Looking to purchase antique art deco jade pendant

[Seastheday]

@toomuchB and @Pomelo thanks! I had a feeling the auction route is how I ought to go, to broaden my selection. Likely it will involve some gambling in getting a piece without a report and then sending in to Mason Kay to see if I was lucky again (like with the untreated jade earrings I bought from an auction site earlier this year, from a tip from another PS member-thank you again @HockeyMama, so grateful to you!). For this level of risk though I’d prob not want to buy at the upper limit of my budget. I would prob want to cap at $5000(??) so that in case I happen to buy a pendant that is treated jade, I may still not be too unhappy with the money I spent if I like the overall look.

Folks, let me know if you have any auction leads on antique jade pendants/brooches that fit the bill!

 

[Pomelo]

@toomuchB and @Pomelo thanks! I had a feeling the auction route is how I ought to go, to broaden my selection. Likely it will involve some gambling in getting a piece without a report and then sending in to Mason Kay to see if I was lucky again (like with the untreated jade earrings I bought from an auction site earlier this year, from a tip from another PS member-thank you again @HockeyMama, so grateful to you!). For this level of risk though I’d prob not want to buy at the upper limit of my budget. I would prob want to cap at $5000(??) so that in case I happen to buy a pendant that is treated jade, I may still not be too unhappy with the money I spent if I like the overall look.

Folks, let me know if you have any auction leads on antique jade pendants/brooches that fit the bill!

The big auction houses (Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonham's) usually sell jadeite pieces with certs (I posted a screenshot of the certs previously), so you don't need to send them to Mason Kay unless you really want to double-check. Personally, I would rely on the reputation of these auction houses to not sell fake jadeite but everyone has different risk tolerance and mind-cleanliness levels!

 

[Seastheday]

Ok team, how’s this one look, $5500, untreated, 1.7 cm:

1) I personally like the dappled effect but curious what others think: too uneven?
2) Translucency looks good to me: @Crimson would this be glassy according to your guide? Or frosted glass lol
3) Too big or ok for daily wear? @LilAlex aka my style consultant: Is the setting too blingy? I almost never wear yellow gold—I feel like it pops on me too much
4) per seller it’s mid century which I like—@mellowyellowgirl and @Pomelo thoughts on style/date? To me 20k high carat gold setting is suggestive of Macau/Hong Kong jewelry from that time from what little I know from looking online



Link to video:

Vintage Carved Jade Pendant 20k - Etsy

This Pendant Necklaces item is sold by GemGardener. Ships from Singapore. Listed on May 12, 2025

www.etsy.com

 

[LilAlex]

Thinking fast (as the late Daniel K would say): I like it -- for all the reasons you list. No way is that too big or too blingy, imo. The bale is lovely. It is mottled but, well, charmingly so, and the green is vivid and the translucency looks very good. I do not know this seller (did not click but I do not know any Etsy seller) and I did not know how reputable the report is since I did not see it. In my mind, it's potentially a better value than the Art Nouveau-y one. I don't know what it "is" (the carving, that is) but that has never stopped me, as you all know!

 

[Seastheday]

Thinking fast (as the late Daniel K would say): I like it -- for all the reasons you list. No way is that too big or too blingy, imo. The bale is lovely. It is mottled but, well, charmingly so, and the green is vivid and the translucency looks very good. I do not know this seller (did not click but I do not know any Etsy seller) and I did not know how reputable the report is since I did not see it. In my mind, it's potentially a better value than the Art Nouveau-y one. I don't know what it "is" (the carving, that is) but that has never stopped me, as you all know!

Thanks so much! The seller is Gem Gardener who is a quite reputable old Singapore vendor from what I can gather. I confirmed his pieces come with lab reports from Nanyang lab.

My thoughts exactly—this feels more wearable than the rat/fox, but as the late Daniel K says, I want to make sure I was not being overconfident in my opinion haha.

My only hesitation is size. 1.7 inches is a pretty big rock around the neck. I had hoped for something closer to 1 inch. A dab of green color at the throat like a prismatic perfume, not a big green glob lol. But I’m undecided, I may be wrong about suitable size. I’ve heard of diamond and pearl shrinkage syndrome, not sure if the same applies to jade…

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Looks great and even better with a Nanyang Certificate. Everyone will have a different tolerance as to what labs they find acceptable. For example my go to is Lotus for CS (not Jadeite, I’m ok with the Hong Kong lab) and I’ve had the opportunity to send stuff to GRS but I can’t be bothered with the waiting times.

I own an unheated sapphire with a Nanyang cert so very comfortable with it personally if I’m buying from Singapore.

I really like the bright green spots but again this is very subjective.

Re size: Nothing is ever too small for me so I’m the wrong girl for this. I think it would be awesome on a 45cm chain on a plain background top (another reason why I can’t do jadeite pendants as I rarely wear plain colour clothes).

 

[Crimson]

Thanks so much! The seller is Gem Gardener who is a quite reputable old Singapore vendor from what I can gather. I confirmed his pieces come with lab reports from Nanyang lab.

My thoughts exactly—this feels more wearable than the rat/fox, but as the late Daniel K says, I want to make sure I was not being overconfident in my opinion haha.

My only hesitation is size. 1.7 inches is a pretty big rock around the neck. I had hoped for something closer to 1 inch. A dab of green color at the throat like a prismatic perfume, not a big green glob lol. But I’m undecided, I may be wrong about suitable size. I’ve heard of diamond and pearl shrinkage syndrome, not sure if the same applies to jade…

Glad you checked out Gem Gardener.
Not too big at all!
It is worth buying for the period and type it represents - the Straits Chinese were born in SE Asia, descendants of the Ming voyagers. They intermarried with locals and became fluent in English, Chinese and Malay. They developed their own aesthetic, a blend of East and West. Their jewellery was often made in 20K gold or higher. They favoured large and lavish jewellery, with some gold and diamond brooches measuring 4 inches or larger.
This pendant has nice mottling. It has been sliced quite thin so it appears translucent; however, the material really isn’t. But that also means it won’t be as heavy as it looks. The white patches also add to the impression of translucence. The green mottling is quite pleasing. Nothing to complain about at that price!
Nan Yang is Singapore’s best gem lab. The owner Mr Zeng is very strict, even more exacting than AIGS and GRS especially on descriptors like cornflower blue or vivid red. He is known for his rigor and ethics. You can trust a Nan Yang cert.

 

[Seastheday]

Wow, thank you so much @mellowyellowgirl and @Crimson!!! Between the two of you, you could teach a weeks (months?!) long course in jadeite! (I would sign up happily for it!)

It is so, so helpful to learn all the finer points of jade buying. I would have never known to consider the Straits history nor the thickness of the piece contributing to its translucency appearance. I could hug you both!