There is something so beautiful about this strand of smooth oval Jadeite! According to legend, Jadeite was discovered sometime in the 13th century when a Yunnan trader was traveling through what is now northern Burma and picked up a boulder to help balance the load on his mule. When the boulder broke open, a vivid emerald green material was revealed, captivating the trader and, in turn, the entire Chinese people. Upon the discovery of this mysterious green stone, the Yunnan government sent out fruitless expeditions in the 13th and 14th century in attempt to find the source of this spectacular gem. They would have to wait 500 years until Emperor Qianlong extended China’s jurisdiction into northern Burma in 1784 and the source of the green stone was at last discovered in the mountains. After that, the fine green Jadeite easily found its way to Beijing and the nation’s top jade carvers through the Jade Road. Mined from the mountains, jadeite is found in boulders with a crust that frequently obscures the precious stone within. (Jadeite Ovals, $285/strand) #jadeite #jadeitebeads #jadeitejade #jadeitenecklace #jadeitejewelry #jadeitejunkie #rarejadeite #customjewelry #diyjewelry #classicjewelry #timeless #gift #shop #nyc #unionsquare #beadsofparadise (at Beads of Paradise NYC) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLkBIlYBlYC/?igshid=sfxcqh0binva