mined a bunch; it sold quickly on etsy. Those folks are not lazy:>
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Aug 10, 2013 21:19:56 GMT -5
Like Burma has much jadeite left after 23 centuries of mining it as the main source for Imperial China... and as if anyone in the USA could afford to compete with China to buy or even appreciate the real deal anyway. I remember when I was about 10, I saw a Sotheby catalog for 2 small cabochons of Imperial Jade that sold for nearly 2 million dollars. It's doubtful that Burma even has any real jadeite for export, as Chinese Communist officials probably pre-empt all of it to dust size. That's just political posturing. You may be surprised to learn that Burmese jadeite was unknown in China until 1784 when the first shipment of this "new" jade arrived. For nearly 5,000 years prior, Chinese "Imperial Jade" was white nephrite from the Kunlun Mountains in what was then Turkestan. This area is now part of China's Xinjaing Province. When the varied colors of jadeite were introduced, the Burmese material quickly became China's new favorite, with the rich green colors becoming the new "Imperial," and purple/lavender hues the second most valuable. Burma still produces plenty of jadeite. Official auction figures tell only part of the story because, like fine Burmese ruby, much is smuggled into Thailand and China along with illicit drugs and other valuable items. I agree on the high value of fine Imperial green jadeite. Here are some figures from the latest official auction: www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130703000083&cid=1102 The U.S. embargo is just an "eyewash" attempt by American politicians to appear to be "doing something" about a problem that little short of armed conflict can resolve. The only people hurt by it are the Burmese miners and American consumers along with dealers in those goods. The Burmese generals are doing fine, still stuffing their Swiss bank accounts and oppressing their own people.
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Post by helens on Aug 11, 2013 0:00:33 GMT -5
Like Burma has much jadeite left after 23 centuries of mining it as the main source for Imperial China... and as if anyone in the USA could afford to compete with China to buy or even appreciate the real deal anyway. I remember when I was about 10, I saw a Sotheby catalog for 2 small cabochons of Imperial Jade that sold for nearly 2 million dollars. It's doubtful that Burma even has any real jadeite for export, as Chinese Communist officials probably pre-empt all of it to dust size. That's just political posturing. You may be surprised to learn that Burmese jadeite was unknown in China until 1784 when the first shipment of this "new" jade arrived. For nearly 5,000 years prior, Chinese "Imperial Jade" was white nephrite from the Kunlun Mountains in what was then Turkestan. This area is now part of China's Xinjaing Province. When the varied colors of jadeite were introduced, the Burmese material quickly became China's new favorite, with the rich green colors becoming the new "Imperial," and purple/lavender hues the second most valuable. Burma still produces plenty of jadeite. Official auction figures tell only part of the story because, like fine Burmese ruby, much is smuggled into Thailand and China along with illicit drugs and other valuable items. I agree on the high value of fine Imperial green jadeite. Here are some figures from the latest official auction: www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130703000083&cid=1102 The U.S. embargo is just an "eyewash" attempt by American politicians to appear to be "doing something" about a problem that little short of armed conflict can resolve. The only people hurt by it are the Burmese miners and American consumers along with dealers in those goods. The Burmese generals are doing fine, still stuffing their Swiss bank accounts and oppressing their own people. The frenzy over Burmese jadeite hasn't even begun to slow down in China. Friend was telling me that the popular thing to do is 'bid' on auction blocks of it rough (from hundreds of thousands of US dollars to millions of US dollars) based on what is visibly showing, and gambling on the interior. It's the current 'wealthy sport' in China. The left over junk is made into jewelry and sold for whatever they can get. Just heard the story this summer from my cousin in London, whose in laws 'play'. What a weird way to waste money. As for timing, that's possible, I really don't know the history, just the frenzy levels for the stuff. 50 tons of Burmese jade in the USA... sure.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Aug 11, 2013 8:58:35 GMT -5
My friend used to pick brazilian agates on site and the Brazilians would put his picks on the top of each 55 gallon drum and put crap in the bottom. It took years to develop relationship w/trustworthys.
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