Jade

[kristin]

Jade has been cherished for millennia. Modern gemologists use the word “jade” as a generic term for two different mineral aggregates- Nephrite and Jadeite. They are both soft enough to carve, but tough enough to withstand repeated hammer blows. The two minerals look and feel very similar but they have different chemical compositions. Another difference between the two types of jade is Jadeite is more rare than Nephrite, so it is higher priced. Color is visible difference; nephrite’s greens are more subdued, darker and less saturated.

[kristin]

Nephrite was once the only jade known in China. It is still popular today as a less expensive jadeite alternative or on its own as a beautiful ornamental stone. In addition the green, nephrite can be yellow, red, brown, white, gray, black and very rarely blue.

[kristin]

Jadeite’s most important value factor is color. A very specific shade of vivid green is jadeite’s most desirable color but it also comes in lavender, red, orange, yellow, brown, white, black, and gray.

[kristin]

There are 3 classes of treatment used on Jadite.
Type A jadite is natural Jadite that is dipped into melted wax to improve luster.
Type B jadite is natural jadeite that is soaked in acid bleaches to talk own undesireable color, then impregnating the jadeite under pressure with parafin wax or polymer resin.
Type C jadeite takes the treatment one step further by introducing green dye to the jadeite.

Heat treatment is sometimes done to produce orange and reddish colors in material that contains some yellow or brown.