all about JADE
What Is Jade?
Gold Twisted Ring
$750
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Gold Twisted Ring
$750
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Jade refers to either of two durable, compact, typically green gemstones that take a high polish. Since records began, both minerals have been carved into jewellery, ornaments, small sculptures, and utilitarian objects. Today, jadeite is the most coveted jade stone; the other is nephrite.
Two types of jade:
Jadeite and nephrite
When worked and polished, the two types of jade are distinguishable by their appearance. Polished nephrite, for instance, is oily rather than vitreous (glassy), while jadeite is the opposite. There are marked variations of translucency in both stones, too. What’s more, some colours are distinct to one stone or the other – for example, the immensely popular apple and emerald-green jades in jewellery are invariably jadeite.
Where is jade found?
In terms of geographical location, the northern Myanmar city, Mogaung, and its surrounding area has been the primary source for gem-quality jadeite for decades, while nephrite is more abundant and globally widespread.
A brief history of jade
Through the ages, jade has been cut and shaped with sandstone, slate, and quartz sand (as an abrasive) by tools made of bronze and iron before the dawn of the 19th century ushered in machine-powered lathes, steel saws, and diamond-pointed drills. Today, carborundum and diamond dust are used as abrasives in place of crushed garnets and corundum.
Both jade stones were worked into implements by Neolithic peoples in many parts of the world, with the best-known finds unearthed from the lake dwellings of Switzerland, France, Central America, China, and Mexico.
Jade is hard, heavy, and durable and maintains a good edge – Neolithic artisans coveted these physical properties coupled with its fine hues and warm polish. However, when the Neolithic cultures were succeeded by those using bronze and iron, jade gradually lost its industrial value and favour as a gemstone in all but a few regions.
Through the ages, jade has been cut and shaped with sandstone, slate, and quartz sand (as an abrasive) by tools made of bronze and iron before the dawn of the 19th century ushered in machine-powered lathes, steel saws, and diamond-pointed drills. Today, carborundum and diamond dust are used as abrasives in place of crushed garnets and corundum.
Both jade stones were worked into implements by Neolithic peoples in many parts of the world, with the best-known finds unearthed from the lake dwellings of Switzerland, France, Central America, China, and Mexico.
Jade is hard, heavy, and durable and maintains a good edge – Neolithic artisans coveted these physical properties coupled with its fine hues and warm polish. However, when the Neolithic cultures were succeeded by those using bronze and iron, jade gradually lost its industrial value and favour as a gemstone in all but a few regions.
Use of jade as a gemstone
Jade’s durability and dazzling colour spectrum make it highly desirable and a centrepiece of a glittering array of jewellery items, including pendants, necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, beads, cabochons, tumbled stones, and more. These items are often made of solid jade and combined with other gems or placed in settings made from gold, silver, or other precious metals.
Jadeite and nephrite: Composition and structure
Jadeite and nephrite differ in both chemical composition and crystalline structure. Jadeite is a silicate of sodium and aluminium and categorised as pyroxene (Px). In contrast, nephrite is a silicate of calcium and magnesium and classed as tremolite. Both stones’ internal crystals are tightly interlocked, forming a compact aggregate. Both jade stones may be white or colourless, but hues including red, green, and violet may occur due to the presence of iron, chromium, or manganese impurities.
Are all jades the same?
No, all jades are not the same. In fact, there are many different types of jade, each with its own unique color and properties. The most common type of jade is green jade, which is said to represent wisdom and peace. Other popular types of jade include white jade (associated with purity and serenity), black jade (associated with strength and power), and blue jade (associated with loyalty and truth).
Jade types and treatments
There are two main types of jade, nephrite and jadeite, and each has its own unique set of properties and treatments.
Nephrite jade is the more common of the two types and is typically a softer, more porous stone. It can be found in a variety of colours, but green is by far the most popular. Nephrite jade is often treated with a light wax or oil to improve its lustre and durability.
Jadeite is the rarer and more valuable type of jade. It is a harder, denser stone with a glass-like surface. Jadeite typically has a deep green colour, but can also be found in shades of white, blue, or even pink.
How to spot real jade
There are some physical properties of jade which make it easier to identify. These include a smooth, bright colour, a highly reflective shine, a consistent colour with only slight variations (not patchy or blotchy) and the stone being cool to the touch, even when held in your palm for up to two minutes. However, the most effective and reliable way to check that a jade stone is authentic is to visit a jeweller, who will authenticate the jade professionally.