Nephrite Jade
901750 - Tiffany "Peretti" Gold Nephrite Jade Ring
"Jade" is a cultural term for one of the oldest and most loved gemstones on Earth. Jadeite and nephrite are minerals that have both been called jade for thousands of years. Jade is considered a spiritual stone that’s intricately woven into the Chinese culture. However, what we know about jade today is far different from how our prehistoric ancestors valued this ancient gem. Jade is one of the most symbolic and important gemstones across multiple cultures and countries. In ancient Mayan and Aztec civilizations, jade was a healing crystal and symbol of pride. In China, jade represents clarity and purity, and jade carvings elevated this ancient stone to worldwide recognition as a sacred art. Being a very durable material, Chinese craftsmen have fashioned it into ax heads, weapons, and tools because of its toughness.
42982 - Silver Nephrite Jade Tourmaline Bead Necklace
A few hundred years ago, master Chinese craftsmen recognized that some of the jade obtained from Burma, (now the Union of Myanmar) was different. It was harder, denser, and produced a higher luster upon polishing. This beautiful fine-grained material with a bright translucence and a rich, uniform green color gradually became the form of jade preferred by Chinese artisans and the jade most highly prized by the Chinese people.
23476 - Art Deco Platinum Diamond Jadeite Pin
They realized this long before scientists differentiated jadeite and nephrite in 1863. Unknowingly, Chinese craftsmen had distinguished jadeite from nephrite and appreciated it enough to pay premium prices for jadeite. Although most people who think of jadeite, imagine a beautiful green, the material occurs in a wide variety of colors.
45066 - Tiffany "Peretti" Gold Nephrite Bead Necklace
While jade is sacred in China, traditional Chinese jade is nephrite, since there are large deposits of nephrite in China, but no jadeite. For centuries, nephrite was believed to be the only form of jade. Nephrite is Greek for kidney, and is by far the more common form of jade. Nephrite ranges in color from mid to dark green or grey-green, but it can also be white, yellowish or reddish. Before the introduction of jadeite,in the 18th century, the Chinese tended to value translucent white nephrite. But the jadeite from Burma came in a wider range of colors, that includes green, white, lavender, yellow, blue, black, red, orange, and gray.
42713 - GIA Nephrite Carved Jade Rabbit Goat Pendant
Variances in the crystal structure composition between nephrite and jadeite influence the strength of the stone. Nephrite is the material stone workers used in the Stone Age, and is also the material artisans use to craft intricate Chinese figures and jewelry filled with ancient mystical allure. The composition of the jadeite’s crystal structure is made of grain-like crystals making it a harder material than nephrite. While nephrite is slightly softer composition allows for intricate carvings, jadeite being a denser material results in a gem that may be polished to brilliant finish.
901061 - Marquise Yellow Diamond Nephrite Jade Dinner Ring
Because of its beauty, the finest quality jadeite is held with the highest esteem. An untreated natural Burmese jadeite with a rich, intense emerald green color and high translucency, is considered the most valuable of all green gems. It’s easily understood why the royal court of China once had a standing order for all available material of this kind, and why today it’s still one of the world’s most desirable gems.
43168 - Seed Pearl And Carved Jadeite Edwardian Sautoir Necklace
Sources:https://www.gia.edu/search?q=nephrite
https://www.christies.com/features/Collecting-Guide-Jade-Jewellery-6718-1.aspx
https://jadeite-atelier.com/blogs/jade-articles/what-is-jade-jadeite-and-nephrite/