What is jade?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
Jade is the name given to two distinct minerals, jadeite and nephrite, which look similar but have different chemical compositions. Both are prized for their toughness, their characteristic greens, and their deep cultural significance across East Asian, Mesoamerican and Pacific cultures. Jadeite is rarer and harder, producing the intense greens and lavenders most associated with fine jade jewellery, while nephrite is more common, slightly softer, and favoured for carving. In both forms, jade has been carved for tools, ceremonial objects and jewellery for at least six thousand years.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between jadeite and nephrite?
- Jadeite is the rarer of the two, a sodium aluminium silicate that can produce the intense apple greens and vivid lavenders valued in fine jewellery, particularly imperial jade from Myanmar. Nephrite is a calcium magnesium silicate, slightly softer and more commonly available, and it typically shows more muted greens, whites and greys. Both are called jade and both are genuine jade.
- What does jade symbolise?
- In Chinese culture jade is associated with virtue, purity, prosperity and good luck, and it has been given as a protective gift for centuries. In Maori culture the local nephrite called pounamu is deeply sacred and represents mana, identity and connection to the land. Jade carries different meanings across cultures, but protective symbolism is a common thread.
- How can you tell if jade is real?
- Real jade feels cool and heavy for its size, and it does not scratch easily. A needle or fingernail will not mark it. Dyed quartzite, serpentine and glass are common imitations; serpentine feels warmer and is softer, while glass will show tiny bubbles under magnification. A reputable gemological certificate is the most reliable confirmation.
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