Jade

Among the different kinds of gemstones, jade is probably one of the more popular and a favorite stone used in making jewelries for both men and women. Primarily used as a decorative stone, a lot of people have no idea that the term jade is actually used for two different types of rocks that are made of two entirely different silicate minerals: nephrite and jadeitite. But since these two barely distinguishable one from the other, one can be hard pressed to determine which is which. A lot of experts claim that since these two are more or less of the same value in the market, it’s best to leave the technicalities alone and call them both jade stones. That would certainly make matters a little less complicated, right?

However, if you can keen on identifying one from the other, one of easily recognizable marks of nephrite is its creamy white consistency. Jadeitite, on the other hand offers more variation in colors ranging from dazzling blue, pink, lavender-mauve to rich emerald green. So just when you think jade is primarily available in green, think again. However, of the two jadeitite is more uncommon, having been documented in less twelve different locations worldwide.

One of the most remarkable attributes of any jade jewelry is its exceptional toughness, which is said to be of far greater strength than steel and have been prevalently used in the ancient times for making axes and other sharp weapons. But more than just its extraordinary strength, jade takes the forefront in the selection of colored stones because of its sheer beauty, making it a wonderful stone for making striking accessories. Whoever, the highly coveted variety is the jade in deep emerald green color that is only available in jadeitite and has actually become one of the most sought after pieces by many artwork collectors all over the world.

Since any type of jade is generally considered an investment, it’s best to know what to look for in choosing a premium quality jade stone. Alike all other gemstones, transparency and the color consistency are among the most important factors to consider. The key here is to look for a stone that presents a uniform color, although in some cases, there are people who show more preference to the multi-colored jade pieces. While jade are available in many colors, an intense emerald green is still among the highly valued pieces. Generally the translucent ones fetch a slightly higher price that the opaque stones available today. Of course this goes without saying that its best to choose jade pieces that doesn’t have any flaws or any discernible marks in it.

With the proliferation of jade gemstones today and in view of the high demand for the product, counterfeit and fake jade stones are bound to find its way into the market ready to dupe any gullible and innocent buyer. So how would you be able to distinguish if you’re actually offered a fake one? Among the prevalent scams is the existence of some mercenary dealers that offer dyed quartz and label them as premium quality jade or an intensified nephrite and marking it as jadeitite. This means it’s generally best to purchase from a reputable dealer rather than try your luck on some shady merchant.

A lot of people claim that jade symbolizes beauty and energy. In fact, there are actually some modern day therapies that make use of jade gemstones to stimulate creativity and enhance the mental agility of a person, at the same time create a more balanced and harmonious effect around him. While a lot of skeptics may question such veracity, this does not discount the fact the jade stones are still among the favorite fashion accessories all throughout the history of man.