Suddenly, a piece of the raw jade broke off and fell, but fortunately, it didn't shatter. I quickly went over, picked it up, and held the chunk—easily weighing over ten kilograms—in my hands. Examining the cut surface, excitement surged within me as I exclaimed, "Wow, this has transformed! Look at this icy texture, the clarity, the translucence—it's absolutely pristine. There's more inside, I can feel it. Damn, it's likely a full piece!"
Wang Gui lit a cigarette, grinning. "Brother Fei, take a look at this. Just a hint of color here…"
Pointing to streaks and patches of color, Wang Gui drew my attention. I grabbed a light and shone it on the cut surface, revealing faint traces of bluish hues. My excitement only grew as I exclaimed, "It's a floating-flower jade with an icy base and spinach-green undertones! Damn, this is a massive win."
This piece of jade, with just one cut, had already tripled its value. The texture had improved significantly; while the color hadn't intensified—spinach-green isn't the most desirable shade—the presence of floating patterns made it a rare gem. Nowadays, floating-flower icy jade with green undertones is incredibly sought after.
So, what is floating-flower jade? It's a type of jadeite with a base that is either colorless or lightly colored, interspersed with thread-like streaks of green or blue. Its aesthetic is delicate and serene, evoking a sense of intimacy and tranquility.
Jade of this caliber is highly coveted. The translucent base, adorned with its unique floating patterns, resembles drifting clouds in the sky or scattered blossoms on a pond. Holding a floating-flower icy jade pendant is to cradle a masterpiece that captivates the soul, leaving one utterly enchanted by its beauty.
As the saying goes, "A single piece of jade, meticulously carved, is worth its weight in gold." These floating-flower jades are indeed treasures.
The quality of the icy texture largely determines its market value. The finer the texture, the higher the price. When combined with superior translucence and vibrant color highlights, its appeal only grows.
I immediately instructed, "Cut from the back. Let's see if we can reveal more colors. If it turns out to be a tri-color floating-flower jade, this piece will fetch no less than sixty million."
Jade can exhibit multiple colors. The most I've ever heard of is five—known as the Five Blessings Jade—and such pieces are astronomically priced. If this piece reveals additional hues, its value could easily multiply tenfold.
Without hesitation, Wang Gui flipped the jade and made another cut from the back. My heart raced with anticipation. If just one more color appeared, we'd have a tri-color jade, and sixty million would be a sure bet.
As the cutting machine buzzed, tension hung in the air. I couldn't help but sweat, feeling the pulse-pounding thrill of stone gambling—never knowing whether a cut will reveal fortune or failure.
This is the essence of stone gambling: the gamble itself is the adrenaline rush.
The sound of the cutting machine filled the room as I watched, hoping the next cut would reveal an additional hue. Floating-flower jade can come in various colors—light green, green, blue—and shapes, from dots to streaks and patches. The market value depends on factors like the placement of the floating patterns, craftsmanship, and overall quality.
The floating-flower patterns in this piece were well-positioned, centered within the material, making it ideal for carving. However, the overall value of floating-flower icy jade ultimately depends on its texture, translucence, and color distribution. This piece excelled in all these aspects, ensuring a high market value.
As the cut deepened, my nerves heightened. Even without additional colors, the existing texture and patterns would already command a premium—possibly surpassing the value of some colorless glassy jades. But if the colors persisted, it would be a monumental gain.
Finally, the jade opened. Wang Gui held up the piece, and I rushed over to inspect the cut. A grin spread across my face. "Look at this!" I exclaimed. "Yellow hues—yellow jade! It's a tri-color floating-flower jade!"
The new cut revealed scattered yellow patches alongside the green and blue, though not as vivid as the others. Still, the addition of yellow instantly doubled the value.
Qian Guang, visibly excited, came over to examine the piece. I pointed to the cut and explained, "See here? The dominant green, with blue and yellow accents. The back portion of this piece is now tri-colored. If we can carve out a hundred kilograms from this, it'll fetch at least forty million. If there's more, the value will only soar. The remaining portion, though dual-colored, still has a base price of twenty million. We've struck gold."
Qian Guang patted my shoulder, smiling. "Well done."
I chuckled. "Wang Gui, organize the material and separate the tri-colored portions."
Wang Gui nodded, biting down on his cigarette as he began the meticulous process. His precise cutting revealed that over half the jade was tri-colored. This piece had turned out to be an extraordinary find from an old mine.
Although it couldn't yield bangles—a pity, since tri-color floating-flower bangles are rare and command sky-high prices—the material's overall quality more than compensated.
As the cutting continued, another portion revealed a concentrated yellow hue. Although the tri-colored streaks stopped short, the cutting precision minimized the loss. Wang Gui had done an impeccable job.
"You've got real skill," I remarked, patting his shoulder.
"Just get me a hefty bonus," Wang Gui grinned.
"Consider it done," I replied with a laugh.
Qian Guang lit a cigarette, asking, "So, what's the plan for the material?"
"It's premium quality—over a hundred kilograms of tri-color and another hundred-plus kilograms of dual-color. This haul alone guarantees a profit of over sixty million," I replied confidently.
Qian Guang hesitated, adding, "We can't let Boss Wei know. He's already annoyed with us after the last venture. If he finds out, we might face trouble in Myanmar."
I reassured him, proposing we sell to Miss Ma, who owns a jade store. Not only would this secure confidentiality, but it would also earn favor with her family.
With a plan in place, we loaded the jade and prepared to negotiate the sale. As the car rolled away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. This was the thrill of stone gambling—the highs, the risks, and the staggering rewards.