In China,  jade is translated into “Yu”.  The word “Yu” can also be used to describe anything beautiful; like a “yu” women or a “yu” sunset.  China’s jade history starts more than 5,000 years ago when metals were not yet invented.  Jade’s durability and toughness are unmatched when it comes to a natural material for human use.   Jade was the best material to use for tools and weapons because of its interlocking fibrous structure making it as tough as steel and harder.  Jade was the perfect choice for weapons, tools, ritual uses including carvings, and later on; jade jewelry.  New Zealand’s “Maori”, The “Maya”, The “Aztecs”, ” The Olmec”, ancient Swiss,  Europeans, and the Chinese all chose jade as their most valuable stone valuing it more than gold.  Jade’s beauty and toughness has endured in humanity and today jade carvings and jade jewelry are still prized and sought after.

In the late 1700′s, China started importing goods from Burma(now Myanmar).  The stone received by the Chinese; Burmese Jadeite, catalyzed a major shift in China’s jade heritage.  From the 1700′s on, imported Burmese Jadeite was revered more than the original “nephrite” jade of China and unfortunately still is today.  Currently,  British-columbian jade mines have been supplying most of China’s nephrite.   China’s white imperial jade was and still is collected in the White and Black Jade rivers of the Kunlun Mountains, but after Jadeite was imported; all imperial jades were now made from Burma’s Jadeite.   Imported jade from Burma or British-Columbia now make up most of China’s jade supply.

In 1863, a french scientist by the name of Alexis Damour found the difference between ancient Chinese jade artifacts and new jade carvings.  He catorgarized the new “Burmese” jade as Jadeite and continued the name “nephrite” jade for ancient Chinese artifacts.  Differing in structure and chemical make-up; Jadeite and Nephrite, are both technically “Jade”.

The Olmec, Maya, and Aztecs all revered jade(jadeite) and held it as there most valuable possession.  Three major cultures in Central America used Jadeite from one source, the Motogua Valley in Guatemala.  From the book “Jade” by Fred Ward, “Seeking a conciliatory gesture to avert impending conflict, Moctezuma told Cortes he wanted to present some very valuable stones for the Spanish King.  Moctesuma supposedly exhorted “These are chalchinuites, not to be given to anyone but your king.  Each is worth two loads of gold.”  Cortes was not impressed, but he did at least send them toward Spain.  Unfortunately the jades never arrived.  French pirates hijacked the three treasure ships carrying them and precious metals.  But the Aztec sense of value survives.  Moctezuma had sent a message much like Confucious: gold has value, jade is priceless.”

Today, Jade is still carved and revered in China, British-Columbia, USA, and New Zealand.  New Zealand is the hub of contemporary jade art.  Starting with the Maori, traditional carving has lead to today’s new age jade artists crafting fine jade carvings and jewelry.   New Zealander’s and Maori use their local jade called “Greenstone”, which is now controlled by the Maori tribe.  Kiwi carvers are unique because they have broken from the traditional mold of “Maori” or “Chinese” form; today’s carvers choose their own designs.

In the future, Jade will still serve a purpose of longevity, beauty, and meaning.   Symbols and forms carved into jade will forever cement  new and ancient values.  Tomorrows jade carvers can use traditions in new forms, new expressions, and new concepts  furthering humanity’s creativity and values.

Jadeite Jade

Jadeite has been used throughout the millennium by many different cultures as weapons and tools. Recently a discovery in Guatemala shows that an extensive trade route was formed throughout Central and South America dating before Spanish colonial rule. When the Spaniards invaded the Mayans these valued jadeite mines were hidden until modern history, when a hurricane swept through part of Guatemala to reintroduce itself to the world.

Jadeite is a harder stone than nephrite. The first distinction between the nephrite and jadeite was made in the late 1700′s when the subtle differences between the two stones were identified. Nephrite, a more plentiful type of jade, comes out of many areas all over the world from China to the United States and Canada. Jadeite is found in far fewer locations. Two of the most important of these locations are Burma (Myanmar) and Guatemala.

Jadeite is a harder form of jade, is more expensive in price and is famous for its gem qualities.

Jadeite’s Mineral Composition

Jadeite is a pyroxene mineral and is monoclinic. It rates as a 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale of hardness (compared to 6-6.5 for nephrite). It is a dense mineral with the specific gravity of around 3.4.

Jadeite is formed in metamorphic rocks under high pressures and low temperatures. It is formed in the common mineral Albite which through increasing pressures breaks down to form jadeite and quartz.

