Jade

Jade is usually carved to bring out its beauty. It is most often used in pendants and statues.

There are two types of Jade: Jadeite and Nephrite.

Jadeite is rarer and the highest quality is known as imperial Jade. Jadeite comes in many colors: red, yellow, green, lilac, black, orange, white, pink, blue and brown. Jadeite has a hardness of 7.

Nephrite Jade is more common and is often used in chinese carvings. Nephrite Jade comes in various tones of green -- mostly with an olive green tone. It has a hardness of 6.5.

Be aware that Serpentine is often sold as Jade.

Reputable dealers will not use the following misleading terms. However, for your protection, I am listing them here:

"Amazon jade" and "Colorado Jade" is really Amazonite (green feldspar).

"American jade" is really the Californite (green variety of idocrase).

"Imperial mexican jade" and "mexican jade" are really green-dyed calcite.

"Indian jade" is really aventurine.

"Korea jade" and "New jade" are really Serpentine.

Jadeite is from Myanmar, Japan, and USA (Alaska and California). Nephrite Jade is from Myanmar, Russia, China and USA(Wyoming).

Jade is the anniversary gemstone for the 12th, 30th and 35th year of marriage.

Jade is said to help one relax. It is considered a very balanced stone -- it helps one in both the vision of tasks to do as well as doing the actual tasks.

Jade has been thought of as the concentrated essense of love.

In China, jade is regarded as a special stone. It is believed that when handled some of the secret virtue of the substance is absorbed into the body.

Legends have it that the Spanish conquers of Central America wore amulets of Jadeite to prevent/cure hip and kidney complaints.