Beijing Travel Forum

I'm going to be in Beijing in a few days and read that the best place to purchase true jade was at Gongmei Dasha, Dongcheng. I read to bargain down to a third of the posted price but I have never bought jade before. What is an average price to pay for a jade bracelet or jade pendent necklace? Just a ballpark is all I need so that I know I'm not paying an overpriced amount. Thanks.

If you have no experience with jade chances are you will ended up with a piece of rock or glass (or very bad quality jade). There is no set price for jade, it depends on a huge number of things like where is the jade from, color, age and on ...... My uncle was a jade collector, he spent hours telling me the history behind each of his collection but at the end it was all one ear in other ear out!
Keep the cost low, say no more than RMB 500-1,000 for a bracelet or necklace so if it turn out to be fakes (or poor quality jade) you don't have much to loose.

I can buy those quality verifications and warranties on the street corners as easy as I can buy ID cards, marriage certificates and drivers permits. Just consider you are buying a survenior to remember your China trip and nothing more.

If you don't already know your jade, don't bother looking for "the real thing". Aim to buy something which you like, and pay as if it was fake (soapstone, glass, plastic, whatever) -- it would be a nice bonus if you find out later that it's genuine.

The simplest tests for Jadeite (the harder green jade is to make sure it feels cold to the touch. If you take it away from a heat source it will cool rapidly. Also it is much harder than glass so it should scratch glass if you rub it and not damage the jade at all (I just confirmed this with my jade horse neck pendant). This will at least get you jadeite rather than "new-jade" (Serpentine) or "indian-jade" (Aventurine)which you don't want. Also you should ask whether the jade is from China or Myanmar (Burma) if you don't like supporting Myanmar as the figure I was given is over 10% of jade sold in China is from Myanmar and I suspect it is more.
I would also go further than 30% but don't even start bargaining until you have verified that it is jade and then don't show that you really like one piece. bargain on a few you only like a little and you will get a feel on what is possible from the seller then walk away if there is an opportunity and then when they 'entice' you back go for the throat on the one you want. My girlfriend Anna (who is Chinese) does this brilliantly but she also gets good quality because she is knowledgeable about it and the traders pick up on this I think.
Good hunting and remember that in bargaining you don't feel sorry that you have "won" they will still be making a profit or they won't sell.

Excellent advice Jocelyn, the rule applies to many things I buy in China.

Thanks, I use that rule myself! :)

Jade is not a good stone to make jewellery because of their hardness.Pl refer to mohs hardness scale if u like to know more about it.Basically 2 types of so called 'true' jades namely Jadeite (new jade)or Nephrite (old jade).Beware of ohers!The most precious of all is the Emerald jade (not the Emerald from South America) from myammar which again is the Jadeite.Expect to pay big money! The mine for Neprhite can be very big in certain country like canada and New Zealand.This explain why it cost less.Most of chinese old jewellery is the Nephrite or other stones .Pl appreciate their sculptural and antique jade item rather than jewellery except jadeite .There is no actual market price for jade.This is true for other gems also.Thanks.