Your guide to jade

jade

Jade is loved by many for its beautiful green colour. Though jade is in fact the name used to describe two different silicate rocks. One is the rarer and therefore more valuable Jadeite while the other is green nephrite These are both very hard and were frequently used as spearheads in stone age times.

There are several features which determine the value of jade. These include: colour and the intensity of that colour, the vivacity and texture, and its clarity and transparency. However perception of value can depend greatly on culture, for example in the USA and Europe different shades are regardd as valuable than in the far east.

jade is regarded as the traditional gift for the 35th wedding anniversary in the UK (In the USA 35 years is Coral).

As well as jewellery jade is probably most famous fro thesculptures that are made form it in china. One of the most famous I sthe jade budda temple. The buddha is carved from white jade and measures almost 2 meters in height.