Fine Nephrite Jade Necklace

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Fine Nephrite Jade Necklace

About the Item

40 luminous and translucent deep forest green nephrite jade beads are simply —perfectly— presented in this stunning 18" necklace. The beads measure approximately 10mm in diameter each and were individually hand-carved and hand-polished prior to the mid-1950s when China became largely industrialized. The polish on these exquisite nephrite jade beads is an older polish but not a nineteenth-century polish. The beads most likely date to the 1930s, which happens to be when the silver clasp was created as well. The clasp features gentle waves in raised relief above a hand-textured background. The tongue of the clasp has an ingenious 90-degree bend at the tip: should the clasp ever fail, this lip of metal will catch on the clasp and prevent the necklace from falling. The beads were recently re-strung exactly as they were: on silk with double knots hand-tied between each bead. Of the two varieties of jade —nephrite and jadeite— nephrite has been in use as both a too, and a jewel fort much longer, but it is Jadeite which has become the more valuable of the two jades. Jadeite tends to be more translucent and its colors more varied and more exotic. However, the finest nephrite can rival the finest jade any day of the week. The color, translucency, evenness of tone, and elegant old polish of these beads is simply peerless. The jadeite equivalent of this green would be a deep imperial green, the color of Colombian emerald seen in shadow. But this green is more of a deep pine green; a less "energetic" green. It is dignified, poised, and impressive. The beads are satisfyingly heavy, weighing 64 grams. That's quite a lot for an 18" necklace. But these are large beads —10mm— and the texture is dense and fine. This necklace looks juicy in the sun and so glossy and seductive in the shadows. The beads have been waxed and polished. Wax is a traditional polish for old jade beads. But it's not permanent. Which is fine: you can wax them yourself using a tiny amount of English preservationist wax, which you can research online. Or you can use beeswax and the heat from your fingers to distribute the wax over the beads, polishing them with a soft cloth when you're done. Yes, this does take hours. Yes, that is the point. You can also spray some Pledge on a rag and give them a wipe if you like. But I prefer old school. It's something soothing to do with your hands. Elegant, timeless and classic. This is a fine nephrite jade necklace you can wear every day. Clasp marked 925.

Stone:
Jade
Stone Cut:
Bead
Weight:
64 g
Dimensions:
Length: 18 in (457.2 mm)
Style:
Art Deco
Place of Origin:
Unknown
Period:
1930-1939
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1930s
Condition:
Replacements made: Freshly restrung on black silk, just like the original.
Seller Location:
Southbury, CT
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1589110101002