Jadeite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Jadeite table screen with landscape scene. Qing Dynasty (18th-19th centuries), China, 17.3 cm x 1.5 cm. Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Public Domain.

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Since prehistoric times, people have made jewelry, decorative objects, and even weapons from jade. There are many legends and strong cultural associations with jade gemstones. The Chinese sage Confucius compared jade to a gentleman esteemed by all for his qualities. The Chinese have traditionally valued jade for carving as well as religious and medicinal purposes.

Cup, jadeite, Qing Dynasty (19th century), China, 2.5 cm x 4.4 cm. Bequest of Edmund C. Converse, 1921. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Public Domain.

The Olmecs, Maya, and Aztecs of Meso-America made ceremonial objects and jewelry from jadeite. They valued this material more than gold. The Aztecs characterized eloquence as “a scattering of jades.”

Olmec mask, 1,000-600 BCE, jadeite with traces of cinnabar, height 4 inches, from the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Photo by Beesnest McClain. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

The Maori of New Zealand created weapons from jadeite as well as heirloom ornaments called hei-tiki.

“Jade carving, Māori P1210923,” National Pounamu, Stone and Bone Carving School (Te Takapū o Rotowhio), New Zealand. Photo by Jane Nearing. Licensed under CC By-ND 2.0.

What is the Difference Between Jade and Jadeite?

Until 1863, mineralogists considered the material known as jade to be a single mineral. In that year, the French mineralogist Alexis Damour discovered that what had been called jade were actually stones of two distinct mineral species: jadeite and nephrite. However, the Chinese had already distinguished two types of jade more than a century earlier. Yu was the jade material they had traditionally carved (nephrite). Fei-ts’ui was the intense green jade material that began to enter China from Burma (Myanmar) in the mid 18th century (jadeite).

Although jadeite and nephrite have similar outward appearances, they have different internal structures and properties. Gemologists should distinguish between these materials. Nevertheless, most people commonly refer to both minerals as jade without further distinction.

Jade, jadeite and nephrite, assorted carvings and beads, China and Russia (Snuff bottles ~ 2 inches tall). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

Jadeite Colors

Jadeite can occur naturally in many colors, but green enjoys the greatest popularity. “Imperial jade” of deep green color from Myanmar is very rare and expensive. It’s sometimes called Yunan or Yunnan jade, and translucent material is highly prized.

Jadeite, Myanmar, “Imperial jade” (4.77). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

Apple green and lavender or mauve colors are also popular.

Jadeite bangles. Photo by Margarettico. Licensed under CC By-SA 4.0.

Green jadeite boulders may have a brown skin due to weathering. Lapidaries often use these for carvings. The colors in such stones can sometimes have a mottled look. Jadeites in crystal form are very rare.

This vug of massive jadeite also contains rare crystallized, light-green jadeites about 0.8 cm long. Russian River, Mendocino Co. California, USA. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Seldom seen in jewelry, chloromelanite is an opaque, dark green to black jadeite. Nevertheless, lapidaries occasionally carve it into decorative objects.

Jadeite: chloromelanite, Myanmar (~3 inches long). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

Varieties

Jadeite belongs to the pyroxene mineral group. It can combine with other minerals from this group in solid solutions. Jadeite may be present in these blends, but they aren’t always described as jadeite varieties.

Maw sit sit is a rock found only near the Myanmar village it’s named after. It has a dark green color with black spots and green veins. Some specimens contain jadeite, kosmochlor (sometimes called ureyite), albite feldspar, and other minerals.

Maw sit sit, 43.15 cts, 33.6 x 28.6 mm, rectangular tablet, Hpakan, Myanmar. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.

Omphacite may contain jadeite, augite, and aegirine.

Stone made almost entirely of jadeite is called jadeitite.

Jadeitite (Hpakan-Tawmaw Jade Tract, Hpakan Ultramafic Body, Naga-Adaman Ophiolite, Late Jurassic, 147 Ma; alluvial clast in the upper reaches of the Uyu River, Kachin State, Indo-Burma Range, Myanmar). Photo by James St. John. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

Identifying Characteristics

Jadeite has a distinctive absorption spectrum useful in identification. It has a strong line at 4375 and weak bands at 4500 and 4330. The 4375 line is diagnostic but may not be seen in rich, deep green material, which has a chromium spectrum: strong line at 6915, weak at 6550 and 6300.

Synthetics

Jadeite has been synthesized in the laboratory. The results have refractive index, specific gravity, absorption spectra, and fluorescence similar to natural stones. They have greater hardness, up to 8, and color and texture differences, however. Proprietary to General Electric, these synthetics aren’t commercially available.

However, many simulants or imitations appear on the market. Some natural gemstones that may be passed off as jade are calcite, green idocrase (erroneously referred to as “American jade”), aventurine (erroneously referred to as “Indian jade”), serpentine (erroneously referred to as “Korean jade”), and green hydrogrossular garnet (erroneously referred to as “Transvaal jade”). You may even encounter green-dyed marble sold as “Mexican jade.” See our list of false or misleading gemstone names for more examples.

Some assembled triplet gems may have a translucent jadeite top and bottom but a filling of green-dyed cement, which can mimic “imperial jade.”

Glass and plastic can also be used to simulate jade.

Costume jade brooch, faux jade in vintage filigree setting. Photo by Housing Works Thrift Shops. Licensed under CC By-SA 2.0.

Enhancements

Gray material can be stained to resemble “imperial jade” or dyed to take on a mauve color. Bleaching, or acid treatments, and wax impregnation are occasionally used to improve color and luster. Polymer coatings are stable treatments.

A leaflet on jade grading, from Hong Kong’s Jade Market. Photo by David Boté Estrada. Licensed under CC By-SA 2.0.

Sources

Notable gem-quality sources include the following:

• Myanmar: source of “imperial jade.”
• Guatemala: rare blue stones.
• Russia: apple green-colored material at some localities; also fine translucent, Cr-rich material at the Kantegir River, West Sayan.
• Bursa, Turkey: purple Turkish jade, a jadeite/quartz rock, unique to this location.
• San Benito County, California: lenses and nodules in chert, various colors, also mixed with nephrite.
• Japan; Mexico; New Zealand.

Purple jade from Bursa Province, northwestern Turkey. Photo by James St. John. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

Care

Jade pieces are very tough. Although not the hardest stones on the Mohs scale (which only measures resistance to scratching), they have great resistance to breaking and excellent wearability. Natural, untreated stones may withstand mechanical cleaning. However, acid treatments can create cracks in an otherwise very durable material. Not sure sure if your jewelry or carving has received treatments? Stick to warm water, detergent, and a soft brush or have your piece examined by a gem lab. Consult our gemstone care guide and gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.

Jadeite, Myanmar (pin ~ 2 inches across). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.