Hetian Nephrite Jade Bangle Pair

A pair of Very Fine nephrite jade bangles with an internal diameter of 55mm.

The jade is near white and considered highly translucent.

For nephrite to approximate icy jadeite is one semblance of its quality.

For translucent nephrite to also be oily is another semblance of its quality.

In reality these two qualities are actually very hard attributes to fulfil, to qualify as very few occurrences in jade or jadeite, hence highly collectible.

Add to this qualification is the question of origin: the provenance of Nephrite jade, specifically Hetian jade, is very contentious.

To avoid debate, most global gemmology reports would only conclude as to its material (白玉) but not its provenance.

Those having experience handling nephrite over a long period will recognise the provenance of this pair.

Very possibly, the pair belong to one of the finest nephrite jewelry to come onto the free market (outside auction); this has been quietly collected.

Specification:

The cylindrical bangle is all round, with a 12mm thickness and height.

The semi-cylindrical bangle is D-shaped (though rounder than most D bangles), with a 10mm thickness and 14mm height.

Both bangles were collected many years ago, then cut many more years before.

Older bangles, being Old School, tend to have a thick depth-to-width ratio. Modern or more recent jade bangles tend to be cut ‘slimmer’, whether all round or semi.

Both bangles are near white, translucent, and oily, in person.

Nephrite could be very white (whiteness is not as uncommon as believed), but 羊脂白玉 (mutton fat nephrite jade) is not common at all (and a rarer occurrence than believed).

Without going into length, mutton fat nephrite can be perceived as a subtle perfection in a definitive material.

Provenance aside, material as observed in this bangle will never get carved, being one uniform color and consistent translucency. This forms its dearness.

While jadeite is royal, nephrite is poetic; the knowledge of jadeite is ascension, the knowledge of nephrite is horizon.

Quite simply, preference for jade or jadeite can only be resolved soulward.

The single all round bangle is for sale here.