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Color: brown, blackish, lavender, white, various shades of green, frequently mottled in all combinations; occasionally brick red.
Mohs’ hardness: 6.5 - 7
Refractive Index: 1.654-1.667
Countries of Origin: Jadeite is most commonly found in Burma, which is also the sole significant source of imperial jade. They are usually found in large boulders with the inner contents rarely discernible from the outside.
In History, Literature and Lore: In prehistoric times, jade was used in all parts of the world for arms and instruments because of its exceptional toughness. For over 2,000 years, jade was part of religion in China, and mystical and cult figures were traditionally cut from it.
In China, it was called “yu,” though the name “jade”--which goes back to the Spanish conquest of central and south America-- is the one commonly used. It means “hip stone,” because it was seen as a protection against, and cure for, diseases of the kidneys. In Chinese culture, jade was also important after death.
Carved amulets were placed in the deceased mouth, with amulets and favorite pieces being included in the burial shroud, and on parts of the body. These “tomb jades,” were both offerings to the gods and believed to protect the body from decay.
In pre-Columbian central America, jade was more highly valued than gold. The Spanish conquistadors destroyed the art of jade carving in America, and following the Conquest, the jade sources were lost.
According to a Chinese encyclopedia written in 1596,“drinking a mixture of jade, rice and dew water strengthens the muscles, hardens the bones, calms the mind, enriches the flesh, and purifies the blood.” For the Chinese, jade is a symbol of longevity, given as gifts within the family and worn throughout a person’s lifetime.
What to Look For:
Jadeite is one of the toughest known gem materials. Its resistance to hammer blows is one way it is, in fact, identified in the field. This means that jadeite can be carved into fine and intricate forms with little risk of breakage. The material can be very difficult to polish. Veins, clots, zoning and deformation can produce various color formations and patterns.
The range of colors is due to substitutions of various elements in the rock. The most valuable is imperial jade, a translucent, rich emerald green jadeite from Burma which is even in color.
In stones that are typically mottled, even specimens are particularly prized. Another prized stone is apple-green jade, a brighter yellow green of extraordinary vibrance. Buyers should beware that jadeite might be bleach and polymer impregnated, and should be sent to a well-qualified lab for certification.
Other guides relating to jewelry and gemstone buying which you may find helpful are as follows:
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