omphacite jade, a member of fei cui, is the top-of-the-range species of black jades. With evenly-distributed black shade on the surface, the rarest omphacite jade boasts bright and translucent green lustre when illuminated. It is mostly cut into cabochons or squares set in 18-karat yellow, white or rose gold as pendants or rings. Considered a subtle expression of richness, omphacite jade was foreign to the jewellery market until 2003 when making its debut in Hong Kong. Several years later it was introduced to the Mainland. Lun Kei Cheung, owner of Cheung Shun Jade Company, is the person who brought
Burmese omphacite jade to Hong Kong. Burmese omphacite jade is rare. Lun Kei Cheung said: “At Myanmar's annual jade and gems sales, omphacite jade accounts for one in a thousand lots of jade stones in which only one hundredth are of the top range.” Gambling on omphacite jade is highly risky, with six in 10 games losing, he added. Even if you view through the small window cut into the skin of the boulder, you may only see the black colour. Therefore, it is truly difficult to get an idea of the actual quality of the stone. To reduce risks, he would only buy boulders that are cut open.
The fifth generation of a jade-dealing family with over a hundred years in the trade, Lun Kei Cheung strived to do something different when he noticed green jade was literally everywhere in the industry. In 2003, a friend of his showed him a piece of jade from Myanmar which looked black in colour and emitted hints of vivid and transparent green in the light. He reckoned it was something worth engaging in and decided to take the lead in promoting Burmese omphacite jade.
He said: “At that time nobody, not even the trade people, understood omphacite jade. It took my business two to three years to turn the corner.” After exhibiting with the ‘Fei Cui Gallery’ organised by the Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association (HKJJA), omphacite jade has gradually become more accepted by buyers who know very well that the ‘Fei Cui Gallery’ is where quality omphacite jade is available.
Supply of omphacite jade is scarce, even scarcer than icy jade. According to Lun, high-end Burmese omphacite jade is currently sold for over a million yuan per kilogram, several times the price in the past which was around 200,000 to 300,000 yuan. “Top-quality omphacite jade bangles are extremely sought-after. Compared to 200,000 yuan per piece eight or nine years back, it might not find a seller now for less than a million yuan,” he said.
For an effective quality control, Cheung Shun Jade engages in a vertically-integrated business from material sourcing to retailing. Besides operating a jade processing factory in Yantian, Shenzhen, and a jewellery making plant in Pingzhou, Foshan, the company also runs two shops in Hong Kong and Shenzhen selling high-end omphacite jade jewellery.
He pointed out that few years back a kind of black jade from Guatemala caused disturbance to the fei cui industry when the black jade was mistaken as Burmese omphacite jade. “Guatemalan black jade is inferior to Burmese omphacite jade both in terms of quality and value. It is just another kind of jade.” He encourages consumers to buy from reliable suppliers. “As an HKJJA member as well as a ‘Fei Cui Gallery’ exhibitor, we are committed to dealing in quality natural fei cui,” he added.
Facing the challenges brought by the lacklustre global economy, slow economic growth in the Mainland and her on-going anti-corruption campaign, the luxury goods industry is under great pressure; Hong Kong’s jewellery industry is no exception. Lun Kei Cheung says the trade needs to work even harder at time of economic downturn. His company will maintain the presence at ‘Fei Cui Gallery’, and serve the market with good reputation and specialised products.
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