Jadeite appears to form from subduction zone fluids with serpentine. It is very resistant to weathering and boulders of it are released in areas with in serpentine.

The colors of Jadeite

Jadeite forms in a wide arrangement of colors unlike its counterpart, nephrite. The colors range from white in its purest form to apple and deep greens, the famous Olmec Blues of Guatemala, pink, lavender and others. Color is affected by the range of trace elements found in the surrounding soils such as iron which adds reds and other darker colors to chromium.

Translucence varies by each specimen. Currently the best gem quality specimens come out of Burma in commercial amounts but also California, New Zealand and Guatemala. Other locations in which jadeite can be found are Russia, Canada, Alaska and others.

Jadeite is considered more valuable than nephrite and its most prized color is the most vivid and intense green and translucent varieties, though historically white jade was the most valued by the Chinese for its pure qualities. Olmec blue jade is becoming another highly valued variety of jadeite and is characterized by its deep, blue-green color sometimes with a translucent hue and white flecks.

The name pyroxene comes for the Greek words fire and stranger. This group of minerals, which includes jadeite, is so named because of its presence in areas of volcanic activity. They are simply early forming minerals which crystallize before lava erupts.

The upper mantle of the Earth is mainly composed of these minerals (pyroxene) and olivine. It also includes the major minerals in basalt and gabbro.

Nephrite is a variety of a calcium and magnesium-rich amphibole mineral actinolite (which also makes up a certain form of asbestos). The chemical formula of nephrite jade is Ca₂(Mg,Fe)₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂. Its crystal habitat is massive and it is of the monoclinic crystal system.

Nephrite jade takes on a high polish which is vitreous to greasy. Its fracture is splintery to granular. Nephrite has a refractive index is 1.606 to 1.632.

The Hardness and Toughness Of Nephrite

Nephrite is more common than its harder counterpart, jadeite. Though it is softer (measuring a 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, compared to the 6.5-7 of jadeite) it is actually a much tougher stone. Hardness is an attribute measured by how easily it can be scratched. A diamond measures the hardest on this scale at a 10, it can scratch anything while it cant be scratched by anything other than another diamond. Both nephrite and jadeite are harder than steel, if you can scratch a stone with a knife it is not jade.

Toughness measures the brittleness or the ability of a material (or in this case a mineral) to break. According to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources of British Columbia the fracture strength of nephrite is about 200 MN/m2 whereas that of jadeite is about 100 MN/m2 which is an impressive quality of nephrite. It is commonly known as the toughest natural mineral on earth.

Types of Nephrite and Their Colors

The color of nephrite can vary depending on its source and quality. Commonly it is envisioned as an imperial green stone yet can hold almost any shade of green, blue, red, orange, black, white, violet, orange, brown and yellow.

Various colors of nephrite jade are unique to their individual sources such as the rust colored vulcan Big Sur jade which can be various colors of brown, red, yellow and orange.

Certain shades of green are also unique depending on the areas of the world it is found, one example of which is the gem quality polar jade of British Columbia (you can read an amazing article about Polar Jade over at Timeless Jade).

As nephrite is found all over the world and in greater amounts than jadeite, it is less valuable and less expensive except for the finest of specimens. Some high quality nephrite jade does appear in some locations such as in Big Sur, California and in parts of British Columbia. Some specimens of nephrite jade from these areas are among the finest quality specimens in the world.

One unique specimen of nephrite jade comes out of Big Sur and is known as botryoidal jade. This type of jade is commonly known as bubble jade and is formed in nodes within serpentine.

History Of Nephrite

Throughout history nephrite jade has been utilized in a wide variety of ways. Some of these include as funeral ornaments, weapons, jewelry and as a ward against kidney ailments. It has been utilized for thousands of years by various cultures.

One ancient legend from China states that in the beginning of time man was put on earth and was plagued by all of the wild animals of the world. The gods sympathized with man and cast jade axes from the heavens onto the earth for them to find. This stone was henceforth called the stone of heaven.

Another legend surrounding nephrite comes from China. According to the tale a man named Bian He found a stone which he believed to be of high quality nephrite jade. He approached King Li of Chu with his find, who was unbelieving that the stone was actually jade and had one of Bian He’s legs cut off for playing him false. Once King Li passed Bian once again approached the ruler of Chu, King Wu, with his find. King Wu also believed that Bian He was playing him false and had his other leg cut off.

