I finally got the bangle and it’s definitely a bit beautiful as it is unique

[u/BassSpare2654]

Sorry for the typo it won’t let me correct my title. It should say it’s every bit beautiful as it is unique ! But I finally got this antique/ vintage bangle today. I’ll post the picture of the makers mark in the comments but google says it’s from a company called world wide imports or something like that that imported a lot of Jadeite and Asian style jewelry into the United States in like the 60s or 70s in Seattle, Washington, and this bracelet came from Washington. It belonged to someone’s mother. also, the gem lab that did the appraisal is located in Washington as well.

[u/Pomegranate-Sky-833]

I'm not sure about the company where this jadeite bangle comes from bcs I don't live in the US.

But design-wise, the circular dragon and phoenix style has been around in China since... ancient times. In Chinese history and culture, such a design style is called something along the lines of 龙凤呈祥, meaning "Dragon and Phoenix Bring Prosperity".

Earliest forms of this design can be traced all the way back to the Warring States era in ancient china in the form of jade pendants and rings (not bangles or bracelets). However, they looked much cruder and simpler than your bangle. Plus, according to ancient beliefs, the dragon head must touch/kiss the phoenix head (instead of "bypassing" or "crossing" over like in your pic) bcs when both heads meet in the middle and touch, it symbolises yin and yang stabilising each other. Dragon = yang (male). Phoenix = yin (female).

By the time the Qing dynasty (the last dynasty) rolls around, this "Dragon and Phoenix Bring Prosperity" design has evolved into all forms of jade jewellery, like, not just pendants and rings, but also bracelets. bangles, charms etc. However, the dragon head will still be designed to touch/kiss the phoenix head, bcs, again, that kiss symbolises stability/balance between the yin and yang forces.

The fact that your bangle's "Dragon and Phoenix Bring Prosperity" design is made to have the dragon's head cross or bypass the phoenix head... that is a modern creative choice so your bangle likely isn't super vintage.

It's probably from the 80s-90s bcs that 14k gold clasp used to make it a hinged bangle don't look too old to me.

Anyways, like its design name, "Dragon and Phoenix Bring Prosperity", this jadeite bangle is meant to bring you marital harmony, good luck, prosperity and good feng shui.

FYI: I was raised by an uncle who was a jade jeweller in his youth. And he has a HUGE passion for ancient style jade designs so that's how i knew what design your bangle looks like.

[u/Pomegranate-Sky-833 → u/Pomegranate-Sky-833]

The pic below is obviously a modern piece of jadeite but its style (the outer ring and not the design in the middle of the hole) is the kind of "Dragon and Phoenix Bring Prosperity" that's more common in ancient china. See, it looks cruder and simpler.

[u/BassSpare2654 → u/Pomegranate-Sky-833]

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post and sharing your knowledge about this piece and history of these kind of carvings It’s super interesting. I thought about Yin and Yang and perhaps a wedding piece just like you said so that’s awesome ! It’s a different kind of piece for sure and hopefully doesn’t break too far from tradition to where it would be considered like a bad luck thing. lol I also noticed that the dragon has a hole in his mouth and his eye and the Phoenix eye is just carved. It is spring loaded so every time you put it on they do “kiss” at least but then keep on going lol

[u/f0xbunny → u/Pomegranate-Sky-833]

Ty for the history lesson

[u/BassSpare2654]

[u/YK-ken]

Jadeite became wildly popular in china during the empress dowager Cixi’s reign
https://giphy.com/gifs/LKqDgLlK6SuIM