AZOO GIFTS

Fake Jade
When shopping for expensive jade articles, be wary, and perhaps take the article to a credible gemologist before buying a piece.

These days, fake jade articles can be easily produced from hard plastic, glass, or various kinds of minerals, such as quartz or serpentine. Many mineral species look like nephrite and jadeite.

Jade may also be chemically modified, which makes it worth less than natural jade. Determining whether an article is made of true nephrite or jadeite takes some training and gemologist equipment.

Magatama
Magatama have long held deep spiritual meaning. The curved shape represents growth of a fetus, movement of the universe, the human soul. Magatama are comma-shaped beads which were made during the late Jomon period through the Kofun period, 1000 BCE to 600 CE. They were made of various stones and used as pendants and necklaces. By the end of the Kofun period they were mostly made of jade and used for ceremonial and religious purposes. They still possess a high symbolic value.