Bian He was not deterred. King Wu soon passed on and the new ruler King Wen was approached by Bian He, who god only knows his reluctance to show off his find. King Wen, actually believing that the stone was true jade, immediately sent off the find to his royal sculptors. To the sculptors amazement the stone was of the highest quality white nephrite which rivaled the value of all other pieces of jade and was the envy of many. The piece was soon called the He Shi Bi or The Jade Disk of He.

There are many legends revolving around this historical piece of jade. More can be found on our Chinese jade page. To paraphrase the rest of the legend the piece soon became the Imperial Seal of China and unfortunately due to a long history of wars and battles surrounding this singular piece of jade it has been lost to history.

Another specimen of nephrite jade rivals all others, this is known as the Nephripod which was discovered by Donn Wobber off the coast of Big Sur. His memoir Jade Beneath the Sea: A Diving Adventure tells of his discovery and excavation of a 9,000 pound bolder of nephrite in the 1970′s, which is now located in the Oakland Museum.

Value of Nephrite Jade

The value of nephrite can be relatively modest depending on its quality. Some attributes that can affect its price are its color, translucency, natural patterns, the location from where it originates and sometimes by the artist which carves it. High quality nephrite can be relatively expensive though should only be purchased through trusted dealers.

Though nephrite is a fairly common stone there are many fakes that are made out of various materials, as well as artificial colorings made by dyes and chemical treatments. Other stones are commonly mistaken for jade such as serpentine and soapstone. Care should be taken when purchasing jade to ensure that it is the actual stone.

Maori jade is a common name for the type of jade found in New Zealand that is treasured and carved by the native Maori of the island. The Maori call this jade Pounamu, which not only absorbs the spiritual strength of its wearer, but also has a never ending desire to return to is original home in rivers and mountains.

Image via Wikipedia

Who are the Maori?

In order to fully understand the importance of Maori jade, it is equally important to know about the Maori people of New Zealand. The Maori are an indigenous Polynesian people native to the hills and beaches of New Zealand. The word “Maori” translates to “normal,” or “ordinary,” which is ironic because the intricate designs they use when sculpting jade is anything but ordinary.

When New Zealand was infiltrated by Europeans in the 1800′s the Maori society was destabilized both in population and health due to the introduction of Western illnesses and weapons. However, the peaceful society did not diminish to a great extent and even made a comeback in the 1960′s. Today there is a large population of full-blooded Maori as well as Maori and European intermarriages resulting in children with Maori ancestry.

The Maori’s Meaning of Jade

The Maori consider jade as a taonga, or “treasure,” and were able to get it protected under the Treaty of Waitangi. Under this treaty the Maori are given rights to land and other properties, such as jade. Under this treaty the stone is protected under various restrictions from those who do see the gravity of its value as the Maori do.

The History of Maori Jade

Historically, like other cultures, the Maori took advantage of the strong stone to use as tools and weapons as well as jewelry. Like women in Chinese families who passed down Chinese jade jewelry through their generations, the Maori also handed down pieces of jade as valued heirlooms.

Jade was often used as a sign of victory in battles. Warriors would wear jade around their necks as a good luck charm before entering into a battle. The warrior men of competing tribes would fight to the death and then the victor would take the jade off the loser’s neck and keep it for himself. He would also claim stake to the jade that the failing warrior’s wife would wear, and give it to his wife to prove their family victory.

Modern Maori Jade

Often Maori jade is called the “greenstone” because jade from New Zealand is various shades of green. It is a common misconception that black jade is also found in New Zealand because there are many Maori pendants carved into black jade. Black jade is often used for Maori jewelry because it is found in South Australia.

Image via Wikipedia

Types of Maori Jade

There are different types of the “greenstone” found in New Zealand. The Maori have given different names to each form of pounamu:

• Inanga (Whitebait): Very pale green.
• Totoweka: Very rare form of Greenstone – streaked or spotted with red.
• Kohuwai: Called after the greenish moss growth in a slow running stream.
• Kawa-kawa: Has a strong green color with varying shades throughout.
• Kako-Tea: Dark green with black spots.
• Kahurangi: Bright green with light streaks resembling rolling clouds.

The unique patterns of Maori art is illuminated through the pounamu found in the mountains and rivers. A-symmetrical spirals accented with sharp angles can be found through a piece of jade that has been carved by a Maori native. A few designs such as the “hei matua (fish hook), the tiki (representing man), and the manaia (serpent form)” that have been carved for centuries are replicated today on jade stones, wood, paua shell, and even bone to make beautiful earrings, necklaces, or even sculptures.

