Jade Stone Guide

Jadeite is a sodium aluminium silicate mineral in the pyroxene group. Jadeite jade is an aggregate of its crystals, while nephrite is a rock made mainly of interlocking tremolite-actinolite amphibole fibres. The LMHC's May 2025 laboratory nomenclature also recognises omphacite jade and kosmochlor jade, so the specific material name and convention on a report matter.

Jadeite occurs in green, lavender, white, grey, yellow, orange, brown and black, with transparency ranging from opaque to semitransparent. Nephrite can also be green, white, yellow, brown, grey or black and ranges from opaque to translucent. Both can show uneven colour, so colour alone cannot identify the material or establish its treatment history.

Jadeite is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale and nephrite is 6 to 6.5. Mohs hardness measures resistance to scratching, while toughness describes resistance to chipping and breaking. Their interlocking structure gives both materials excellent toughness, but harder gems can scratch them and a sharp impact can still cause damage.

For jadeite, examine colour, transparency and texture, then look at the polish, proportions and any fractures. An even colour or an attractive pattern can suit different pieces. Ask for treatment disclosure separately: A, B and C describe treatment categories, and the letter alone cannot establish beauty, condition or workmanship.

In common jadeite terminology, type A allows traditional light surface waxing; type B has been bleached and impregnated; type C is dyed; and type B+C combines dyeing and impregnation. Ask for the actual treatment description as well as the letter. Myanmar and Guatemala are sources of jadeite-bearing material, while nephrite occurs in several countries, including Australia and New Zealand. Origin alone does not establish quality.

Jade is used for bangles, pendants, beads, carvings and cabochon rings. Its toughness supports these forms, although the thickness, existing fractures and exposed edges of the individual piece still matter. Choose the design with its intended wear and care in mind.

Use warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth, then rinse and dry gently. Keep jade away from harsh chemicals, high heat and sharp knocks, and store it separately from harder gems. If its treatment history is unknown, avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaning; have a jeweller assess the whole piece before using either.

Jadeite is often priced by the finished piece rather than by carat alone. Colour, transparency, texture, dimensions, craftsmanship, condition and treatment all affect a comparison. Fine jadeite can command very high prices, but neither a type A label nor an origin name guarantees value. Compare documented, like-for-like pieces rather than assuming all jadeite costs more than nephrite.