It is a fallacy to think that Jadeite Jade comes only in green color. Jadeite can come in a multi color of the spectrum of the rainbow. Even a small piece of jade may have a few combinations of color. Or a jade can be of even green, lavender or caledon (light grayish).

Poetic Expressions of Jade Color:          The Chinese are very creative in the usage of poetic expressions to denote a jade piece with color combination. Perhaps this will help the jade dealer to create a myth around the jade or an expression linking the cosmos of sages and deities to the jade piece. For example a piece of tri-color jade would be called Fu Lu Shou (in Mandarin) meaning Good Luck, Prosperity and Longevity named after the 3 sages of the Chinese traditional mystical deities of Heaven.  It is believed that by putting a statue of each of the 3 sages or by wearing a jade amulet with tri-color which denotes their heavenly presence the believer will be conferred the 3 elements of happiness in the cataclysmic life of a human being with its never ending cycle of joy and sufferings as compared to a heavenly sage whose existence is eternally in bliss.  The mix of the 3 color combination is immaterial but the most preferred are Green, Lavender and White. Or a bi-color jade would be called Yin-Yang representing the duality of life of the Light and Dark, Male and Female and Positive and Negative.  It is through the balance of these 2 elements of postivie and negative that one will achieve happiness, harmony and contentment.

On the more practical side a chromium-rich dark green jadeite jade is called Imperial Jade which is named after the kingfisher bird with its multi-color feathers. A jade with the body color of white with a patch of green is called moss-on-snow or an 'oily' whitish jade may be called Mutton Fat.

Composition of Jadeite Jade:         The mineral of Jadeite Jade comprised of sodium aluminum silicates. In its pure form it is whitish in color. Over the millions of years of its formation some trace elements like chromium may be present during its crystallization. This will give the jade green color. Red jade is due to the oxidation process of ferrous oxide which is usually found on the crust surface. Lavender jade would be due to the presence of manganese or a charge-transfer within its atomic structure of its molecule.

Hence, do not be surprise if you find a piece of caledon color cabochon is a piece of natural jadeite jade.

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