Attractive serpentine can be cut into a wide variety of gemstones. It is most often cut into cabochons and beads. They usually display a range of green, yellow, and black colors and often have magnetite, chromite, or other minerals as interesting inclusions. The lower left side of the green and black cabochon in the center of the photo on this page contains enough included magnetite that the cab can be moved with a small hand magnet.

Gemstone-quality serpentine is easy to polish, and beautiful finishes are possible. However, it usually polishes to a waxy luster rather than the brilliant glassy luster of much harder materials such as agate, jasper, and faceted stones. Rockhounds who polish their first piece of serpentine and know this have their expectations calibrated in advance. The waxy luster is a beautiful and common characteristic of the material. It does not reflect the skill of the operator. Extra polishing time and effort will still produce a waxy luster.

Serpentine has some durability concerns. It has a hardness that ranges from 3 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Three is far too soft for anything but the most gently-worn jewelry such as earrings, brooches, or pendants. A Mohs hardness of six is not hard enough for confident use in a ring or bracelet. Beads can be made from the more durable serpentine.

Some specimens of serpentine have a wonderful green color, clarity, and translucence. They are easily mistaken for fine jade by inexperienced buyers. The experienced buyer knows that serpentine polishes to a soft waxy luster rather than a bright glassy luster. Cabochons or beads with a waxy luster are not jade — or they are jade with a poor polishing job.