Jade is an exquisite example of quality and class. This beautiful oriental stone comes in colors other than the emerald green shade that is most widely-known. It can be found in apple green, spinach green, dark or light lavender, red, black, amber, and white. A bit of jade history: Jade is the most treasured stone in China. The culture there is centered on jade and the Chinese call it, “The Stone of Heaven.” It is also known as “the royal gem” in China. It has been around for at least 7000 years and because of his toughness, it was used for tools and weapons in ancient history as well as today. In prehistoric times, it was valued even more than gold. In ancient Egypt, jade was considered to be the stone of inner peace, love, harmony and balance. Lotus jade and Burma jade are just two kinds of jade that can be found in stores. Jade in today’s world: Today, jade can be found in Burma, California, Japan, Russia, Hawaii, and Switzerland. When choosing quality jade bracelets, keep in mind that the more translucent the stone, the higher quality it is. Most jewelers have little or no knowledge about true jade so it is best to go to a jeweler who specializes in it. This gem is known today to be a symbol of the Confucian virtues of wisdom, modesty, compassion and courage. Jade styles and designs: The stone is usually hand cut and polished before it is fashioned into a bracelet. Many times, jade bracelets are designed with gold links between each stone that are engraved with the Chinese symbols for “long life”, “health”, “prosperity”, “wealth” and “happiness.” Sometimes, the bracelets have no links but the stone itself is carved into elaborate designs or even just polished smoothly. Some designers create jade bracelets that show the stone dangling from a cord, rather than wrapped around the wrist with gold links or silver studs. The cords have adjustable strings to fit any size wrist. Jade bracelets can be entwined with Swarovski crystals or interspersed with black and white agates, citrine, peridot, or sterling silver. When looking for something special for a little girl’s birthday, daisy studs and dangled hearts mixed with bits of jade on a bracelet will melt her heart! These beautiful bracelets can range in price anywhere between $12 and $750 or so! Elegant choices for classy women!