Jadeite Bead
Jade – The Gemstone Of Asian Royalty
Jade has had a special place in the long and rich history of Chinese art and culture. In many ways, the reverence for jade demonstrated by the Chinese and other Asian cultures rivals the West’s obsession with gold and diamonds! Throughout Asia, jade was known as the gemstone of royalty. It was worn by kings and noble families, and was even placed in their tombs after their deaths. It was believed that jade would protect them in the afterlife, and prevent their bodies from decaying. In time, the legends grew, and jade came to be accepted as the royal gemstone with magical powers. In order to truly grasp the emotions and sentiments that Asians attach to this gem, one must spend time in the jade market of Hong Kong, or at the more upscale Christie’s House jade auctions that are organized from time to time. Ancient civilizations were first attracted by the hardness and durability of jade, and used it to fashion crude tools, implements, and weapons. It was only later that jade was seen as an ornamental material that could be used to fashion jewelry, figurines, and vessels. When used in jewelry, jade is cut in to cabochons and beads. It is frequently used to make sterling silver pendants, earrings, and necklaces. Outside the world of fashion jewelry, artists use this material to carve out intricate sculptures and figures. The clear, emerald green stone is the most valued. Over the years, the large variety in color and patterns exhibited by this stone have made it a popular gemstone with jewelry designers.
During the second half of the 19th century, mineralogists discovered that jade was not a unique mineral! Since then, two minerals – jadeite and nephrite have both been recognized as jade. Both stones are quite hard and take a good polish, making them ideal gemstones for fashion jewelry of today. Jadeite has small, interlocking crystals. This crystalline structure gives jadeite a high degree of toughness and hardness. Jadeite is often found in hues of green, white, pink, reds, black, brown and violet. These colors make for a good combination as accent beads in a cultured pearl necklace. From the point of view of a chemist, jadeite is a metasilicate of iron, calcium, and magnesium. Other impurities are found in minor quantities, making subtle changes to the characteristics of the mineral. For example the presence of iron or chromium gives jadeite a green color. Although similar in appearance to jadeite, nephrite is quite different from jadeite. For one, nephrite is harder and tougher than jadeite. Green is the most common color for nephrite, although the mineral can occur in almost any color. Today, Canada is the chief producer to gem-quality nephrite. A large deposit of nephrite is also being exploited in southern Wyoming in the United States. Other countries producing jade include Burma, Central America, Brazil, Canada, Japan, India, Siberia, Finland, and Tanzania.
About the Author
As a geologist, Dale has a natural interest in gems and their geological origins. He is also a fan of high-tech where he has authored pieces on cheap MP3 players, cell phones, and other items of general consumer interest.
East-West Jade Bead Frame Ring
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Vintage Fire King? Jadite Beaded Rim Edge Bowl 6″ $9.99 |
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PiXiu Round Beads Green Bracelet 100% Natural Handmade Grade A Jadeite Jade $11.99 |
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Icy Green Chinese Natural Grade A Jade Jadeite Bead Bangle Bracelet B-144-1 $13.05 |
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FINE GREEN Jadeite JADE BEAD NECKLACE A GRADE Circa 1920′s-1930′s $1,200.00 |
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Green Yellow 100% Natural A JADE JADEITE Bead Bangle Bracelet 916735 $0.99 |
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Lavender 100% Natural A JADE Jadeite Bead beads Necklace 643909 ** It is 18 inch $15.99 |
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Green 100% Natural A JADE Jadeite Bamboo Bead beads Necklace 643988 ** It is 18 $9.99 |
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100% Natural Green&Yellow&White A Jade Jadeite Bead Bracelet Bangle $35.00 |
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Pretty Jadeite Bead Made Hand Chain Bracelet 12mm $0.99 |
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Green Chinese A Jade Jadeite Bead Bangle Bracelet $29.00 |
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GENUINE 100% GREEN JADEITE BEADED .925 SILVER BRACELET! NEW WITHOUT TAG~STUNNING $30.00 |
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Chinese A Jade Jadeite Gourd Shope Bead Necklace 17″ $26.04 |
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Green Chinese Nature A Jade Jadeite Bead Stretchy Bangle Bracelet $0.01 |
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Lavender 100% Natural A JADE JADEITE Bead Necklace 916779 ** It is 18 inches ** $0.99 |
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Vintage GERMANY Necklace & Earring SET Jadite & White Glass BEAD 5 Strand Signed $33.00 |
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Yellow Black 100% Natural A JADE Jadeite Bead Beads Bangle Bracelet 339031 $100.00 |
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32″ Green Jade/Jadeite 108 Meditation Prayer Beads Mala $9.99 |
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Yellow Green 100% Natural A JADE Jadeite Bead Beads Circle Bracelet 339106 $50.00 |
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Rare Ancient Pre-Columbian Mayan JADEITE Pendant Bead $4.25 |
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18″ Beautifu 100% Natural Green Beads Jadeite Jade Necklace $22.99 |
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SALE!! Antique Jadeite Celedon Green Icy Necklace Carved Beads Pendant $449.00 |
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Beautiful Jadeite Green & Goldtone Bead Necklace Beauty $8.69 |
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fine grade A genuine jadeite jade beads necklace with 14k jade clasp $9,998.88 |
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White 100% Natural A JADE Jadeite Bead Beads Bangle Ruyi Bracelet 644162 $7.99 |
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Lavender 100% Natural A JADE Jadeite Bead Necklace 644157 ** It is 18 inches ** $9.99 |
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GREEN CHINESE JADE JADEITE BEAD Rectangle BRACELE $0.01 |
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Yellow Chinese Natural A Jade Jadeite Elastic Bead Necklace Pendant B-145-2 $39.99 |
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Green 100% Natural A JADE Jadeite Bead Rectangle Bracelet pp2 $0.01 |
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Big Green Chinese Natural A Jade Jadeite Elastic Bead Bangle Bracelet B-145-4 $4.00 |
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Natural Jade Jadeite Beads Elastic Bracelet $15.85 |
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Vintage, green jadeite & sterling, handknotted, beaded necklace with 8mm beads! $594.99 |
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Imperial China A grade Dark Green Emerald Jadeite Jade Leaf carved pendant bead $45.99 |
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Yellow 100% Natural A Jade jadeite pendant Circle Donut Bead 644362 $6.99 |
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Green 100% Natural A JADE Jadeite Bead beads Necklace 644321 ** It is 17 inches $6.50 |
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Green 100% Natural A JADE Jadeite Circle Bead Beads Bangle Bracelet 64432 $9.99 |
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100% Natural Green A Jade Jadeite Lucky Bead Bangle $0.01 |
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2 Number 8 Yellow Jade Jadeite Gemstone Pendant Beads 1.6×0.8″ $2.69 |
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100% Natural 2 Color A Jade Jadeite Lucky Coin Bead Bracelet Bangle $20.00 |
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A Grade Natural Jadeite Jade 14mm Prayer Beads Mala $24.99 |
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