Let you know the process of jade

“If you don’t learn when you are young, what will you do when you grow old? If jade is not carved, it cannot become a useful object” - taken from “Three Character Classic”; everyone knows that a good piece of jade needs a long period of processing time to be transformed from a rough stone into a work of art! The processing master polishes the jadeite raw stone through different processes and tools, and only then are the priceless jadeite handicrafts produced!

Material selection

This is the key beginning. Jadeite jade materials generally have skin. It is the only jade in the world with skin, so it is also called gambling stone or gambling goods, which is something that other jades do not have. So, the primary consideration in material selection is the processing purpose, to make ornaments? Device? bracelet? Pendant? Rings or ring faces, etc. The characteristics of raw materials are closely related to the processing purpose. If the selection is poor, not only will the raw materials be wasted, but the processing will also result in a loss.

Cutting

This is also the first step. Some people are eager to gamble on the stone and usually cut it with one cut. Not only may the jade be cut off (because good jade is usually thinner), but it may also fail to make an overall carved artwork, thus losing its original value. Usually the general procedure is to wipe the skin first to look at the surface characteristics of the jade, such as the direction of the emerald color, the development and direction of cracks, the tones of jadeite and purple, the distribution of black, the analysis and estimation of the changes in the water quality inside and outside, and the appearance of the original stone. Secondly, it is determined based on the overall condition of the original stone and its possible processing purposes. Then, decide whether to use the entire raw material for carving or cut it into pieces.

Cutting

01. Small items

Cut into sizes with different usage specifications in steps, and change the processing purpose of the unusable or non-compliant sheets to make the best use of them.

02. Ornaments

Cut into rough pieces according to design style requirements.

engraving

01. Rolling

Use a fine rolling mill to carve out shapes of figures, animals, landscapes, flowers, etc. Such as faces, animal bodies, roots, stems and leaves of trees and flowers.

02. Hook

Use a hook or various shaped nails to draw out fine patterns, such as human hair, beard, phoenix hair, animal hair, scales and plant leaf patterns.

03. Collect light

Usually large and powerful factories are equipped with this process, using special tools and materials to smooth out the excess marks and sand holes from the previous carving process, laying a good foundation for the next grinding and polishing process.

Grinding and polishing process

Polishing

(▲ Jade polishing sample picture)

1. Manual grinding : It is semi-mechanized. Manual grinding uses various diamond grinding wheels according to the grinder, from coarse grinding to fine grinding, and from fine grinding to matte finishing.

2. Machine grinding : It is fully mechanized, using a vibration machine to use corundum to complete the processes from coarse grinding to fine grinding and precision grinding. Usually it takes 3 to 4 days to polish a small round-carved jade piece.

polishing

(▲ Jade polishing sample picture)

1. Manual polishing : Manual polishing with a polishing machine, using various polishing tools and polishing materials to cast a bright light.

2. Machine polishing : Vibrating machine plus polishing materials. Usually, it takes 2 to 3 days to complete a small round carved jade piece. Manual grinding and polishing usually takes longer and is more expensive than automatic machine grinding and polishing, but the effect is better and it preserves the three-dimensional and carved style of the carved patterns.

Decoration (packaging)

(▲ Sample image of jade packaging)

1. Decoration of ornaments : The base is the most critical decoration of ornaments. There are many materials and styles for the base of ornaments. A good match can improve the artistic value.

2. Packaging : It is the last link. A beautiful jade product needs good packaging, which includes inner packaging and outer packaging. The matching packaging can not only have the effect of decoration and beautification, but also the functions of protection and transportation.

The reason why good jade is so expensive is that it goes through so many processes from mining to art, and each process consumes the sweat and time of the processing masters, so you get what you pay for! The hard work and sweat of thousands of processing masters have resulted in each piece of dazzling jade art!

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