Generally, blue is the color of jade that is the rarest because it comes from only a few deposits found in Guatemala, Japan and Myanmar. Green and lavender jade are more common.
Hue (zheng): Top-quality jadeite is pure green. While its hue position is usually slightly more yellow than that of fine emerald and it never quite reaches the same saturation of color, the ideal for jadeite is a fine "emerald" green.
Since lavender/purple jade is among the rarest in the world, and Turkish purple jade does not have the luminescence or jadeite concentration of traditional gemstone jades.
The stone itself is typically of a green hue, but variations of it can range anywhere from a pale green/brown to near black. The color name "Jade" itself can refer to several shades of green.
Green jade has been treasured in the Far East and Central America for thousands of years and was even given the status of royal gemstone by these ancient civilizations. The sacred stone is considered a sign of luck and good fortune. It is also associated with abundance, wealth, and prosperity.
Imperial Jade from Burma is the most expensive type of Jade. It is the most expensive because it is the highest quality, the most sought-after color, and remains today the most highly prized source of jadeite around the world.
The intensity of the colour of Jade will only change due to dirt or grease that can sometimes get trapped on the surface, or if the Jade piece has undergone colour treatment, gradually fading to its original state as time passes.
It is typically green, although may be yellow or white. Jade can refer to either of two different silicate minerals: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in the amphibole group of minerals), or jadeite (a silicate of sodium and aluminium in the pyroxene group of minerals).
Like our other new jade beads, rainbow jade is actually bowenite, a type of serpentine that is similar to nephrite jade. The beautiful color variations in these semiprecious beads are achieved with a colorfast dye, and include delicious fruit shades of raspberry (burgundy), cherry, apricot and green pear.
"Rainbow Jade" or "Hummel's Sunset" is a cultivar of Crassula ovata, formerly C. argentea, which is known for its golden yellow leaves with bright red tips.
Black jade is a rare gemstone that is highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike. Its scarcity can be attributed to the fact that it is only found in certain parts of the world. Plus, black jade requires specific geological conditions to form, which further limits its availability.
White Jade has been used with this purpose for hundreds of years. It was considered to be a lucky stone, whether it came to health, love or business. This stone is known for its power to make you feel calm and peaceful. White Jade also has the ability to increase or enhance the energy of love in your life.
Durability. Emerald has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, while jade is slightly softer, at 6.5 to 7 (nephrite is softer than jadeite, at 6 to 6.5 hardness). However, emerald gemstones tend to have imperfect cleavage, which makes them vulnerable to chipping.
The most expensive examples of jade are in so called Imperial Jade color, which is a rich and vibrant emerald green. In order to reach the highest value possible, jade stone must be as pure as possible with no specks of gray or other colors.
Maintenance and Care. Caring for a Natural Jade Bangle requires very little. The material itself is very tough and will resist to chips and breaks.
Color is one of the most important factors in determining the value of jade. The most valuable colors are green, white, and lavender. The more intense the color, the more valuable the stone. Jade that has been dyed or treated is usually a uniform color with little variation.
There are two main types of jade, nephrite and jadeite, and each has its own unique set of properties and treatments. Nephrite jade is the more common of the two types and is typically a softer, more porous stone. It can be found in a variety of colours, but green is by far the most popular.
The term 'jade' is actually a catch-all term that encompasses two separate minerals: nephrite, which is more opaque and traditionally used for sculptural objects and ornaments; and jadeite, which is more translucent and can be polished to a high lustre, making it more suitable for jewellery.
Thankfully, the truth about natural, untreated jadeite jade is that it will in fact not change color over time. Natural jade is impervious to perfumes, oils, and most cold acids.
Our customers often note how specific stones call to them, so we do believe the stone can choose you to an extent. However, there is no traditional tikanga (teaching) that states this is due to a spirit within the stone or that choosing and purchasing a stone for oneself would result in a tapu of bad luck.
Extensive exposure to water, especially hot water, can result in the loosening of your stone. We recommend you remove your jade jewelry before swimming, showering, etc.
The most coveted – and therefore the most valuable – is a very specific shade of green known as imperial jade. There are other shades of green jade including kingfisher jade, apple jade and moss-in-snow jade.
At the top end, it can be worth more than gold. In fact, it's so valuable, that criminals half a world away are taking notice. A gang in the UK was recently sentenced to prison for plundering jade artefacts from museums and an auction house.