New Zealand Jade

New Zealand jade is found on the South Westland or Westland area of the island. There is even a town called Hokitika, New Zealand, on the West side of the island that is considered the Jade capital of New Zealand.

Between the beach and the Arahura river, this area of New Zealand is rich with jade. In the past, natives found their taonga (treasures) in and around Hokitika and would travel the island trading what they had found.

Today Hokitika is the jade haven of New Zealand because there are many artists who carve, collect, and make jewelry out of the native pounamu. It is a tourist attraction because not only are there abundant resources of jade to be appreciated and even purchased here in Hokitika, but also there are workshops where a tourist can go and make their own unique piece of art out of the native jade.

Maori jade has proven to be timeless, and its worth is still seen today from the necks of the natives to the necks of traveling tourists.

Resources:
Wikipedia
Jade Factory
Maori Source
Hokitika

A Bi Pi Disc is a doughnut-like shape where the piece of jade is more flat than a nugget and is carved into a hollow circle.

There are various forms of the beaded jade necklace. There are some necklaces strung with different colored jade beads which bring variety and liveliness to the necklace.

Then there is the continuous strand of the same color jade, be it white, green, or black jade. Jade pendants can be found in many necklaces, some sharing the same strand with other stones or metals to form appealing designs.

There are also simple designs with jade to accommodate both males and females where a jade nugget will be the only stone hanging from a piece of black waxed cord.

In China, it is extremely common to see people wearing jade as jewelry, be it a jade bangle, earrings, or the jade Bi Pi Disc on a red string dangling around their neck. It is common to see jade necklaces on the Chinese because not only do they believe that the stone is more valuable than gold, but their superstitions insinuate jade as a magnet to health, luck, prosperity, and safety.

China is not the only place where you see people wear jade necklaces. South America, North America, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia are just a few continents and countries where a large portion of the populations not only appreciate jade but wear jade necklaces on a regular basis. For instance, if you head to the central coast of California you will find men and women of all ages wearing nuggets of Big Sur jade hanging from chains or black cord.

South American jade as well as New Zealand jade is often carved into intricate designs that are delicately strung around different necklace materials that are worn by both men and women.

Like any piece of jade, be it a small gem or a large monument, jade necklaces range in price from twenty dollars to close to one million dollars. For instance The Bead Site recorded “a jadeite necklace of thirty beads sold at Christie’s Hong Kong for $942,308, or $31,410 per bead” in April, 1998.

The price not only depends on the value of the actual piece of jadeite or nephrite but also the labor and work put into the piece of jade. The various designs and detail can take weeks to perfect along with cleaning and polishing.

Jade necklaces are very popular around the globe for men, women, and children.

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Jade enthusiasts believe that it is a stone with a soul and can not be compared to diamonds and other precious stones. So what make jade a quality stone?

The quality of jade can be determined by its density, color, translucency, texture, luster and cutting.

Density

The density of jade is one of the main determining factors of its quality.

Color

Jade’s color ranges from green to white, black to blue and various shades of red, orange and yellow just to name a few.

The most desirable colors of jade are the deep emerald greens of imperial jade. White and lavender jade are also highly regarded for their rarity.

Translucency and Transparency

Jade ranges from translucent to near opaque. The highest quality jade is transparent and is compared to the consistency and clarity of honey.

Texture

Jade’s texture is another determining factor of its quality. It ranges from fine to coarse. Jade takes on a high polish which gives it a very smooth texture. The highest quality jade is clear and has little to no impurities.

Tone

The tone describes the specific quality of a color grade. The most desirable tones are those that give a clarity that is penetrating from a distance.

Cutting

This determines the cutting and shaping of the stone. Most jade is used in cabochons and carved pieces.

The Most Desirable Jade

True jade can be one of two different minerals, nephrite and jadeite.

Nephrite

Nephrite is the original jade known to the Chinese as the stone of heaven. It is much more common of the two forms of jade and therefore is much more affordable.

Nephrite is the softer of the two jades ranking about a 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. This means that nephrite is harder than steel and can not be scratched by it.

Some sources say that nephrite is found in fewer varieties of color than jadeite. Judging just by the many colors of Big Sur Jade I find this not to be true. Big Sur jade comes in all of the colors which sources say jadeite comes in.

