Marble Marvel near Taroko Gorge, Hualin, East Taiwan

Now, I have used beads in my handcrafted jewelry for years (before I started to focus more on designing cufflinks). One of the bead materials that I used in my work in those days, was cat’s eye beads. In fact, I used to buy cat eye beads in all possible colours, during my trips around Hong Kong and Singapore bead shops. After seven years, today was the day, right here at the Marble Factory in Hualin, East coast of Taiwan, that I learnt that cat’s eye comes only in one colour. Green! That explains why the cat’s eye beads in other colours are generally inexpensive. So, if anyone tells you that cat’s eye beads come in colours other than green, you now know what the answer is.

This lady is wearing a green jade bangle, a green jade ring and gestures to a huge green jade boulder.

The Marble Factory representative also showed us the way to differentiate between true jade handcrafts and marble handcrafts. Just cast some light (see below).

The Marble Factory Rep inserts a light bulb into the jade vase. The transparency of the vase is an indicator that the vase is made of real jade.

How to differentiate amongst the various stones (Cat’s eye, tiger eye, emerald jade, agate).  Photo by Jimmy Chen

Now, a little about my journey around the Marble Factory. I vaguely remember similar trips to artisan factories as a child, when I accompanied my parents on South East Asia group travel tours. But taking a trip to such a factory as an adult in love with handcrafts and artisan work,  was a mind-blowing experience, especially after we got to see the Taroko Gorge from where abundant amounts of Taiwanese jade and the marble are mined (more about Taroko gorge in a later blog story, but if you feel you can’t wait to explore the wonders of this Marble Gorge, read more at RoundTaiwanRound).

It was a Sunday, when we made our way to the marble factory in Hualin. We started the tour by visiting the factory first, but it being a Sunday, it was desolate and we were faced with slates of grey on all sides. Not an artisan in sight. We get to see all sorts of marble (white marble), emerald jade with cat’s eye inclusions, rainbow jade and more. In fact, on our way to the factory, we saw pavements and entrance to shops paved with marble mosaics. That’s because Hualin is one of the biggest sources of marble in the world.

A room with a view? The insides of the marble factory. Photo by Jimmy Chen

The heavy-duty burnishing tools to sand down the finished marble pieces, very similar to what I use when I sand down my handcrafted resin rings

This is where they slice the huge marble into slabs. Photo by Jimmy Chen.

The diamond tools that are used to cut the marble. Diamonds, as you may know, are very hard and can slice through hard material (like marble) very easily.

The artisans hone their skills over 20 year periods. They actually carve out the design from one big boulder of stone – in this case, it is Yellow Jade. Photo by Jimmy Chen.

My favourite stone! Blue Chalcedony

Finished vases in Rainbow Jade, ready to be purchased.

The Black Panther, one of my favourite pieces on site the Marble Factory and souvenirs shop

A huge jade mound sits at the entrance of the Marble souvenir shop

Outside the Marble souvenir shop. The mountains still call to me!

I bought a tear shaped jade pendant. On it were inscribed the words: All the best to you in 2014! I photographed the artisan creating a Chinese Knot so that I could wear my jade pendant with pride! In the background (left) are agate rings.

To help you understand the dimensions of the entrance to the Marble souvenir shop, take a look at the next three pictures.

Me seated on a marble bench held horizontal by marble bunny rabbits. At the entrance of the Marble souvenir shop. I am wearing the jade pendant with its red cord. Photo by Jimmy Chen

Zoomed out! I do like that marble bench with the bunny rabbits. Photo by Jimmy Chen

Me, just a dot on the horizon. Even the marble statues are taller than me. Photo by Jimmy Chen

Photos taken by Jan D’Sa, and Jimmy Chen of Pro Tours.