Jade: meaning, properties, care & jewellery

Jade has fascinated for thousands of years soft green, dense lustre and an almost silky feel. The name Jade denotes two different, particularly tough jewellery materials: jadeite and nephrite. Both impress with their smooth surface, calm appearance and great cultural significance. Whether in classic green, elegant white or delicate lavender tones: Jade lends pieces of jewellery a noble, timeless and harmonious effect.

In this guide you will learn what characterises jade, how genuine jade jewellery can be recognised, how to care for jade jewellery properly and which pieces of jewellery with jade are particularly popular at COEUR DE LION.

Note: The symbolic and spiritual meanings of jade originate from tradition and esotericism. They are not scientifically proven and do not replace medical advice.

• Jade is the collective term for jadeite and nephrite.
• Jadeite belongs to the pyroxene group, nephrite to the amphibole group.
• Both materials are known above all for their high toughness and has therefore been valued for centuries as a material for jewellery and carving.
• Typical are greenbut also white, lavender, yellow, black or brown Variants.
• The following are sufficient for care lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth.

Jade is a favourite because of its quiet elegance its smooth feel and traditional appearance, is particularly popular for elegant genuine stone jewellery. Discover real stone chains, real stone earrings and real stone bracelets with a natural look. You can also find many designs in our FINE EDITION and in models of the Birthstone collection.

The term jade in modern gemmology stands for two different materials: jadeite and nephrite. Both were historically referred to together for a long time under the name jade, but differ significantly in terms of their mineralogy. chemical composition and crystal structure.

Jadeite is a sodium aluminium silicate and belongs to the pyroxene group. Nephrite is a calcium magnesium silicate from the amphibole group and mineralogically closely related to tremolite/actinolite. Both materials consist of densely interwoven microcrystals that explain their famous toughness. It was precisely this toughness that made jade attractive for thousands of years, not only for jewellery but also for tools, ritual objects and carvings.

The best known is green jade, but jade comes in many colours. Jadeite can, among other things white, green, lavender, yellow, orange, brown or black appear. The intensely green, fine and semi-transparent quality, which is commercially available as "Imperial Jade" is known. Nephrite often appears in green, grey-green, white or darker colours. In addition to colour, jewellery is also translucency, texture and polish are decisive.

Jade has accompanied people for thousands of years as a jewellery, ritual and status stone. In China, it was regarded as the "stone of virtue" and stood for purity, wisdom and protection; from jade became amulets, jewellery, seals and grave goods. In Mesoamerica (Olmecs, Maya, among others) was jadeite partly more precious than gold and marked power, rank and spiritual authority. The Māori of New Zealand valued nephrite (Pounamu) for tools, weapons and jewellery - as heirlooms with strong cultural significance. Via trade routes, jade spread around the world and continues to characterise jade jewellery and arts and crafts, from court style to modern minimalism.

The special thing about jade is not primarily its extreme hardness, but its exceptional toughness. This is created by the densely interwoven microcrystalline structure of both jadeite and nephrite. As a result, jade often withstands stress better than many other decorative jewellery materials and could even be used historically for tools.

The fact that there are two "real" types of jade was only clearly separated mineralogically in the 19th century. Alexis Damour (1863) recognised that what had previously been generally referred to as jade was actually two different materials: jadeite and nephrite.

Anyone who wants to buy jade jewellery should first pay attention to which type of jade is used: jadeite or nephrite. A reliable material specification is particularly important here. High-quality jade often shows a harmonious colour distribution, a pleasant translucency, a fine texture and a careful polish. Especially with higher-priced pieces certificates or laboratory reports are recommended.

Pay attention to:

• Clear material specification: Jadeite or nephrite should be explicitly mentioned.
• Natural colour effect: harmonious instead of artificially garish.
• Translucency and texture: High-quality jade appears fine, dense and lively.
• Careful polishing: it optimally emphasises shine and depth.
• Transparent declaration of treatments: Jade treatments are an important issue in the trade.

• Cleaning: lukewarm water, mild soap, soft cloth. Rinse off, dry gently.

• Avoid: ultrasound/steam, aggressive chemicals (especially for Type B/C), long heat/UV exposure.

• Carry: jade is tough, but avoid joints/edges; remove jewellery for sport/household activities.

• Storage: separate, softly padded (bag/case) to prevent abrasion.