What color of jade is the most expensive?
There is a Chinese proverb “黄金有价，玉无价” which translates to “gold has value; jade is priceless,” meaning that the value of gold is measurable, but the value of jade exceeds the value of the stone itself. While mineral composition, size, and clarity greatly influence the price of jade, proper purpose and design can also dramatically change the value of jade. Below are the 10 most expensive jade items at auction prices.
Jade King Liangzhu Cong
The Jade King is a type of jade ritual instrument with a carved figure of a half-beast, half-man. The round inner shape and the square outer shape represent the sky (round) and the earth (square). The importance of a king goes beyond a ritual instrument and a symbol of power; before the advent of writing, the exchange of such an object could provide stability between clans without the use of violence.
Western riding Hanyu
Feather Man is a flying immortal in ancient Chinese mythology. They differ from other immortals in that they have wings. At first glance, this jade sculpture resembles a man riding a horse, but in reality it is a fairy riding a pegasus traveling through space.
Qing Dynasty Guanyin
When collecting jade, it is important to choose a piece of stone in pristine condition, that is, it should not have cracks or dirt. The clarity and purity of this particular Guanyin Jadeite, especially in the face area, is what makes this piece of jewelry so valuable.
Elysium. Consciousness
The work of the famous modern sculptor Kiu King Qiu. He revolutionized the Chinese jade world in the sense that he brought modernity to the Chinese tradition of jade sculpture combined with his stone carving technique and Giacometti-like style.
White jade melon-shaped goat head inlaid with copper
This white jade carrying pot was first assembled by American socialite Millicent Rogers. During the first half of the 20th century, most collectors in the United States collected ancient Chinese jade that had undergone academic research. However, Millicent’s jade collection was based solely on her aesthetics and taste. She loved the color white, and so white jade carvings and Qing Dynasty white glazed porcelain (including this very pot) made up the vast majority of her Chinese tableware collection.
White Jade Ludong Incense Burner
Ludun is a legendary Chinese auspicious creature. It looks like a unicorn, but with the body of a lion and the paws of a bear. He can travel 18 kilometers a day and master different languages. Ludun can detect the truth, and thus they are portrayed as guardians of enlightened rulers. Worship of Ludun was valued by the royal family of the Ming and Qing dynasties. This pair of white jade luduns was located in the inner palace during the Qianlong period.
White jade crane and deer pen holder
Pen holders have been a favorite item of literati since ancient times. Elegant study furnishings, including pen stands, were often used to determine status and evaluate literary ability. Thus, various exquisite pen holders appeared during the Qianlong period. This particular instrument was carefully crafted and is perhaps the largest jade pen holder among private collectors.
Imperial jasper carving
This piece is made of jasper and has a triangle/mountain shape. Jasper is a translucent green jade. Although triangular/mountain jade was quite common during the Qing Dynasty, this particular item is very rare due to its size. At 80 cm wide, it is one of the largest pieces made of mountain jasper (with the exception of a few pieces in the Palace Museum).
Seven Rings of the Emperor
The archer’s ring is a riding and shooting instrument traditionally worn by the king and his brother bannermen. Often made of jade, they were used as a status symbol. The size of the ring was determined by the civilian and military status of the wearer.
White jade figurine of Shuanjian Wu Desheng
This jade decoration is very typical of Wu Desheng’s work. His works of women have a very distinct style: oval face, willow eyebrows, red phoenix eyes, teardrop nose, cherry mouth, round shoulders, plump breasts and thick buttocks. Interestingly, these are all characteristics of traditional Chinese beauty standards.v August 29, 2018 A semi-precious gem with a unique iridescent heterogeneous color – jade. The stone is stronger than granite. It is often used in jewelry and to create expensive and unique decor. The discovery of jade dates back to the Neolithic era. At that time, amulets, figurines, and hunting items were made from the mineral. Then, the craftsmen of Ancient Egypt used the stone to create jewelry and expensive household items. Jade was often used to emphasize a person’s status. Such a stone indicated the power and importance of a person.
Average cost of jade per gram and features of the stone
The chemical composition of the mineral contains impurities of iron, magnesium, vanadium and even chromium. The color of the stone can be white, gray, green and even blue. There is a black version. The color directly depends on the composition of the mineral and the amount of iron oxides in it. The hardness of jade ranges from 2,9 to 3,02 points, density – 3,5. The level of transparency also depends on the content of various elements in the mineral. The cost of a mineral depends on color, transparency and origin. For example, on the world market the price per gram of green jade reaches 3-5 US dollars. And white – from 20 to 30 dollars.
Varieties and characteristics of the mineral
- Bath. It is classified as second class. The mineral is used for cladding buildings and finishing rooms. Baths and saunas are often lined with such beautiful material, hence the name.
- Ornamental – 1 grade jade. Massagers, household items, and dishes are made from this material. It has high strength and hardness. Contains a small amount of impurities in the composition.
- Jewelry is the most expensive and high quality. The highest grade of jade is processed and included in jewelry. Due to the small amount of impurities, the beauty of the stone increases, but its strength decreases. Therefore, it is not recommended to hit or throw products containing such a mineral.
The cost of jade directly depends on the grade, amount of impurities and processing options.
Features of white jade and its cost
White jade is considered one of the rarest. Its other popular name is “mutton fat” or “lamb lard”. Such stone is mined at the Golyubinsky and Kolarsky deposits. The cost depends on the size and purity of the mineral.
The average market price of white material on the world market per kilogram is from 2500 to 5000 US dollars. The stone may not be pure white, but have a yellowish or greenish tint.
To include a mineral in jewelry, it is carefully checked for cracks and chips. Before processing, it is important to check that the internal cavities do not become open. That is, cracks are allowed in the stone, but only if they are closed.
Average market price of jade per 1 kg
Natural jade of the highest quality is not cheap. At the same time, you should buy jewelry with stones only in jewelry stores and workshops, so as not to end up with a fake.
On average, the price of a product with such a mineral in Russia is from 2000 rubles. A bracelet can be purchased for 600-800 rubles, if it does not include other precious metals.
If you look for the cost of a mineral per 1 kg, you can pay attention to the average market prices:
- white – from $2500;
- bright green without specks with high transparency – from $700;
- sea green stone – from $20;
- honey – from 150 US banknotes;
- marsh or tobacco color – from $20.
It is worth considering these prices when purchasing jewelry with natural jade. If the price of the necklace is lower than the cost of the material, this is a fake.
