Jade
Jade: An Imperial Miracle
While colored gemstones like sapphires and rubies were widely used in Europe, jade has been the most beloved gemstone in South America and Asia for centuries. Jade has been a symbol of status and purity in China for millennia, and jade jewelry is therefore highly prized. The mineral jade actually consists of two mineral groups: jadeite and nephrite.
Maya and Aztec
Jade is also a material with an ancient history in South America. The Mayans and Aztecs used jadeite not only to carve religious and utility objects but also to powder it for medicinal purposes.
The name "jade" comes from the Spanish "pietra de ijada," meaning "stone for side pain." Early Spanish explorers observed that the inhabitants of South America tied pieces of the mineral around their waists to cure or alleviate various aches and pains.
Royal gemstone
Jade, however, is best known for its centuries-old connection to Chinese culture. Nephrite jade was used as early as 3000 BC. In China, they called the material "yu," meaning "royal gemstone." World-famous are the shrouds, made of countless small nephrite jade slabs, which have been discovered in tombs dating back to the second century BC. From around 3000 BC.
The first jadeite reached China from Myanmar, and early nineteenth-century sculptors created masterpieces that remain unsurpassed in concept, design, and technical execution. The rarest variety was reserved exclusively for the Chinese emperors. The mineral was considered so precious that Chinese emperors even waged wars to acquire exceptional pieces. Jade symbolizes prosperity, success, and happiness to this day, and is therefore widely worn as a talisman and in jade jewelry.
Strong stuff
Many people are unaware that jade is actually composed of two materials: nephrite and jadeite. Both are minerals composed of tiny, indistinguishable mineral crystals. Because jade is actually made up of a combination of tiny mineral crystals, the material is very strong and can be used to carve utensils: a well-known example is jade bracelets, which are made from a single piece of gemstone.
Jadeite comes in a wide range of attractive colors: many shades of green, yellow, and reddish-orange, plus white, gray, black, brown, and lavender (often a light purple or light grayish-violet). The color is often streaked or mottled, giving jadeite gemstones an interesting visual texture that sculptors can use to create imaginative and intriguing effects.
Shine bright like a jade stone
The quality of jade is determined differently than most other gemstones. Many gemstones are transparent and are faceted to allow light to pass through. Jade is semi-transparent to opaque and is therefore usually carved into small sculptures. Therefore, jade is primarily assessed for its color and luster before being incorporated into jade jewelry.
High-quality jadeite is semi-transparent and has an oily sheen. Lower-quality jadeite is opaque and has a less oily sheen. The most common color of jade is green, but the mineral occurs in a wide range of colors, from white to yellow and lilac to fiery red, blue, and brown. In Asia, white is the most valuable color, but green and purple jade are also highly prized. Nephrite is also accepted as jade in the international gemstone and jewelry industry. It ranges from translucent to opaque and can be light to dark green, yellow, brown, black, gray, or white. The colors are more muted than those of jadeite, and the material is often mottled or striped.
(Modern gemologists use the word "jade" collectively to refer to both nephrite and jadeite. These gemstones have been linked throughout history. In fact, the term jade has also been applied to a number of gemstones and decorative materials that resemble jade, and even to some man-made equivalents that resemble jadeite and nephrite.)
Maintenance
Jade is durable, but it can scratch. Clean it with lukewarm water and a soft cloth. Do not use harsh chemicals or steam. Handle jade with care to maintain its shine.
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