Jade

Recently one of my customers enquired about using jade in an engagement ring and i thought I would share some information about this interesting gemstone.

Jade is a blanket term that is used to describe a mineral group that has two separate species of gemstone; jadeite and nephrite.

Both forms of jade are very tough with statues, sculpture, weapons and beads of nephrite jade being carved since 5000 B.C. in parts of China. However even though the stones are tough they do scratch fairly easily and when looking at the Mohs scale of hardness jadeite measures 6.5 – 7, and nephrite measures around 6. – 6.5. Even though nephrite is a slightly less hard stone it is actually tougher than jadeite although both are exceptionally tough. In China jade is such an appreciated gem it is said to be as valuable as gold, however it is held with quite as much esteem as this in the West.

Jadeite jade is found naturally in many colours such as white, yellow, green, reddish orange, brown, grey, black and light purple. It displays semi transparent to opaque sheen and is often mottled in appearance, however a relatively transparent stone with a strong uniform the colour are measured as desirable examples. The most desirable of all jadeite is a vibrant emerald green coloured stone which is also known as Imperial.

Nephrite jade can sometime be completely transparent or opaque and comes in a smaller range of colours from light to dark green, yellowy brown, white, grey and black, it also often has a mottled appearance.