Hong Kong Travels: Shopping at Jade Market

On this third visit to the Jade Market, we all became a little bit more of an expert. Laureen, Richard and I had shopped there previously with Teresa who was an expert of jade and the place. This time Ben, David and Mandy joined us.

The Jade Market is an easy place to get overwhelmed. There are lots of things to look at and, like most places in Hong Kong, there are lots of people vying for your attention. It's best to start by taking a look around the place and see if there is a certain style that catches your eye, and then hone in on those vendors that have what you're looking for. You'll be able to find jades of all sizes, pearl necklaces, copper statuettes, and various other trinkets. Most people come here for jade and pearls.

Pearls are a little bit easier to shop for since you just need to decide on the quality of the pearl you are looking for. You'll be able to find the gammet of qualities here from HK$100 (US$12.8) to HK$2000 (US$256) for a pearl necklace. Once you've looked at a few, you'll know the difference. First, to identify the real ones, you can rub them against each other and feel that there's some friction. Then, you take note of how round and flawless they are in terms of marks. Lastly, you can then look at shine and color.

Jade is a bit harder. There are lots of variations and you can find really cheap ones for HK$5-10, or around US$1.00 and got up to really expensive pieces for HK$30,000 (US$ 3846) or more for a small piece. For jade, you'll have to see what you like and look for translucency in the stone when put up against light. You will be able to see the natural veins of the stone in the light. After that, I'm still not expert enough to figure out why some are far more expensive than others. The most important part is to find a piece that you like for what you are looking for.

Also note that there are two sections, the larger one has better quality items. The picture to the left shows the entrance to the smaller of the two sections. There are a few booths I would recommend and those include #342 and #341 for jade.

Last but not least, do not forget to bargain. The key to bargaining is to have a number in mind and be prepared to walk away. Even if you don't manage to buy the piece you want, you'll at least know what their bottom price is and come back later to get it. My secret is always to be stern, firm but still be nice.

Good luck shopping for all those who gets a chance!