About Green Jade

Green jade is a term that encompasses two distinct minerals - nephrite (a calcium magnesium silicate) and jadeite (a sodium aluminum silicate) - both prized for their beautiful green coloration, exceptional toughness, and cultural significance spanning over 7,000 years across Asian civilizations. This metamorphic rock displays a range of green hues from pale celadon to deep imperial green, with jadeite generally showing more vivid colors while nephrite offers superior toughness and workability for carving. Jade's unique combination of beauty, durability, and spiritual significance has made it more valuable than gold in many Asian cultures, where it represents virtue, wisdom, and protection, earning it the designation as the "Stone of Heaven."

• Color range: Pale celadon to deep forest green; finest imperial jade shows vivid emerald-like green with excellent transparency
• Sizes: Available from small beads (4-6mm) to large carved sculptures (several feet); quality varies significantly across size ranges
• Shapes: Excellent for cabochons, beads, and intricate carvings; traditional forms include bangles, pendants, and decorative figurines
• Origin: Myanmar produces finest jadeite; nephrite found in China, Siberia, and British Columbia; each source has distinctive characteristics
• Hardness: Jadeite 6.5 to 7, nephrite 6 to 6.5 on Mohs scale; both exceptionally tough due to interlocking crystal structure
• Transparency: Ranges from opaque to translucent; finest specimens show good translucency with even color distribution
• Cultural significance: Sacred in Chinese culture for millennia; symbol of virtue, wisdom, and imperial power throughout Asian civilizations
• Toughness: Exceptionally resistant to breaking despite moderate hardness; interlocking crystal structure provides remarkable durability