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Taiwan imports most of the natural precious and semiprecious stones made into
jewelry here, and great care must be exercised when contemplating purchases
of such items. Taiwan is a leading manufacturer and exporter of high quality cubic
zirconia and other man-made "precious" and "semiprecious" stones. Taiwan has
vast resources of both jade and coral, and these semiprecious items are a real
bargain. For all jewelry, major purchases should be made only from a reputable
jeweler able to provide a certificate of guarantee.
For thousands of years the Chinese have had a special attachment to jade which
was a symbol of authority and rank. The Chinese also traditionally believed that
jade could protect against evil and bring good fortune. The price of jade is
determined by both quality and color. As with gold, which is "real" only if it is
24K, Chinese consider the light green Burmese jade to be "ral", while all other
types, including Taiwan's indignous dark green nephrite (which is a type of
genuine jade), are "fake". Real jade is cool to the touch and, though sometimes
translucent, it is never transparent.
Everything from simple jade and jade like pendants to intricate carvings and
sculptrues can be found at roadside stalls, large shops, and special jade markets
in major cities. In Taipei, inexpensive curios can be found in the Dinghao area,
on Chungshan N. Rd., and in Hsimenting, as well as at the large Holiday Jade
Market, open every Saturday and Sunday under the overpass at Chienkuo N. Rd.
and Jenai Rd., Sec. 3, More intricate or delicate jade items such as carved dragons,
can be purchased at the Chinese Handicraft Mart, hotel shopping arcades, department
stores, and jewelry stores.
Makung, in Penghu, is noted for its coral souvenirs, seashells, and agate jewelry.
Hualien has bargains on souvenirs, jewelry, and handicrafts made of marble or jade.
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