Image: INQUIRER.net stock photo
A Chinese tourist visiting the southwestern Yunnan province of China fainted after accidentally breaking an expensive jade bracelet.
The woman had tried on the bracelet inside a shop in Ruili City, Dehong Prefecture, when it slipped from her hands while she was taking it off. The bracelet fell to the tiled floor and split into two pieces, according to a report on Chinanews.com via South China Morning Post.
The shop staff informed the woman that the bracelet was priced at 300,000 yuan (roughly P2 million). Afterwards, the woman made calls to friends and told staff that she was feeling dizzy.
Later on, her lips began to turn pale and the woman broke out into a cold sweat before losing consciousness.
“She fainted because of the shock, but fortunately she is fine after having emergency treatment in hospital” said Lin Wei, one of the shop owners.
The incident was not reported to the police and the shop owners said that they would negotiate with the woman based on her financial situation.
A third-party association under government supervision estimated the value of the bracelet at around 180,000 yuan (roughly P1.3 million) according to another report by the Yunnan.cn news portal.
Jade has a huge significance in Chinese culture. It is seen as a representation of purity, a bringer of long life, and even as used as a charm. Alfred Bayle/JB