About Jade
Jade is a semi-precious stone comprised of two distinct types: nephrite and jadeite. Their chemical properties are similar in that they are an aluminum silicate, but they differ primarily in their sodium and calcium-magnesium properties. Harder than steel, both have been carved for centuries.
The Chinese perfected jade carving, and from about 200 BC nephrite was imported from East Turkestan. Later, jadeite was introduced into China from Myanmar in 1750 and is now the principal form of jade used in jewelry.
Rarer than nephrite, jadeite remains the only commercial source of jade today and is almost totally mined in Myanmar. However, a favorable forecast for the future continuation of jade mining is in question as the supply is expected to diminish greatly by 2012.
Historically, jade was considered more valuable than gold or silver. Each year, jade objects, such as vases, jewelry and other works of art were used as payment to the Imperial Court. Today, caret for caret, jadeite is more valuable than diamonds.
Jadeite is distinguished by its various colors. Varying from emerald-green, lavender, orange, brown, to the rarest white, the properties of iron and manganese provide most of the color variations. The highly praised "imperial jade", a transparent emerald-green stone containing chromium, is the rarest of all.
At Qing Jade & Company, we provide unique jade jewelry products made from stones purchased in Myanmar. You can find these products on our website and in many stores in the Pacific Northwest. Our jewelry is an investment and a link to a history founded in a culture that reveres these valued works of art.