Beth, It appears that the term “Imperial Jade” might be part of the
problem here. While the term may be found in many guides and jade
lists…it is contrived supposedly to describe the best jadeite
reserved for royality. In reality, jadeite which is believed to have
come to China during the 1600s (all the rest being nephrite or ‘fu
yu’ - false jade such as serpentine etc) was used in many levels of
quality by the mandarins. Some in fact was of quite poor quality
depending on position and wealth.
First, lets go to the primary and traditional source of jadeite -
Burma. In 1927 Chhibber provided the following color catagories for
jade(ite): (1) most precious a translucent grass green, (2) light
green with bright green markings, (3) clouded, (4) dark green -
rather soft and brittle, (5) red or brownish found in boulders which
have been embedded in red earth, (6) translucent white, (7) white and
translucent, but sometimes opaque patches which reduce its value and
(8) dark green, which appears black unless the material is cut thinly
(From 'Jade of the East by Geoffrey Wills, 1972). Interestingly
enough, the list does not include some of the yellows, purples, blue
or mauve that are also found.
The “Jade Records” from the Tsin dynasty (265-420 AD)classified jade
in nine colors: black as deep water, blue as indigo foam, green as
fresh moss, emerald as the kingfisher’s feathers, yellow as steamed
chestnuts, vermillion as cinnabar, purple as congealed blood, jet
black as ink, white as mutton fat and mottled with red and white
streaks. Other Chinese writtings describe it as: ruby red,
chicken-blood red, cinnabar red, cherry red, date red, parrot green,
pine-needle green, gingko green, asmanthus fragrus yellow, sunflower
yellow, chestnut yellow, wine yellow, fishmaw white, chicken-bone
white, rice white, pool-water gray-blue, crab-shell gray-blue, willow
green, bamboo leaf green, eggplant purple, palm hair purple, bean
paste mauve, pure varnish black and old ink black. WHEW! Still, the
one color that describes the most valued of all jadeites is a bright
pure emerald green as described by Chhibber as ‘translucent grass
green’. The Chinese term is ‘fei-ts’ui’ after the kingfisher bird’s
bright plummage. In China ‘fei-ts’ui’ jade, is referred to with
reverence because it is so rare and considered so pure as to embody
one’s soul. That is why it is also so expensive. You will rarely
see such jade in the west. Most of it is siphoned off at the jade
auctions in HongKong and stays in the Asian market where it is both
appreciated and can be afforded. Americans generally do not
appreciate it enough to pay the demanded price. I have, for example,
seen small fei-ts’ui cabs in places like HongKong, Taipei, etc, going
for $8,000 to 10,000USD a carat.
But don’t dispare. Within the large range of colors and qualities of
jade are some very fine specimens that can be had for reasonable
prices. “Bwo-li yu” or aka glass jade, describes a very transparant
jade…it just may not be emerald green that is quite reasonable in
price. Other jade can be beautiful emerald green but not display the
transparant (fei-ts’ui) qualities.
I would recommend you discuss this with your client and see where
her pocket book and desires meet!
Cheers from Don at The Charles Belle Studio in SOFL where simple
elegance IS fine jewelry! @coralnut1