Jadeit - Nefrit

Ancient humans discovered the unique qualities of Jade over 7000 years ago. Prized more for its toughness than its beauty, Jade was used in weapons and tools. Jade has a long history in the art and culture of the Chinese empire. As early as 3000 B.C., Jade was considered a royal gem, its value comparable to gold and diamonds. Jade was also prized by the Mayan, Olmec and Toltec cultures of South America. Ancient Egyptians considered Jade a gemstone that represented love, harmony and balance. Today, Jade is symbolic of goodness and beauty. It is thought to represent the virtues of wisdom, compassion and courage. The ancient and the modern combine in this natural-colored gem. Nephrite Jade ranges in color from dark sage to deep leafy green. Its moss-green hue brings an organic feel to jewelry designs. While many consider Jade to be a soft gem, Jade is a 6 to 6 ½ on the Moh’s scale of hardness, it is a tough gem – meaning that it is extremely resistant to cleaving or breaking. For this reason, Jade is typically carved or cut into cabochon shapes. We offer a wide range of settings for your cabochon-cut Jade.