Jade is a cultural term for a very durable and often beautiful gem material. Although most people immediately associated jade with China, it has been found in other parts of the world and used as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years.

Up until the 1860s, mineralogists thought that all jade was the same; then they discovered that two minerals with slightly different properties, jadeite and nephrite, were both used as jade. However, Chinese jade artists, who work with the stone every day, knew that jadeite was a superior material for producing fine gems and carvings. The name “jade” persists in common usage because it is familiar; however, experts who know their jade understand the differences between nephrite and jadeite.

People who buy jade must be very careful because many similar minerals are misidentified as jade. Numerous imitation materials are also used to produce jewelry and ornamental items and passed in the market as jade. If you don’t know how to distinguish these materials, it is very important to buy from a trusted store or dealer.