At Meilia, we utilize Grade A Nephrite Jade. What exactly does that mean?

Jade is a naturally occurring mineral that is most commonly found in shades of green but can also be found in various colors such as white, yellow, and lavender. The term “jade” itself refers to two types of gemstones – jadeite and nephrite.

What is the difference between Jadeite and Nephrite?

From a glance, these stones may look interchangeable. But on closer inspection, there are differences in durability, price, and color.

To understand their differences, we first need to understand how jade is formed. Although both stones are formed under pressure in metamorphic rocks, jadeite is formed under intense pressures and deep depths, while nephrite is formed under less intense pressures and shallower depths. Additionally, nephrite is composed of magnesium iron silicate while jadeite is formed from sodium aluminum silicate. In speaking terms, these factors cause nephrite to be more durable and commercially available than jadeite.

What about color? Both stones’ colors are dependent on the presence of chemicals in them. For example, jadeite gets its signature green from chromium while magnesium commonly found in nephrite invokes a violet/lavender color.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet to understanding the differences between jadeite and nephrite:

	Jadeite	Nephrite
Chemical Composition	Sodium Silicate	Magnesium and Calcium Silicate
Color	Green, White, Lavender, Orange, Pink, Red	White, Dark Green, Yellow
Hardness (Moh Scale)	6.5 - 7	6 - 6.5
Origin	Myanmar, Russia	China, Canada
Price	Medium - High	Low - Medium

 

Due to the differences in commercial availability of the stones, they are often used differently in jewelry-making to fit different budgets and needs. Start your nephrite collection here today.