Jade stone is one of the world’s oldest and most expensive gemstones. People primarily use jade in jewelry production, while some believe it performs spiritual functions. Countries like China and New Zealand revere it because of its importance to their traditions.
Understanding Jade Stone
Jade stone is a semi-precious gemstone obtained from silicate minerals and used as jewelry or ornaments. It can be green, lavender, orange, red, yellow, or white. It symbolizes gentleness, serenity, harmony, and balance.
It is one of the oldest gemstones in various countries of the world, especially China, Egypt, New Zealand, and Latin America. Its usage differs in these countries depending on their culture and value. Jade stone always looks beautiful on all types of jewelry pieces.
Types of Jade Stone
There are two types of jade stones with different features and chemical compositions.
1. Jadeite
Jadeite is a type of jade stone containing sodium and aluminum silicate. Jadeite is classed as pyroxene and is available in many colors. The presence of trace elements such as chromium and iron determines the color of jadeite.
The most common colors of jadeite are green and white. Green and white jadeite are also the most valued form of Jade Stone.
2. Nephrite
Nephrite jade is an ornamental stone used in carvings, beads, or cabochon-cut gemstones. It contains calcium, magnesium, and tremolite and is mostly colored gray or green.
Nephrite was primarily used in China, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia during the 1800s.
Properties of Jade Stone
Jade stone has unique features which make it solid, compact, and impossible to erode. Even when it is covered in dust, its characteristics do not change.
Color
One of the properties of the jade stone is its unique color. Jadeite is primarily green, while nephrite appears in lavender, red, orange, white, black, and gray colors.
The aesthetic value of jade stone has caused many to admire it for centuries.
Value
The price of jade stone varies considerably; the cheapest stones cost around $5 per carat. However, prices can occasionally reach up to $3 million per carat. Various colors of jade stones have different economic value.
- Green Jade Stones
Green jade stones are the most expensive jade stones and can cost millions of dollars. The most costly green jade stones have a vibrant hue without even a touch of gray. Sometimes it appears as pure green, slightly bluish green, or somewhat yellowish green.
- Lavender Jade Stones
Lavender is the next most valuable color of jade stones. It’s admired by many, especially in China, where it is part of their cultural attire.
- Other Jade Stones
Black jade is also popular, along with orange to reddish jade, especially when these colors are not brownish. These other jade stones are more affordable.
Texture
Jade stones always have a very smooth texture that makes people desire to touch and hold them. Some jade stones might have fine, medium, or coarse textures depending on the crystal size and hardness.
Weight and Size
Millimeters are a popular unit of measurement for jade stone size. An increase in size increases the value of cabochons, beads, and bangle bracelets.
Transparency
The transparency of jade stone ranges from wholly opaque to semi-transparent. This feature of jade stone makes it unique.
Semi-transparent jadeite shines with a seductive brilliance because light can pass through it below the surface. It nearly seems to glow, enhancing the allure of an intense shade of lavender or lush green.
The least acceptable jadeites are fully opaque or have transparent areas broken up by opaque or foggy regions.
Identification of Jade Stone
Since Jade Stone is one of the most admired gemstones in the world, it’s essential to know how to identify it. You can use the following measures to identify genuine and fake jade.
Test the Hardness of the Jade Stone
The first step you need to take towards identifying jade stone is to test its hardness. Jade stones score between 6 and 7 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness.
You can perform the hardness test by scratching the stone with a knife. Original jade stones should not show any scratch marks. A scratch might indicate a softer stone, such as serpentine or chrysolite.
Washing the Jade Stone with Clean Water
One of the ways to identify a natural jade stone is by washing it with clean water in a white bowl. Washing will let you know if it’s a dyed stone or a real jade stone. If the color changes, it’s not real.
You must be careful because Nephrites sometimes undergo treatments like dying, lightening, and polymer injections.
Professional Jewelers
Professional jewelers and gemologists are always the most reliable means to check your stones. These experienced professionals have the necessary equipment to correctly identify if you have a real jade stone.