Jade is a dense, opaque gemstone with a smooth and waxy texture. It comes in a range of colours, including green, white, grey, black, and purple. The most highly prized colour of jade is an intense, translucent green known as "imperial jade."

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Heritage

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Jade has been highly valued in many cultures for thousands of years. In China, it was believed to have magical properties that could protect the wearer and bring good luck. The ancient Maya also revered jade and used it in religious ceremonies. Today, jade is still highly valued in China, as well as in many other parts of the world.

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Physical Properties

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Jade is a mineral composed of either jadeite jade or nephrite jade. It has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, making it a relatively durable gemstone. Jade has a vitreous to waxy lustre and a specific gravity of 2.90 to 3.30. It has no cleavage and a conchoidal fracture.

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Colour

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Jade comes in a variety of colours, with green being the most common. Other colours include white, orange, grey, black, and purple. The most highly prized colour of jade is an intense, translucent green known as "imperial jade."

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Treatments

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Jade is often treated to improve its colour and translucency. Treatment methods include bleaching, dyeing, and impregnation with polymers. Treated jade is quite common.

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Geographic Origin

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Jade is found in many parts of the world, including China, Myanmar, Russia, Canada, and the United States. The most highly valued jade usually comes from Myanmar, where it is known as "Burmese jade." Chinese jade, which comes in a range of colours, including white, green, and black, is also highly valued.

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Synthetic

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Synthetic jade, also known as "jadeite jade," is produced in laboratories using the hydrothermal method. Synthetic jade has the same chemical and physical properties as natural jadeite, but is quite rare.

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Others

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Jade is often used for carvings, such as figurines and jewelry, as well as for decorative objects, such as vases and bowls. It is also believed to have healing properties and is used in traditional Chinese medicine. In addition, jade has been used in architectural elements and furnishings, such as door handles and screens.