Jade: The Complete Guide

Jade is one of the most culturally resonant gemstones in human history. In China, it has been revered for over 7,000 years — no other gem has been so deeply integrated into a civilisation’s art, religion, philosophy, and sense of value. The Aztecs and Maya valued jade above gold. New Zealand Maori created heirlooms of nephrite jade (pounamu) that carried ancestral significance. Today, Imperial jade — the finest, most translucent green jadeite — sells for prices at auction that rival Kashmir sapphires and Burmese rubies. Jade is not an alternative gem; at the finest levels it is a primary gem in a class of its own.

Two Minerals: Jadeite and Nephrite

Jade is a commercial term covering two distinct minerals: jadeite and nephrite. Both have been called jade throughout history, both can display fine green colours, and both have been used in art and jewellery for millennia. But they differ significantly in chemistry, origin, hardness, and commercial value.

Jadeite

Jadeite is a sodium aluminium silicate (NaAlSi2O6) that belongs to the pyroxene mineral group. It forms under high-pressure, moderate-temperature metamorphic conditions — the same tectonic settings that produce the blueschist facies rocks associated with subduction zones. The primary commercial source is Myanmar (Burma), specifically the Hpakant area in Kachin State, which has produced gem-quality jadeite for at least several centuries and in large commercial quantities since the eighteenth century.

Jadeite has a Mohs hardness of 6.5-7 and exceptional toughness — it is interlocking masses of fine crystals that resist impact extremely well. The finest jadeite, called Imperial jade, is a vivid, highly saturated green with a high degree of translucency to near-transparency, caused by chromium. Imperial jade has an almost liquid quality — the light seems to glow from within rather than simply reflecting from the surface.

Nephrite

Nephrite is a calcium magnesium iron silicate belonging to the amphibole mineral group (tremolite-actinolite series). Its toughness is extraordinary — often cited as the toughest natural mineral known, superior even to steel in resistance to impact. This toughness made nephrite ideal for pre-historic cutting tools and weapons before metal-working technology developed. Nephrite colours range from white (the prized mutton fat or white jade of China) through cream, tan, grey, and various greens.

Major nephrite sources include China (Hetian/Hotan in Xinjiang), New Zealand, Canada (British Columbia), Russia (Siberia), and Australia. Hetian nephrite, particularly the finest white (mutton fat) and pale celadon varieties, commands strong prices in the Chinese luxury market. New Zealand pounamu (greenstone) is a taonga (treasure) with deep cultural significance to Maori people and is the subject of protective legislation.

Jade Quality Factors

Colour

For jadeite, the most valued colour is imperial green — vivid, saturated, pure green caused by chromium. Lavender jadeite (caused by iron and manganese) is the second most valuable colour. White, yellow, orange-red (red jade), and black jadeite each have their own markets and value levels. For nephrite, the mutton fat white (pure, slightly waxy white with no grey or green) is the most prized, followed by spinach green and pale celadon.

Translucency (Water Content)

In jadeite, the degree of translucency is described using the poetic Chinese term “water” — a stone with high translucency is said to have good water. The combination of vivid colour and excellent water is the hallmark of Imperial jade and is what separates stones worth thousands of dollars per carat from those worth cents per gram.

Texture

The texture of jade refers to the fineness and uniformity of the interlocking crystal structure. Finer texture produces a smoother, more even appearance and better polish. Coarser texture appears more granular. For jadeite, fine, even texture is a quality indicator.

Jade Treatments: A and B and C

The jade market uses a classification system for treatment levels that every professional must know. Type A jade is natural, untreated jade — the only jade that commands full market value. Type B jade has been bleached (with acid) to remove brown staining and then polymer-impregnated to restore stability and improve transparency. Type C jade has been bleached and dyed. Types B and C jade may initially appear attractive but degrade over time as the polymer breaks down or the dye fades, and they sell at a fraction of the price of Type A material.

Detection of Type B and C jade requires FTIR spectroscopy for the polymer and UV lamp or chemical testing for dyes. The Raman spectroscopy signature of jadeite is unaffected by treatment, but polymer peaks in FTIR are diagnostic. Any significant jade purchase should be laboratory tested to confirm Type A status before the transaction is completed.