Women's Prayer Beads, Itoigawa Jade, 7mm Bead, Certificate of Authenticity Included, Limited Edition

Women's Prayer Beads, Itoigawa Jade, 7mm Bead, Certificate of Authenticity Included, Limited Edition

Jadeite is mined in only a handful of locations worldwide, and the variety found in Itoigawa is classified as hard jadeite, prized as the highest quality of its kind – a precious stone designated a Special Natural Monument of Japan. The kanji used for jade originally referred to the male and female kingfisher, chosen for the resemblance between the stone's coloring and the bird's brilliant blue-green plumage; the kingfisher itself has long been poetically described as a 'flying jewel.' Jadeite is generally categorized into hard jade and soft jade, and this rosary is crafted from the hard variety, with a hardness of 6.5–7 and a density noticeably heavier than ordinary stone of the same size. Itoigawa jade is now protected from collection, making genuine pieces increasingly difficult to obtain. While jade is popularly associated with green, its color actually comes from trace amounts of chromium, titanium, or iron; pure jadeite itself is naturally white. For thousands of years, jade has been regarded as a symbol of wealth that wards off misfortune and invites good luck, and is also believed to protect the body from evil spirits – famously worn by powerful historical figures, including Himiko. Among all jadeite, that from Itoigawa in Niigata Prefecture is considered the finest grade, long believed to carry particularly strong spiritual power. This piece is the highest-grade Itoigawa jade offered by our store, accompanied by a certificate of appraisal; the more green patterning present, the higher its value, and this piece features an especially rich display of green. As a limited-edition item, please inquire soon.

Product Specifications

Item Number: 7106202000001
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Itoigawa Jade
Main Beads (Shudama): Approx. 0.31 in (0.8 cm) – Itoigawa Jade
Top Bead (Tendama): Approx. 0.20 in (0.5 cm) – Itoigawa Jade
Includes: Certificate of Authenticity
Limited Edition