Jadeite

Jadeite on the other hand is a higher quality and harder version of jade. It is much rarer and comes out of Burma in commercial amounts. Jadeite has also been discovered in Guatemala and also is found in small amounts in other parts of the world.

Jadeite can occur in the many different colors of jade; red, green, blue, white, black and lavender to mention a few. As jadeite is the harder of the two stones it ranks at around a 7 on the Mohs scale. Jadeite is also harder than steel which means that it can no be scratched by it.

Jade Treatments

Some jade is waxed. Nephrite jade is also known to be treated and sold as jadeite.

Some jade is also heated to intensify its color.

Fake Jade

Serpentine, treated quartz, plastic and even glass is sometimes even passed off as true jade. Remember that just because it is green does not mean that it is jade. Jade, ‘Yu’, in Chinese actually just means green stone though today the term jade refers to either nephrite or jadeite.

Your best bet to identify jade it to bring it to a reputable dealer or geologist.

So, how do you know if your jade is real?

Jade can be translucent to transparent to opaque. The main identifying factor for jade is its depth. Jade is a stone which you can see into.

The most desirable jade is that with uniform color throughout the stone. Green is also very desirable though other colors can be even rarer and precious.

There are also a few other ways to identify jade:

1. Air Bubbles – Look into the stone. If you can see any air bubbles then it is NOT jade. Air bubbles mean that the stone is actually not a stone at all and is treated glass. Jade will not have air bubbles.
2. Weight – Jade is DENSE. You can feel the weight of the stone. Nephrite and jadeite are both heavier than glass.
3. Hardness – The hardness of jade is also another way to identify the stone. Since nephrite is a 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale and jadeite is a 7 neither can be scratched by steel.
4. Condenser - Jade is a great condenser of heat and cool. My absolute favourite method to test jade is the the ‘hair’ test. Wrap a piece of hair tightly around the jade (I have found the the longer the hair the better). Use the flame from a lighter and wave it underneath the hair. If the hair burns it is not jade. If left unburned then the stone is actually jade. This happens because the jade absorbs and disperses the heat of the flame.
5. Coolness – Also goes with the above point but many Burmese enthusiasts can be seen touching jade to their cheeks to feel its temperature. This was to determine its authenticity. You can also feel it in your hand for its coolness.
6. Sound – Jade lets off an amazing tone when hit with other stones, metal and glass. This is actually also one of the ways to determine if the stone is A, B or C quality jade because the denser the stone the more pleasant and resonating the sound is. The end of the following video gives a great example of this test. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaHaTPRzH9U
7. Texture – The texture of the stone also is a great indicator of if it is true jade. Jade can take on a high polish. Run your fingernail across the stone. If it feels bumpy than it is probably not jade.
8. Strength – This probably can be categorized under density but jade is very strong. It is hard to break or chip.  It is not a stone to be chiseled; only abrasives work, like grinding!

Jade has a shine and luster to it unlike any other stone. You have to look at it in the sunlight to really appreciate its beauty.

A perfect piece of white nephrite jade out of South Asia. A wine cup of Emperor Shah Jahan from 1675. (Released under the Creative Commons License)

In addition to carrying the generic properties of Green Jade, White Jade directs energy in the most constructive way possible. It filters distractions to achieve optimum results and assists in decision-making as it accesses all relevant information. It is the purest jade stone.

White jade consists of actinolite which consists of both calcium and magnesium.

White nephrite jade that is not very translucent is also known as mutton fat jade and sometimes has a slight yellow color (usually from iron oxide). An opaque white jade or slightly brown or grey jade is sometimes known as chicken bone jade. Lapidary quality white nephrite comes out of China and other locations, commercial quantities coming from Canada.

Jadeite can also be of a white variety the white color coming from sodium aluminum silicate rich form of pyroxene. White jadeite is very rare and valuable.

The Imperial Seal of China, the He Shi Bi, was a relic with historical importance in China and was white nephrite.

Carp made out of White Nephrite Jade from the Qing Dynasty 1655-1911CE, China. (Released under the creative commons license)

Source: USA, China, Italy, Myanmar (Burma), Russia, Middle East

Hardness: 6

Chakra (of white jade): Third Eye

Zodiac: Gemini

Planet: Venus

Benificial for: Longetivity, self-sufficiancy, detoxification, filtration, elimination, kidneys, supraneal glands, cellular and skeletal systems, stitches, fertility, childbirth, hips, spleen, water-salt-alkaline ratio

White stones help with problem solving.