If you’ve ever wondered what a real jade stone looks like, wonder no more! In this blog post, we’ll take a close look at real jade stones to see what makes them so special.
Table of Contents
What is a real jade stone?
Jade is a ornamental stone, used in carvings, jewelry, and other art objects. Though most commonly associated with Asian art, jade can be found in numerous cultures across the globe. The word jade is derived from the Spanish piedra de ijada or loinstone, as it was believed to cure renal colic.
What are the characteristics of jade?
Jade is typically green, though it can also be white, black, or orange. The green variety is most popular and most valuable; the black and orange jades are less common but still prized for their beauty. All colors of jade are semitranslucent to opaque. Jade is typically found in massive form; it very rarely occurs as crystals.
How is jade used?
Jade has been used for centuries for a wide variety of purposes, from practical tools to religious artifacts to decorative objects. In many cultures, jade is associated with purity and is often used in burial rites; in others, it symbolizes power and strength. In China, where some of the finest quality jade originates, the stone is particularly revered and has been used in everything from sculptures to jewelry to musical instruments.
How to identify a real jade stone?
Jade is formed in metamorphic rocks under high pressure and heat. The stone is made up of interlocking grains of different minerals, most commonly nephrite and jadeite. The word “jade” is used to describe both nephrite and jadeite.
The two stones are different colors, with nephrite being green and jadeite being white, green, or lavender. Nephrite Nephrite is a soft stone that has been used in the manufacture of tools and weapons since prehistoric times. It is still used today in the manufacture of knives, axes, and other edged weapons.
Nephrite is also carved into various objects such as vases, figurines, beads, and other jewelry. Jadeite Jadeite is a harder stone that was first used by the ancient Maya civilization in the manufacture of ritual objects. Jadeite is still used today in the manufacture of jewelry and other ornamental objects.
The history of jade stones
Jade has been used for making tools, weapons and ornaments for over 5,000 years, and was even believed to possess magical powers by some cultures. The name ‘jade’ is thought to come from Spanish settlers in Central America, who referred to the stone as ‘piedra de ijada’ meaning ‘stone of the loins’, because they believed it could cure renal colic.
Jade is a metamorphic rock that forms when sedimentary or igneous rocks are subjected to high pressures and temperatures deep within the Earth’s crust.
There are two types of jade – nephrite and jadeite – which differ in their composition and hardness. Nephrite is made up of calcium and magnesium-rich minerals, whereas jadeite contains sodium and aluminium.
Nephrite is slightly softer than jadeite, but both types of jade can be polished to a bright sheen. Jade was first mined in China, and was primarily used by the ruling classes as a status symbol. In fact, only members of the Imperial family were allowed to wear certain colors of jade; blue-green nephrite was reserved for the Emperor himself, while green jade was associated with rank and power.
The meaning and symbolism of jade stones
Real Jade stones are considered to be lucky charms by many cultures, and they are often used in jewelry and other decorative items. The stone is also said to have healing properties.
The different types of jade stones
Jade comes in many colors, but green jade is the best known and most highly prized. Real Jade stones can be either “moss-in-snow” type with dark green mottling on a white background, or “apple” green with even color throughout. The finest quality jade is called “Imperial Jade” and has an emerald-green color.
“Jade is green, though it can also be white, black, or orange. Jade has been used for centuries for a wide variety of purposes, from tools to jewelry to musical instruments. In China, where some of the finest quality jade originates, jade is particularly revered.”
Located in present day Myanmar, which was then known as Upper Burma, the finest quality jade has been mined in a small area along the Nwa River for over 6000 years. Although jade is found in many places around the world, only a handful of those deposits have yielded commercial grade stone suitable for carving.
Notable sources of jade include Guatemala, Russia, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The majority of today’s commercial jade is produced in China from their extensive deposits in Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces.
Depending on its source, jade can vary considerably in hardness. Jades from Myanmar are typically much harder than Chinese jades for example. As a result of these variations, some types of jade are better suited to certain types of carving than others.
How to care for your real jade stone
Jade is a metamorphic rock that is physically and chemically different from the original igneous or sedimentary rocks from which it was formed. Jade is composed of interlocking crystals of any one of three minerals: nephrite, jadeite, or chuckite.
All three minerals form durably over a wide range of metamorphic temperatures and pressures and have similar physical properties except for color and Mohs hardness. Jade has been treasured for centuries for its beauty, durability, and mystical powers.
Jade is worn as a protective talisman and is thought to keep the wearer from harm, encourage wisdom, bring wealth, prolong life, and cure illness. It is also used as a symbol of love and virtue. Jade is found in colors ranging from emerald green to lavender-mauve to deep orange-red.
The most highly valued jade is “imperial green” jadeite; less valuable colors include lavender, white, yellow, grey, and black. Nephrite jade is found in a wide range of colors including emerald green, apple green, leek green, spinach green, olive green, blackish green, cyan (blue-green), white or cream colored (mottled with dark veins), grey or greyish white (mottled with black veins), brown or chocolate brown (mottled with white veins), and orange or reddish brown (mottled with white or creamy yellow veins).
Nephrite can be translucent to opaque; the more translucent stones are more highly valued. Jadeite comes in a much narrower range of colors: most commonly shades of green but also white (often referred to as “mutton fat” jade), grayish white or cream colored (often referred to as “rice” jade), blue , lavender , pink , crimson red , orangey red , and violet . Like nephrite , some stones are slightly translucent while others are opaque.
The more intensely colored the stone, the more valuable it is considered to be. How to care for your real jade stone: – Wash your stone before first use – Cleanse your stone regularly – Do not use harsh chemicals – Store your stone in a cool dry place
How to incorporate a real jade stone into your life
Jade has been used as a gemstone, carvings, and healing stone for centuries. It is believed to promote balance, inner peace and wisdom.
There are many ways that you can incorporate a real jade stone into your life:
1. Wear it as jewelry: Jade can be made into beautiful bracelets, necklaces and earrings. It’s a great way to keep the stone close to your body so that you can benefit from its energies.
2. Place it in your home: real Jade stones make lovely home décor pieces. Place them in areas where you want to promote positive energy, such as near the front door or in the living room.
3. Use it in meditation: Hold a real jade stone in your hand during meditation or place it on your third eye (between your eyebrows) to help you focus and connect with your higher self.
4. Carry it with you: Keep a real jade stone in your purse or pocket so that you can access its energies throughout the day.
8. Frequently Asked Questions about real jade stones
-What is real Jade?
Jade is a metamorphic rock that is made up of different minerals, including nephrite and jadeite. It has been used for centuries in Asia for carving, as well as for making jewelry and other decorative objects.
-How can you tell if a jade stone is real?
The easiest way to tell if a jade stone is real is to look at its color. Real jade stones are usually green, although they can also be white, black, or even pink or purple. If the stone is any other color, it is likely not real jade.
-What are the different types of jade?
There are two main types of jade: nephrite and jadeite. Nephrite is the more common type of jade, and it is typically green in color. Jadeite is less common and can be white, black, or even pink or purple.
-Is all Jade valuable?
No, not all jade is valuable. The value of a jade stone depends on its quality, size, color, and clarity.
