Hand carved out of a single piece of natural bicolor jade the artist has carved the raised monkey to emphasize the design using the two colors of the one piece of jade. The background is the orange jade while the monkey has been carved out of the very pale green jade of the piece. The back of the jade is orange with a design. I have beaded this piece with carved round flat carnelian dragon beads with the longevity symbol on the bead. I have used small quartz beads in between to tie into the color of the carved dragon. The pendant is 2" long by 1 1/4" wide. The necklace is 18 1/2" around and is finished with a 18k gold vermeil hook clasp.

The monkey is believed to drive away evil spirits. The monkey, an emblem of trickery, is believed to bring health, protection and success on mankind. He is a symbol of the immortality of the human spirit despite suffering and moral relapse. He is known for his sense of humor and the one who gets away with everything. The monkey is often seen holding a peach, which it stole from the garden of Xi-wang-mu. This is the year to wear a monkey pendant to protect you from unexpected negative energy. This is especially true if you were born in a year of the snake.

Chinese royalty has worn jade for centuries. It is believed to be a spiritual stone and has been called the jewel of heaven. It represents the five principal virtues: charity, modesty, courage, justice and wisdom. From cloudy white to golden brown, light to dark green, to rare lavender, jade is the most highly prized Asian gemstone. Jade has been regarded as the most precious stone for thousands of years. It is believed to protect the wearer and ensure good luck and good health as well as to increase life span.

At one time only nobility owned carnelian and many times they were buried with this stone. The most highly prized carnelian is a deep red to red-orange color.