FAQ

What is Bakelite and why is it so valuable?

Bakelite is one of the oldest plastics ever made.  It became popular in the 30s and 40s when gold and silver were being used for World War II.  Bakelite was made into really neat bangle bracelets, all other types of jewelry, those old rounded radios, old black telephones, a.nd a whole bevy of other products.  It was a very good conductor so it was used in electronics.  And, of course, Mah Jong Sets were made from Bakelite (also know as Catalin by some companies).  Bakelite stopped being produced in the early 70s because it was made with formaldehyde and other plastics became more popular such as Acrylic.  It's perfectly safe to wear, but you would want to manufacture it!

How Old are these tiles and will they last?

The Bakelite tiles date from the 20s and 30s if they are the matte Chinese Bakelite.  The American Bakelite became more popular in the late 30s through the 70s.  The Bone and Bamboo are even older and each tile is handcarved.  These were brought over from China in the 20s and 30s.  Chinese Mah Jongg is played with no Jokers, whereas American Mah Jongg is played with 8 Jokers.  These tiles have lasted over 100 years and I dare say they will last another 100!

Do you make any bracelets that are brand new and not vintage?

I make a thin bone mah-jongg bracelet that is double sided and very lightweight and the tiles are actually beads that are made out of of cow bone very similar to the bone in the bone and bamboo tiles. They’re so easy to wear and even though they’re not vintage they have that look to them. 

Where do you find your Mah Jong Sets?

Everywhere, but mostly Ebay.  I've also found many on Facebook and in talking to people about their old sets that they haven't used in years!  Estate sales are also good places to find them.

Why do you use only incomplete or broken sets?

Because I believe that if I get a set that is too nice to break up into jewelry, I will simply resell it on Ebay so that a Collector can buy it.  These sets are getting fewer and father between and they deserve to be cherished and collected.

Why are these sets incomplete?

When a lot of these old Bakelite sets were made, they did not come with Jokers because that was not added to American Mah-Jongg until 1971.  So most of the sets that were in circulation had to have 8 tiles added to them to be made into Joker tiles.  A lot of time, these tiles don't manage to look anything like the set making it difficult to play with when you know certain tiles because they don't match.  Kind of like marked cards!

How often do you ship?

I ship every single day via USPS ground advantage unless you ask for priority. I tried to get my orders out in one day sometimes too if it’s the weekend.

Do you make every piece of jewelry?

Yes, I do. Even the dolls come in a kit, and I have to put the kit together, and I put the little purse charm on.