Nephrite and Jadeite Jade.

Jadeite Earrings with Seed Pearl

We often are asked the question on the difference between Nephrite and Jadeite.

We looked through reliable internet sources on what we thought were easy to understand definitions of the Stone Jade for our Customers.

Jadeite Ring with Diamonds

Jadeite and nephrite are both regarded in China as ‘zhen yu’, ‘genuine jade’.

It was not until the beginning of the 19th century that mineralogists and gemologists started to differentiate between them, since they bear a considerable resemblance to each other in terms of their appearance, their hardness and the properties they exhibit when being processed.

Both are tough, since they consist of dense, close-grained, matted aggregates, but they differ from one another in their chemical composition and colors.

Nephrite ranges mainly from mid to dark green or grey-green, but it can also be white, yellowish or reddish.

Nephrite Carved Jade

Nephrite consists of a microcrystalline interlocking fibrous matrix of the calcium, magnesium-iron rich amphibole mineral series tremolite (calcium-magnesium) )

-ferroactinolite (calcium-magnesium-iron). The middle member of this series with an intermediate composition is called actinolite (the silky fibrous mineral form is one form of asbestos). The higher the iron content the greener the color.

Rarer, and somewhat tougher, jadeite displays hues which include green, but also white or pink, and reds, blacks, browns and violets. 

Jadeite is a sodium- and aluminium-rich pyroxene. The gem form of the mineral is a microcrystalline interlocking crystal matrix

In both minerals, the way the color is distributed varies a great deal.

Only in the very finest jade is the color evenly distributed. Both nephrite and jadeite often have veins, blemishes and streaks running through them, though these may not always be regarded as flaws.

On the contrary, some of these patterns are considered particularly valuable.

Jadeite Carved Pendant Beautiful Colors

All of the Sample Jade Pieces in our Blog Photos are:

Natural A Grade Jade with NO ENHANCEMENTS.

The Question of Every Jade Buyers Mind: Enhancement:

Note: The Addition of a D Grade Jade is something new and I have not seen examples of these D Grade Pieces in our Estate Acquisitions.

Jade may be enhanced (sometimes called “stabilized”).

Note that some merchants will refer to these as Grades, but it is important to bear in mind that degree of enhancement is different from color and texture quality.

In other words, Type A jadeite is not enhanced but can have poor color and texture.

There are three main methods of enhancement, sometimes referred to as the ABC Treatment System:^[15]

• Type A jadeite has not been treated in any way except surface waxing.
• Type B treatment involves exposing a promising but stained piece of jadeite to chemical bleaches and/or acids and impregnating it with a clear polymer resin. This results in a significant improvement of transparency and colour of the material. Currently, infrared spectroscopy is the most accurate test for the detection of polymer in jadeite.
• Type C jade has been artificially stained or dyed. The effects are somewhat uncontrollable and may result in a dull brown. In any case, translucency is usually lost.
• B+C jade is a combination of B and C: it has been both impregnated and artificially stained.
• Type D jade refers to a composite stone such as a doublet comprising a jade top with a plastic backing.

Reference information Sources:

http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121:sapphire&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade