There is an ancient Chinese saying: “Gold has value, but jade is invaluable.” Dating back to the Neolithic era (4000-2000 B.C.), roughly 12,000 years ago, the Chinese have woven mythology and belief structures around the semi-precious stone known as jade. Today, jade continues to hold value. This is why Judy’s Jewelry, Southwest Florida’s largest antique and vintage jewelry buyer, wants to tell you about all things jade.
The history of Jade
In China, jade is known as the stone of heaven but that isn’t the only culture known for using and honoring jade. The ancient Mesoamericans known as the Olmec used jade as far back as 1200-1000 B.C. Not long after that, the Mayans began to use jade as well. Once Spaniards discovered South America, they realized that Mayans valued Jade more than gold. Mayans used jade in their religious practices, ceremonial garb, as jewelry, but mostly as a healing stone. That is why the Spanish referred to jade as “piedra de ijada.” This phrase translates to “stone for the pain in the side,” and this phrase is where the word jade originates.
Jade: Jadeite and Nephrite
The term jade refers to two different silicate minerals: nephrite and jadeite. Both of these silicate-based minerals are referred to as jade because, until scientists in the mid 20th century were studying jade, no one realized that Nephrite and Jadeite were not the same thing. The two minerals have different chemical compositions, which makes for different harness, density and crystal structures. Jadeite is made of sodium aluminum silicate, while nephrite is made of calcium magnesium silicate. Despite nephrite and jadeite being chemically different, they are both classified as “Zhen yu” the term indicating genuine jade. Each type also varies in color depending on the ratio or concentration of minerals in the stone.
Jadeite ranges in color from lavender to white, brown, black or grey, and of course green. The emerald green translucent jadeite is the most prized jade and is often called Imperial Jade.
Nephrite Jade is softer, yet tougher as a stone than Jadeite. It ranges in color from green to brow, white or black and can include deposits of another type of stone, Serpentine. This last one is called Xiuyan Jade and is the most common type of affordable jade that is sold. It is considered to be traditional jade, used by the Chinese people since ancient times.
Both the popular varieties of jade, nephrite and jadeite, are found in metamorphic rocks. That means they are formed in current or ancient subduction zones. Deposits of jade can be found in Myanmar (formerly Burma), New Zealand, Guatemala, Canada, Taiwan, Guyana, Surinam, Southern Europe, Russia, China, and Australia. Deposits of nephrite are commonly surrounded by deposits of serpentine.
By contrast, false jade is a gemstone known as serpentine, which looks convincingly similar to jade. Additionally, chalcedony, a type of quartz, has been used to produce fake jade items. Visit us at Judy’s Antique and Estate Jewelry, Fort Myers, FL
