This beautiful choker necklace hangs 9-inches - 18-inches in all. Choose size from Size Button.
No other country on earth has held jade in such high regard, and carved it so beautifully as China. The history of their jade carving started almost 5,000 years ago, and continues to the present day. Jade is said to have all the attributes most valued by society; a symbol of purity and serenity, it is delicate, but will not break, it is beautiful, but not impermanent, it can be flawed with lines, but still esthetically pleasing. When carved thinly it will ring like a bell, and when polished it will feel smooth and cool, like a beautiful woman's face.
Jade's talismanic properties are legendary - jade is believed to radiate divine unconditional love and balance the emotions. When held in the right hand this beautiful stone may improve one's ability to make correct decisions - ancient silk traders often held jade in their right hand while bartering. A small piece of jade worn around the neck was said to dispel illness, and is always a child's first important amulet.
There are many types of jade in China - the most famous is exquisitely coloured transparent jadeite from Burma, with shades of green, lavender, yellow, white and grey. Also highly favoured are the boulder jades with the same amazing colour range but more opaque in colour. Nephrite jade is much darker, with strong shades of brown and black, and all other jades are classified as yao jade, or apprentice jade. Carvers work for many years with the less valued types of jade until their mastery of the art allows them to turn their skills to the most expensive of raw materials.
Every piece of jade has a secret meaning and use; discovering that meaning and the legends behind it is a very satisfying exercise in art history for those who practice this dying art.
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