Story of Nephrite
Type: nephrite
Mohs hardness scale: 6–7
Color: green, yellow, reddish-orange, white, gray, brown, black, lavender
Jade is the common name for two minerals, jadeite and nephrite, which have some similar but distinct properties.
Jadeite, however, is the more valuable and rarer variety of jade. Jade is an opaque mineral used primarily
for making sculptures and ornaments. Jadeite, on the other hand, is more translucent and can be polished,
making it more suitable for jewelry making.
Jadeite is a very hard and durable stone.
Nephrite is a stone with a rich history. It has been revered by various cultures around the world (the Maya, Aztecs, Olmecs, etc.).
Long before the Common Era, it was used to make decorative objects, statuettes, ornaments, and tools,
ritual objects, masks, as well as weapons and jewelry.
Jade has been known in China since the Neolithic period and was used there as an important material for making pottery and artifacts. Jade was imported into China from Burma (present-day Myanmar) in the 16th century under the name “imperial jade.” This led to the creation of unrivaled masterpieces, whether in terms of concept, design, or technical execution.
In China, where the art of stone carving has a tradition dating back several thousand years, jade is a sought-after and highly prized stone.
Jade occurs in all shades of green, and therefore color is an important indicator of price.
The most valuable jades are those with a rich emerald green color and a medium-dark to dark hue—that is, imperial jade. The second most valuable color is lavender.
ORIGIN
China, Japan, Myanmar, Indonesia, Brazil, Canada, Spain, Russia, Mexico, Turkey
USES
Thanks to its ease of carving, jade is still used to create works of art, while the finest varieties of jade with the most valuable color are widely used in jewelry making.
Jade is never faceted and is used for cabochons, gemstones, and carved jewelry.
Genuine jade is often confused on the market with cheaper minerals such as aventurine, serpentine, prehnite, and even chrysoprase.