|
|
jade gemstone sources
Nephrite gemstone is found in many parts of the world. Probably the earliest known and the most important source of nephrite is along the northern slopes of the Kuen Lun Mountains near Khotan in eastern Turkestan. Nephrite is also found in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Siberia, Switzerland, Taiwan, USA, and Zimbabwe. Jadeite is found in Guatemala, Turkestan, Myanmar, Japan, and USA (California). You can find our interactive map for gemstone of the world Here.
Jade in Jewellery
Due to their hardness, jadeite and nephrite have been used since Neolithic times for weapons and tools. Today jades are fashioned mainly as carvings, as beads, or as cabochons, the smaller carved pieces being used for ring stones, brooches or for drop earrings. The value of a jade item is as much a function of the the artistry of the carving or workmanship and the antiquity value as the color and quality of the jade itself. The complexities of evaluation caused by these factors make jade a very specialized gemstone. Shop from our Amazon-powered store Here or shop directly from amazon.com for jade jewellery.
Jade Gemstone Treatment and Care
Jade is often coated with colorless substances (plastic-type resins) to improve the surface uniformity. It is also sometimes dyed to give a shining color to the gemstone. Sometimes the dyes can fade overtimes therefore it should not be exposed to the sunlight and high temperature. Jade gemstone should not be cleaned by ultrasonic or steam cleaners. Jade-set jewellery should not come into contact with harsh chemicals such as strong household cleaners, as they can damage the wax coating and cause dulling to occur.
myths and magical properties of jade
In early times, jade was used for tools but with the evolution of stronger metals this use decreased and instead jade began to be seen as an amulet. It was believed to be able to heal various sorts of ailments, including kidney stones and stomach pains. This belief of jade’s medicinal properties appears to be widespread, and can be found among the ancient Greeks, native South Americans and Chinese.
Jade has occupied a very important position in Chinese history. Confucious wrote of the perfection and virtues of jade, stating that jade is ‘esteemed by all under the sky’. The Chinese believed that their emperor could speak to heaven through jade disks and that it had magical powers. The Chinese further believed that the consumption of powdered jade could relieve asthma, heartburn, promote fertility in women and stop the human body from decomposing after death.
Jade has occupied a very important position in Chinese history. Confucious wrote of the perfection and virtues of jade, stating that jade is ‘esteemed by all under the sky’. The Chinese believed that their emperor could speak to heaven through jade disks and that it had magical powers. The Chinese further believed that the consumption of powdered jade could relieve asthma, heartburn, promote fertility in women and stop the human body from decomposing after death.
Jade Gemstone Basic Properties Table
Jadeite Jade |
|
---|---|
Chemical Formula | sodium aluminium silicate |
Color | white to green, brown, orange or, rarely, lilac |
Hardness | 7 on the Mohs scale |
Crystal System | Monoclinic |
Refractive Index | 1.660-1.680 |
Nephrite Jade |
|
Chemical Formula | calcium magnesium aluminium silicate |
Color | green to creamy-white |
Hardness | 6.5 on the Mohs scale |
Crystal System | Monoclinic |
Refractive index |
1.61-1.63 |
Photo Credit: www.shutterstone.com