Jade Jewelry

     Jade is the Anniversary stone of the 12th year. Jade jewelry has been treasured in China as the royal gemstone for 5,000 years and the Chinese character for jade resembles a capital "I" with a line across the middle. The top is meant to represent the heavens, the bottom the earth, and the middle section mankind. The word "yu" is used to describe this symbol, and is used when describing something precious in Chinese, as we would use the word gold in America. Jade was believed to preserve the body after death and can be found in Emperors tombs from thousands of years ago. As well, for thousands of years, jade was a symbol of love and virtue, as well as a status symbol.

     Most Europeans were unfamiliar with the use of jade as a gemstone for jewelry until the sixteenth century, even though tools carved from jade from prehistoric times have been found. The ancient jade carved in China was what we today call nephrite jade. In the nineteenth century it was discovered that the material from Central America that people thought was jade was not the same mineral as the jade from China. This central American mineral was called jadeite to distinguish it from the original nephrite.

     Today it is the jadeite jade that is considered the real jade, commanding higher prices because it comes in a much more vivid green and finer translucency than nephrite jade. Jadeite jade is produced in Burma, which is now known as Myanmar.

     The best jade is usually cut into smooth dome shapes called cabochons. Jade bangles are popular in Asian countries. Because of its smooth, even texture, jade has long been a preferred material for carving. The most common shape for jade is the flat donut shape disc called pi, which is commonly worn as a necklace.

     Jadeite jade is most treasured for its vivid greens, but it also comes in lavender, pink, yellow and white. Nephrite is found in less intense dark spinach greens, whites, browns and blacks.

     Jade is most often sold by the piece rather than the carat. Overall colour is the most important factor in value, but attention is also paid to translucency, texture and patterns.

     Jade is thought to have healing powers for the kidney, heart, larynx, liver, parathyroid, spleen, thymus, thyroid and the parasympathetic ganglia. It is said to strengthen body; longevity.

Price:
     Next to certain rare colors of diamond (such as blue, pink and red), jadeite is the world's most expensive gem, with prices above even ruby and sapphire. The record price for a single piece of jadeite jewelry was set at the November 1997 - a necklace of 27 approximately 15 mm jadeite beads, sold for US $9.3 million. The most valuable jadeites are those of high translucency and rich green color. Nephrite has little value as a gem in and of itself, but carvings can be quite valuable.

     For a piece of jade jewelry you can expect to pay around $400 for basic pieces such as jade rings set in 14K gold. Earrings and necklaces are more pricey as more jade is used in them.