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What Is Jade?

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Jade is a generic term for two different gems, nephrite and jadeite. The name is derived from the Spanish pjedrade jiada. The jade was recognized by the American Indians as a remedy for kidney aliments. Because of its beneficial effect on the kidneys, the stone was also known as lapis nephriticus, and that is were the term nephrite came from.

Jadeite and nephrite are both regarded in China as genuine jade. Because they bear a considerable resemblance to each other in terms of their appearance, their hardness and the properties they exhibit when processed, mineralogist and gemologists were not able to differentiate between them until the beginning of the 19th century. Both are tough, since they consist of dense, close-grained, matted aggregates, but they differ from one another in their chemical composition and colors.

Nephrite ranges mainly from mid to dark green or gray-green, but it can also be white, yellowish or reddish. More rare and somewhat tougher, jadeite displays hues that include green, but also white or pink, and reds, blacks, browns and violets. In both minerals, the way the color is distributed varies a great deal. Only in the finest jade is the color evenly distributed. Both nephrite and jadeite often have veins, blemishes and streaks running through them, though these may not always be regarded as flaws.

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