From Slab to Circle: Why Oversized Jadeite Bangle Costs More
Ever wondered why oversized jadeite bangles come with a heftier price tag? Let’s trace the journey from raw jadeite slab to finished circle and uncover the key reasons behind their higher cost.
1.The process of shaping a jadeite bangle from a slab
From rough stone to finished product, jadeite bangles undergo a series of sophisticated processing procedures. Each step is crucial, directly influencing the quality and value of the final piece. Below is the detailed processing flow:
Step 1: Material Selection
Jadeite rough stones are usually covered with weathered crust. Experienced craftsmen need to select materials suitable for making bangles by checking with a light, inspecting cracks, color distribution, texture, and transparency. High-quality jadeite rough requires uniform color, fine texture, good transparency, and no obvious cracks.
Step 2: Slicing (Material Cutting)
After gaining a preliminary understanding of the rough stone, slicing can begin. Use a diamond wire saw or large cutting machine to cut the rough into thin slabs, known as "jadeite slabs." During slicing, avoid cracks and impurities, and maximize the retention of the area with the best color.
Step 3: Bangle Marking
After slicing, craftsmen will accurately plan and mark the bangle positions on the jadeite slabs based on their actual conditions. Normally, the 55-58mm golden size is the preferred choice. However, to ensure each bangle incorporates as much color as possible, while adapting to the slab’s texture, transparency, crack distribution and other factors, the size and shape of the bangle (such as round bangle, oval bangle) will be flexibly adjusted.Bangle marking is an extremely rigorous process. It not only requires ensuring no flaws or lines within the marked bangle area but also, for flower-patterned jadeite, precisely aligning the patterns to present them completely on the bracelet surface. A slight oversight can lead to a world of difference in the finished product’s value.
This step aims to maximize the utilization of the slab while prioritizing appearance and value. Bangles with green only concentrated on one side or the back differ vastly in price from those with evenly distributed green. Even if there are only a few scattered green spots on a white base, as long as they are evenly distributed, the value will increase significantly. This is exactly the key meaning of "uniformity" in jade’s core quality criteria" richness, purity, vibrancy, uniformity" striving for the green to spread evenly across the bangle.
Step 4: Bangle Blanking (Extracting the Rough Bangle)
Next, use a ring-cutting machine to drill out the outer and inner circles on the slab according to the pre-marked lines, using a drill bit corresponding to the desired size to form the rough bangle blank. The extracted bangle core (the inner circle portion) can be repurposed to make pendants, ring settings, and other jewelry pieces. During the ring-cutting process, it’s crucial to keep the area hydrated with water without proper cooling, the jadeite is prone to cracking.
Step 5: Grinding and Polishing
First, smooth the edges and corners of the rough bangle blank to give it an initial rounded shape. Adjust the curvature of the bangle’s edges for comfortable wear, then further grind both the inner and outer circles to refine its shape into a more regular form.
Finally, perform rough polishing and fine polishing using abrasive wheels and sandpapers of different grit sizes until the bangle surface becomes smooth. Some high-end bangles undergo hand polishing to enhance their luster. After polishing, the jadeite’s texture, transparency, and color will be more vividly displayed.
2.Golden Size 55-58mm: Why It Rules the Asian Market
Why does the 55-58mm "golden size" dominate the Asian jadeite bangle market? Let’s break down the core reasons behind its unshakable popularity.
The popularity of the golden size 55-58mm lies in its precise fit to Asians’ typically slim wrists with soft bone lines. It hugs the wrist without slipping or constricting, leaving ample room for movement. It avoids frequent bumps from being too large or blood circulation compression from being too small, fits the wrist curve to reduce friction, and feels comfortable even for long-term wear.
Tranquil Mint Lavender · Nature Burmese Jadeite Bangle (57mm)
In the jadeite bangle market, the 55-58mm size boasts far higher liquidity than any other. For one, it caters to the wearing needs of most Asian women and some men, boasting the largest audience base and stable supply-demand dynamics. Whether for second-hand resale or pawnbroking, it can quickly find buyers without prolonged idleness. For another, jadeite bangles of this golden size are easier to achieve "selecting the best from the finest" in material selection and craftsmanship merchants don’t need to compromise on material quality to adapt to special sizes, and can more accurately choose slabs with excellent texture, color, and minimal flaws, resulting in overall superior finished products. Since the core of jadeite’s value retention lies precisely in material quality and market recognition, the golden size bangles offer stronger value stability. They can maintain good market value even after long-term ownership, and may even appreciate during periods of raw material price increases.
Ethereal White Lavender Elegance · Nature Burmese Jadeite Bangle (56mm)
The 55-58mm size has become the "golden size" as a consensus forged through long-term alignment between the industry and consumer preferences. For merchants, it perfectly fits the natural properties of jadeite slabs, maximizing material utilization, reducing waste and craftsmanship complexity making it the optimal choice. For consumers, it balances aesthetics and practicality, complementing various styles. With the deeply rooted perception that "golden size = quality choice," it’s a safe bet for personal wear or gifting, solidifying its dominant position.
Ink Landscape · Jadeite Bangle with Floating Green (57mm)
3.Breaking Boundaries: Oversized Jadeite Bangles Crafted Exclusively for Western Wrists
The choice of jadeite bangle size hides a interplay between market rules and consumer demand. Why are oversized jadeite bangles scarce, high-priced yet low-valued when recycled?
First, the standard inner diameter range for jadeite bangles is 50-60mm. The 55-58mm size is known as the "golden size," while sizes below 55mm are considered small, and those above 58mm are classified as large. Bangles over 60mm are relatively scarce in the market.
Ink Serenity · Jadeite Peace Bangle with Floating Green (61mm)
Second, large-size jadeite bangles (over 60mm) typically command a higher price than golden-size bangles cut from the same raw material. The reasons are straightforward: scarcity drives value they are expensive simply because they are rare. Additionally, the raw material cost per piece is higher. A single jadeite slab can yield 20 golden-size bangles, but only 15 large-size ones (over 60mm). Higher per-unit costs naturally translate to higher retail prices.
Midnight Depth · Guatemalan Blue Jadeite Bangle (60mm)
Finally, large-size bangles (over 60mm) fetch a lower price than golden-size bangles from the same material when recycled or resold. The practical reason is that large-size bangles sell slower than golden-size ones, leading to slower inventory turnover for merchants. To account for time costs, buyers offer lower prices for large-size bangles during recycling compared to golden-size ones.
Spring Harmony · Tricolor Jadeite Peace Bangle (62mm)
However, as a source supply chain for jadeite bangles deeply rooted in the Western market, we break away from the industry’s inherent layout centered on Asian sizes. Our core positioning directly targets the exclusive needs of Western consumers, focusing on crafting large-size bangles tailored to their body types and currently, we are the only brand in the market that precisely meets the core demands of the Western market.