Jade

Jade is the name for two different minerals, jadeite and nephrite, that share great toughness and a characteristic green color. It is one of the most revered stones in history, in China, Mesoamerica and New Zealand.

Properties #

• Types: jadeite (rarer and more valuable) and nephrite (more common, used in Māori pounamu)
• Hardness: between 6 and 7 on the Mohs scale, but with exceptional toughness.
• Color: green in all its shades; also lavender, white, yellow and black.
• Origins: Myanmar (jadeite), China, Guatemala, Russia and New Zealand (nephrite)
• Treatments: grades A (natural), B (bleached and polymer-impregnated) and C (dyed) indicate the level of treatment.

Uses in jewelry #

• Bangles, beads, pendants and carvings.
• Amulets and traditional jewelry of China, Mesoamerica and New Zealand.
• Contemporary jewelry.

Pros and cons #

Advantages #

• Very tough: it resists knocks.
• Loaded with cultural meaning.
• Carved into very varied shapes.

Limitations #

• Many imitations and treated pieces exist.
• Quality jadeite is very expensive.
• Impregnated (grade B) pieces deteriorate over time.

Care and cleaning #

• Clean with lukewarm water, mild soap and a cloth.
• Avoid strong chemicals.
• For grade B jade, avoid ultrasonic and acids.

See also #

• Mesoamerican jewelry: jade, gold and feathers
• Māori pounamu: hei-tiki, hei matau and koru
• Symbols in traditional jewelry and their meaning