Learn more about Jade, a stone that has been treasured and part of human cultures around the world since the stone age. Find out about the two different types of Jade, its history and common fakes.
Table Of Contents
In History
Jade has been valued by civilizations since the Stone Age, trading carved objects as currency, making weapons, jewellery and decorative pieces. It’s been especially prevalent in Chinese, Latin American and New Zealand Maori cultures.
Historically, China has valued Jade for both religious and medicinal properties, with Jade objects and artworks being highly prized culturally. The Olmecs, Maya, and Aztecs of Meso-America made ceremonial objects and jewelry from jadeite. They valued this material more than gold.
According to Gem Select, “In the Maori language, Nephrite Jade is known as ‘pounamu’; it is highly prized throughout the Maori culture and is protected under the Treaty of Waitangi. Maori weapons were made of nephrite and often handed down as heirlooms as the jade weapons were believed to hold very special power or ‘mana’.”
Its name comes from the Spanish piedras de ijada, meaning “stone of the loins” or “stone of the hip” as Jade was believed to heal kidney ailments (or protect from them occuring).
What Is Jade?
Jade is actually the name for two different silicate mineral forms, Jadeite and Nephrite. These two minerals can be identical in appearance and are similar in their physical properties. They’re so similar that they were thought to be one mineral type until 1863, when it was discovered that they are scientifically different.
It is said, however, that the Chinese knew of two different forms more than a century earlier. Yu was the Jade material they had traditionally carved (Nephrite). Fei-ts’ui was the name for the intense green Jade material that began to enter China from Burma (Myanmar) in the mid 18th century (Jadeite).
Jade is mined in many locations around the world. Both Jadeite and Nephrite are found in Russia, China, and Guatemala. Nephrite deposits of varying quality have been discovered in both the Swiss Alps and New Zealand. Western Canada has yielded some beautiful dark green stones termed “Canada Jade.”
What is Jadeite
Jadeite, one of the two varieties of Jade, is a sodium aluminum silicate. Its composed of tightly packed microscopic crystals. Jadeite is not as dense as Nephrite and is more prone to chipping.
Jadeite Jade is the rarer and more valuable form of Jade. It is most prized in its pure green variety, but can be found in many colors ranging from red, pink, black, brown, white, and even violet with variations of colors overlapping one another. In the jewellery industry, Jadeite material is graded from Type A through D according to translucency and depth of colour.
The most in-demand Jadeite stones can be sourced back to Myanmar, formerly Burma, and are known as “Burmese Jade.” These have become exceedingly rare and valuable due to the country’s political upheavals and trade restrictions.
Left: Jadeite – Sodium Aluminum Silicate from Burma (image source: Wikipedia)
What is Nephrite
Nephrite, the second type of Jade, is a calcium magnesium silicate. Its composed of extremely dense mineral fibers that are interlocked and very tough. Nephrite is softer, and while it’s less prone to chipping, its more prone to scratches. It is also the more common of the two.
Nephrite’s colour scale is more limited, with the most commonly found colors being green to grey-green stones, white to yellowish stones, and yellow to reddish stones.
Left: Nephrite Jade from Jordanow Slaski (image source Wikipedia)
Identification Characteristics
Comparing the two forms of Jade, here are the differing characteristics:
LUSTRE
Nephrite usually has a lower level of lustre and translucency to Jadeite. It’s lustre when polished is described as greasy to resinous, while Jadeite is more glass-like.
HARDNESS
Nephrite is softer than Jadeite and has a lower density. Nephrite’s surface scuffs and scratches more easily, while Jadeite is more prone to chip like glass would.
Learn about HARDNESS as a crystal identification technique. Find out what the Mohs Hardness Scale is, and how you can test material yourself.
Lookalikes & Mislabelling
- Green Aventurine can be mistaken for Jade, but it’s texture and colour are not as smooth as Jade’s.
- While green Serpentine, which also looks similar, is much softer.
- Massive Emerald and Chrysoprase are much harder than Nephrite, and their colours are slightly different to Jadeite’s.
In South Africa, we have African Jade, also sometimes called Transvaal Jade, that is not a true Jade despite looking very similar. It’s actually a type of Garnet known as hydrogrossular Garnet. It’s correct name is Grossularite.
There are two well-known examples of Amazonite being sold under a false tradename, Amazon Jade and Colorado Jade. While Australian Jade, Indian Jade and Korean Jade are all actually a green Quartz / Aventurine material. Oregon Jade is another mislabelled material, being a greenish Jasper.
Not a true Jade, this Garnet material can be white to light green in color, or a combination of white, green and pink.
Left: Hydrogrossular Garnierite also called Transvaal Jade
Imperial / Burmese Jade
Imperial Jade, also known as Burmese Jade or Emerald Jade, is a famous variety of Jadeite. It’s classified as a slightly glassy, traslucent material that is dark green. Its primary source is Mynamar (Burma), and supply is limited due to various political issues and trade restrictions. This variety is some of the best quality Jade in the world.
Imperial or Emerald Jade is a term given to deep emerald-green, translucent form of Jadeite.
Left: Imperial or Emerald Jade, a form of Jadeite
Russian Jade
Russian Jade, also known as Siberian Jade, is a famous variety of Nephrite. The Chinese apparently gave it the nickname ‘Spinach Jade’ due to its colouring. It occurs in the Sayan Mountains near Lake Baikal, in central Siberia.
Spinach-green Jade from the Lake Baikal area in Russia.
Left: Russian Jade from Lake Baikal area
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Jade Tumbled Clay NecklaceR260,00 -
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Jade, Royal with Pyrite Rough Piece 11.5cmR270,00
