Jade jewelry is often carved jade pendants and statues though you can find lovely earrings, bangles and bracelets.
Jade is often carved to bring out its radiant beauty. Many of these jade carvings are unique hademade works of art.
Types of Jade
The two types of Jade are Jadeite and Nephrite. The most common color for jade is green though it can be other colors as well.
Colors
Colors
Jadeite is rarer and the highest quality is known as imperial Jade. Jadeite comes in many colors: red, yellow, green, lilac, black, orange, white, pink, blue and brown. Jadeite has a hardness of 7.
Nephrite Jade is more common and is often used in chinese carvings.
Nephrite Jade is more common and is often used in chinese carvings.
Nephrite Jade comes in various tones of green -- mostly with an olive green tone. It has a hardness of 6.5.
Misleading Stones and Terms
Be aware that Serpentine is often sold as Jade.
Reputable dealers will not use the following misleading terms. However, for your protection, I am listing them here:
Reputable dealers will not use the following misleading terms. However, for your protection, I am listing them here:
"Amazon jade" and "Colorado Jade" is really Amazonite (green feldspar).
"American jade" is really the Californite (green variety of idocrase).
"Imperial mexican jade" and "mexican jade" are really green-dyed calcite.
"Indian jade" is really aventurine.
"Korea jade" and "New jade" are really Serpentine.
"Imperial mexican jade" and "mexican jade" are really green-dyed calcite.
"Indian jade" is really aventurine.
"Korea jade" and "New jade" are really Serpentine.
Where Jade is Found
Jadeite is from Myanmar, Japan, and USA (Alaska and California).
Nephrite Jade is primarily found in British Columbia, Canada. There are smaller mines in China and the US (Wyoming) but not of the same quality.
Nephrite Jade is primarily found in British Columbia, Canada. There are smaller mines in China and the US (Wyoming) but not of the same quality.
- March Birthstone: Mystical Birthstone
- August Birthstone: Other Birthstone (from elsewhere on net)
- Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22): Birthstone
- Jade - by Roger Keverne (Editor) A book about jade geographically and historically with sections on the gemology of jade, advice for buyers and collectors, and jade collections
- Jade (Fred Ward Gem Book) - by Fred Ward, Charlotte Ward (Editor) A book about jade.
- Precolumbian Jade: New Geological and Cultural Interpretations - by Frederick W. Lange (Editor) A comprehensive reference on the sourcing, cultural context, and ideological significance of jade in the world of the ancient Maya and other Precolumbian peoples of Central America.
- Gemstone Buying Guide: A Guide to Buying - by Renee Newman Very nice gemstone identification book.
- Gemstones of the World - by Walter Schumann A very well written source on gemstones with great descriptions and photographs
Books with Jade in the Title:
- Jade Island - by Elizabeth Lowell Romance thriller about a woman who manages the family's extensive jade collection
- The Jade Cabinet - by Rikki Ducornet Literature: the story of a father who trades one of his daughters for some jade.
- Jade - by Norah Hess, Nora Hess Historical romance with a Woman named Jade.
- Jade - by Sue Rich Romance with a Woman named Jade.
- In the Court of the Jade Emperor: Stories from Old China - by Rosalind Kerven A collection of sixteen folktales, myths, and legend
- Jade - by Patricia Simpson Romance with a Woman named Jade; nominated for Best Contemporary, Futuristic, Fantasy 1997 by Romantic Times Magazine
- The Jade Emperor's Mind Seal Classic - by Stuart Alve Olson (Translator), Stuart Olsen Chinese philosophy book with emphasis on Toaism
- Jade Lady Burning - by Martin Limon Mystery/Thriller book
- The Jade Crucible; Alexis Albright-Private Investigator - by Janice Miller Fiction book about freedom
- I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade - by Diane Lee Wilson A young adult book.
- Charlie Chan:Jade Mask - by Sidney Toler VHS Video with Charlie Chan
Jade is said to help one relax. It is considered a very balanced stone -- it helps one in both the vision of tasks to do as well as doing the actual tasks.
Jade has been thought of as the concentrated essense of love.
In China, jade is regarded as a special stone.
It is believed that when handled some of the secret virtue of the substance is absorbed into the body.
Legends have it that the Spanish conquers of Central America wore amulets of Jadeite to prevent/cure hip and kidney complaints.
Jade is the US State Gemstone of Alaska and Wyoming. It is the Canadian State Gemstone of British Columbia.
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