The jade that Chinese carvers worked for thousands of years, from Neolithic blades to emperors' seals, was nephrite. The vivid green jadeite many people now picture as "real jade" was a late arrival, brought into China from Burma in the late 18th century. Even the word "jade" was first given to jadeite, so China's ancient stone ended up named after its younger rival.
Nephrite jade's meaning is harmony and good fortune held steady over a long life, which suits a stone that's very hard to break. And a short side-by-side shows how to tell it from jadeite and from the stones sold as "jade" that aren't jade at all.
Nephrite jade quick facts
- Chakra: Heart
- Zodiac: Taurus, Libra
- Element: Earth
- Also called: Spinach jade (the dark green kind), Canadian jade, Siberian jade, pounamu (New Zealand)
- Color: Cream to deep spinach green, often with tiny black specks
- Hardness: 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, and exceptionally tough
- Commonly from: British Columbia (Canada), Siberia (Russia), China, New Zealand
- Pairs with: green aventurine, rose quartz
Harmony, luck and a long life
Harmony. Jade is a stone of balance, turned to for peace at home and calm between people.
Good fortune. In Chinese tradition it has stood for luck, virtue and long life for thousands of years. Confucius compared its qualities to those of a person of good character, and a small jade piece is still a classic gift for a new baby.
Patience. Its toughness is read as patience, the kind that wins through slow, steady effort.
The word "jade" comes from the Spanish piedra de ijada, "stone of the flank," a name first given in the 1500s to green stones Spain brought back from Mexico and Central America. Those stones were jadeite. "Nephrite" came later, from the Latin form of the same phrase. In New Zealand, nephrite is pounamu, a treasure handed down through Māori families.
Nephrite's green places it at the heart chakra, the center of love and balance. Its signs are Taurus and Libra, the two signs ruled by Venus, the planet of harmony and affection, and its element is earth.
Nephrite, jadeite and the look-alikes
Until 1863, jade was thought to be one mineral. That year the French chemist Alexis Damour found that a Chinese carving made from newly arrived Burmese stone was a different mineral, and "jade" has meant two minerals ever since.
| Nephrite | Jadeite | Sold as "jade" but not jade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral | An amphibole (actinolite to tremolite) | A pyroxene | Serpentine ("Afghan jade"), green aventurine ("Indian jade") |
| Look | Soft, oily glow, cream to deep green | Glassier, with brighter greens, lavender and more | Serpentine is often waxy and paler, aventurine sparkles |
| Hardness | 6 to 6.5 | 6.5 to 7 | Serpentine is much softer, often scratched by a steel blade |
| Price | Affordable | Fine green can be among the costliest gems | Inexpensive |
Spinach jade is nephrite: the dark, leafy green kind, usually from British Columbia or Siberia. Its black specks are tiny grains of other minerals, such as chromite, caught in the stone.
Heirlooms, newborns and peaceful homes
- A small pendant or bangle for a newborn
- A carved piece kept as a family heirloom
- By the front door or on a family shelf, for a peaceful home
- In a pocket during a long, patient project
- As a gift for a wedding or a housewarming
Greens to wear while jade is out of stock
Around the neck. Green aventurine is the quartz sometimes sold as "Indian jade," and our green aventurine tree of life necklace wears that green honestly, under a tree of life for roots and family. Its full story is in the green aventurine guide.
For a fresh start. The crescent moon green aventurine necklace sets the same green in a crescent, fitting for a stone given at life's beginnings.
On a shelf. A rose quartz heart palm stone brings in the softer side of the heart chakra, pink beside your green.
Shop more green and pink stones in our heart chakra crystals.
Caring for nephrite jade
Nephrite is only 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, but its fibers are so tightly felted together that it's one of the toughest natural stones, far harder to break than most gems, though a bangle can still crack on a tile floor. It can be scratched by quartz, so keep it apart from harder crystals. Wash it in warm, soapy water, dry it well, and avoid strong heat. To cleanse it, rest it in a bowl of fresh water for a few minutes, then dry it and set it by a window. Quick care facts for every stone we carry are in our crystal care chart. Every crystal in our shop is smudged with sage and charged in the moonlight before it ships.
Nephrite jade FAQ
Is nephrite real jade?
Yes. Nephrite is one of the two minerals called jade, and the one with the longer history.
What is spinach jade?
Dark green nephrite, named for its leafy color, usually with small black specks. Most comes from British Columbia and Siberia.
Is spinach jade valuable?
It's affordable compared with fine jadeite. Even color, few cracks and good polish make a piece worth more.
Is nephrite jade water safe?
Yes. Water won't harm it. Dry it afterward.
Can you wear nephrite jade on your wrist?
Yes. A nephrite bangle is the classic way to wear jade in China, and the stone's toughness lets it ride along through years of everyday wear.
See also: how to tell real crystals from man-made ones.
Why nephrite is so hard to break
Nephrite is made of countless microscopic fibers of actinolite or tremolite, matted and interlocked like felt. A crack that starts in it has to work its way around fiber after fiber, so it tends to stop short instead of running through the stone. That's why ancient carvers could cut it into thin blades and rings that have survived thousands of years. Green nephrite, the kind from British Columbia and Siberia's Sayan Mountains, forms where serpentine-rich rock meets other rock deep underground. China's famous white jade formed differently, in marble. The more iron nephrite holds, the deeper its green.
Each piece we sell is one of a kind, and the one pictured is the one you'll receive.