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Article Series: Jewelry
A Quick Education On Jewelry
The
2 Kinds Of Jade Gemstones
Contrary to popular belief there are actually
two kinds of the jade gemstones. The two kinds of jade are
jadeite jade and nephrite jade. The two minerals share the
same name, but they have very different chemical compositions,
gemological properties, and appearances. These two types of
jade may also be known as soft and hard jade. Jade has a strong
association with the ancient Chinese culture, and ancient Chinese
societies used jade for decorations, knives, needles, and axes.
Ancient Chinese people viewed white jade as the most precious
of all jade, and saw green jade as being inferior to the ancient
jade. The Chinese people used Green jade as decoration. The
view and the uses of jade changed with each Chinese dynasty.
During the Tang dynasty, jade was reserved for the royal families.
On the other hand, during the Song dynasty, the technology
of making jade became easier, which made it popular and obtainable
by the common people.
Although jade is associated with China, most jadeite is found
in Burma, and has only been shipped to China since the late
18th century. Nephrite was the traditional jade of China, but
other gems that were green like jade were given the same name
of Yu. It was the most used jade in pre-1800 China, New Zealand,
the Pacific Coast and Atlantic Coasts of North America, neolithic
Europe, and southeast Asia. There are many differences between
jadeite and nephrite. The nephrite jade consists of the calcium-and-magnesium-rich
amphibole mineral actinolite. On the other hand jadeite consists
mainly of jadeite, which is a sodium-and aluminum-rich pyroxene.
The nephrite mineral is often found in a creamy white color
and a variety of green colors, but jadeite has many more color
variations than this. Jadeite may be found in blue, lavender-mauve,
pink, and emerald green colors. The jadeite mineral is also
more rare than nephrite, and has only been found in less than
12 places in the world. Translucent emerald green jadeite is
also more valued and prized than any nephrite kind. Jadeite
is sometimes called “imperial” jade, and is much more highly
valued than nephrite. The top-grade cabochons of jadeite sell
for more than $50,000 in Asia.
True imperial jade color is rare, and the jadeite is most
often dyed in order to improve its appearance. Jadeite is often
said to bear a close resemblance to emerald when it is at its
finest green color. Quality jadeites are said to be uniform
in color, not blotchy, semi-transparent in natural light, and
inclusion free when lit through from behind with a penlight
or other bright light source. Nephrite jade is a magnificent
mineral that can be carved or cut into cabochons. The nephrite
can be found in abundance in northern Canada, which is sometimes
referred to as British Colombia jade.
Top quality nephrite jade has a darker green shade, is translucent
to opaque, is a color that is called “spinach,” and it is oily
in appearance. There is some likeness between the jadeite and
nephrite jade. The internal structures of both kinds of jade
are the same. For example, if a light is shining in the back
of a nephrite are jadeite jade gem, fibrous, felt like intertwining
will be visible. However, nephrite is more fibrous than jadeite,
and jadeite is more granular than nephrite. Nephrite is made
up of long, fibrous interwoven crystals, and jadeite it made
up of granular crystals grouped in clusters. The gemstones
are also both hard and extremely tough, which makes them resistant
to chipping, breaking, and cracking. The ancient Chinese viewed
the jade’s permanence as a major part of the jade’s presence.
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: 2008
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