A solid eighteen carat yellow gold chain featuring a jade and diamond set pendant.  This is a beautiful piece of jewellery.  The piece consists of a long high carat eighteen carat gold beautiful foxtail link chain with a stunning hand made pendant that is set with a series of round cut diamonds in the bale and a center round cut diamond.  All of which is surrounded by a stunning piece of rich apple green jade.

Jade has been cherished for millennia. This enigmatic stone has captivated the human imagination since the dawn of civilization. Its pure, enduring essence has long inspired the wearer's highest spiritual aspirations, while its sensuous, luxurious allure satisfies our most earthly cravings.

From the smoke-dimmed caves and huts of prehistoric humans to the royal courts of ancient China and Europe, jade has held an exalted place. Stone Age artisans shaped this toughest of minerals into weapons, tools, ornaments, and ritual objects - carvings that invoked the mystical forces of heaven, earth, life, and death.

Even today, the rich heritage and timeless beauty of jade continue to enchant. Asian consumers have never lost their fascination, and now, non-Asian buyers are drawn to its durability and rarity like never before. All are captivated by jade's unique blend of the spiritual and the sensual, the eternal and the earthly.

The ancient relationship between humanity and this gemstone persisted into modern times among native societies in New Zealand and parts of North America. In China, this artistic tradition flourished for over 3,000 years.

In Central America, the Mayans and Aztecs highly prized jadeite jade. They utilized it for medicinal purposes, as well as in the creation of jewelry, ornaments, and religious artifacts. The name "jade" derives from the Spanish phrase "piedra de ijada," meaning "stone of the pain in the side." Early Spanish explorers coined this term after observing natives holding pieces of the stone to their sides to cure or alleviate various aches and pains. Jadeite also symbolized prosperity, success, and good fortune.

It was in China, where the gem-carving tradition was already millennia old, that jadeite reached its pinnacle as an important artistic medium. Jadeite first arrived in China from Burma (now Myanmar) in the late 1700s, and late 18th and early 19th century carvers there produced masterpieces unsurpassed in concept, design, and technical execution.

The Chinese associate jade with clarity of mind and purity of spirit. This shape is an example of the ancient symbolic motifs - Bi (flat circular disk with a hole in the center) - for heaven.

The piece is in perfect condition.  It is hallmarked for "750" gold at the top of the loop attaching it to the chain.  The back of the jade disc is also stmaped "750".  The total chain length is twenty six inches long.  The pendant itself is quite a gorgeous and failry subtle size itself at 3/4 of an inch long to the top of the bale and over half an inch across in diameter.

An eye catching piece of period jewellery, expertly made and presented in superb condition.  Made in America, circa 20th century.