|
Post by rockjunquie on May 16, 2014 23:08:11 GMT -5
First, I am not trying to offend anyone. I have been wondering what it is about jade or nephrite that people love so much. I understand the beautiful translucent gem jadeite of the Orient. That's gorgeous. But, I see a lot for sale that just seems to me to be down right ugly, yet is not cheap. I have a cab of semi translucent Polar jade. Honestly, the color is an ugly green. What gives? What am I missing?
|
|
|
Post by Toad on May 17, 2014 0:42:06 GMT -5
We all like different things - you don't have to like jade.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 17, 2014 7:02:52 GMT -5
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.i would believe it is because of its potential value.but rocks are only worth what someone will pay for them.just my 1/2 cents worth Dave
|
|
|
Post by mohs on May 17, 2014 9:10:24 GMT -5
It’s a good question When I got into rocks & polishing I often wondered about it myself
It definitely a stone of lore and its historical use is beyond question the carvings and beliefs in both the old & new world is unbelievable. a carvers stone a foundation stone
yet, I don’t think its highly praised as a cabbing stone I’ve worked a little it doesn’t lend itself easily to polishing and the shades are so jade like. Definitely though… a rock hounders- rock
I’m sure someone will come along and post a killer cab That will change my naïve opinion…mostly
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 17, 2014 12:06:19 GMT -5
For me the allure of jade is it's toughness. Delicate things can be carved and still be super tough. Yes, pretty is also good. But there is lots of pretty rocks. Few can say they are tough as jade.
My quandary is and has always been fire agate. But I wont hijack your thread.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on May 17, 2014 14:26:42 GMT -5
Thanks guys. Like I said, I wasn't trying to be insulting, but if you like jade, I wondered why. I sell jewelry and cabs so I am curious about it. Agreed it is tough. Which makes it surprising that it is so often carved. I haven't seen a whole lot in person-- maybe I just need to see more.
|
|
|
Post by jakesrocks on May 17, 2014 14:40:48 GMT -5
Jade to the cabber is a love/hate relationship. Love because a nice piece of jade is a beautiful stone when cabbed. Hate because of it's tendency to have fibers pull out just when the shine is starting to appear.
|
|
|
Post by kk on May 17, 2014 19:56:42 GMT -5
Agree with mr.mohs Lore and historical use is definitely one of the things that attract most people to Jade. Personally, I'm rather put off by the huge greed/cheat factor that goes into pricing, that turns me away from it. I just began my 3rd. piece of jade ever for a contest, so can't say anything about how it works up. When it comes to colour, I know which ones I like, so thats what I'm going for, but thats no different to any other material. My quandary is and has always been fire agate. But I wont hijack your thread. Why?
|
|
gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,019
|
Post by gemfeller on May 17, 2014 20:52:19 GMT -5
I share Tela's view. I also agree with Scott -- except about fire agate. You should start a separate thread on that Scott.
Because of its interlocking fibrous structure nephrite jade is probably the toughest (as opposed to hardest) material used as a gem. That's why ancient societies used it as tools and weapons: it stood up to extremely hard use. They probably also saw that toughness as being a divine property since early cultures were naturalistic and saw divine intent in everyday objects. As others have said, I think that reverence, combined with attractive colors, translated into its widespread acceptance as a gem. Some jade hues are very beautiful to me.
However...
Some is as ugly to me as the west end of an eastbound cow suffering with diarrhea. I agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This beholder sees none in the grayish black-mottled stuff or the hue range I refer to as "gangreen." I used to hunt nephrite in Wyoming and found very little I'd call pretty. But that's just me.
|
|
|
Post by kk on May 17, 2014 21:02:49 GMT -5
Some is as ugly to me as the west end of an eastbound cow suffering with diarrhea. I agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This beholder sees none in the grayish black-mottled stuff or the hue range I refer to as "gangreen." I used to hunt nephrite in Wyoming and found very little I'd call pretty. But that's just me.
NO its not just YOU!!!!!! I absolutely agree!
|
|
|
Post by radio on May 17, 2014 21:30:58 GMT -5
I watched a program on Nat Geo several years ago where a couple of guys were looking for Jade somewhere in the Orient. They carried a 10 pound sledgehammer and would whack the daylights out of every boulder they came across. When they hit one and the sledge would bounce back and almost split their skull, the knew the boulder was Jade. You couldn't tell by looking at the stone though
I also agree that there is an overabundance of ugly Jade on the market. My preference is the lighter Green, almost translucent stuff and even some of the Pink and Green Wyoming Jade is very pretty. I have a limited supply of both:-)
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
|
Post by Sabre52 on May 18, 2014 7:52:30 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm with Jake on this one. I really like jade but it is a pain in the arse to work sometimes. Also, jade is mainly a "color" stone, not a "pattern" one. One of the main reasons I like agate and jasper best of all is the variety of colors "and " patterns.....Mel
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2014 8:45:31 GMT -5
Awww man! Ya'll shouldn't be bad mouthing my pet rock. The only rock tough enough to make rings out of. Maybe ya'll just haven't had enough variety in hand. My newest color thanks to Scott. Turkish purple jade. Way more beautiful in hand and it takes an easy easy killer shine. I think ya'll owe this rock an apology. She is very sweet and smooth and beautiful and you hurt her feelings really bad. Or not. lol Jim
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on May 18, 2014 8:53:54 GMT -5
Awww man! Ya'll shouldn't be bad mouthing my pet rock. The only rock tough enough to make rings out of. Maybe ya'll just haven't had enough variety in hand. My newest color thanks to Scott. Turkish purple jade. Way more beautiful in hand and it takes an easy easy killer shine. I think ya'll owe this rock an apology. She is very sweet and smooth and beautiful and you hurt her feelings really bad. Or not. lol Jim Beautiful ring, Jim! I have to admit... I do like the Turkish jade and I have some myself. Like Mel Sabre52 says, it's all about the color, I guess. It's just that I see very few nice colors.
|
|
|
Post by washingtonrocks on May 20, 2014 11:07:13 GMT -5
Great topic. I just wanted to throw in my two cents. I'm a bit of a jade freak, so forgive me if I sound a little crazy. Jade tends to do that to you. If you haven't worked with jade or held a beautifully polished piece in your hand it can't really be truly appreciated. Jade grows on you. It's one of those stones that can consume you. It has me. The luster and depth of a quality piece of jade isn't like any other in my humble opinion. It's hard to fully put into words, but there's a timelessness to it. An elegance. Perhaps the history and "lore" of this stone and the impact it's had on ancient civilizations has something to do with it...I can gaze into a jade stone and almost get lost in it. I can feel its beauty in my hand. The heft and the icy coolness and the wonderful waxy texture is exquisite. For a crazy rock guy like me, there just isn't anything else that compares. And as others have mentioned, the fact that it can be challenging to work with at the best of times just adds to its mystique for me. It's always satisying to finish a piece made from jade. The time and effort and love you give to the stone is repayed in a finished product unlike anything else. I don't think I'll ever truly master the perfect form or the perfect polish on a jade, but its the time and effort put into it that's most rewarding for me.
|
|