Jade Encyclopedia

Explore the treasures of Chinese jade culture

35 Gem & Jade Varieties

Hetian Jade (Nephrite)

Hetian Jade, also known as Nephrite, is the most prestigious of China's four famous jades. Renowned for its fine, warm texture and strong oily luster, it is hailed as the National Jade of China with a history dating back to the Neolithic Age.

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Jadeite

H: 6.5-7.0

Jadeite

Jadeite is the 'King of Jade,' with the finest quality coming from Myanmar. Known for its rich and varied colors, imperial green is the most prized. Quality is evaluated by texture, transparency, color, and craftsmanship.

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Nephrite

H: 6.0-6.5

Jasper (Green Nephrite)

Jasper is an important variety of nephrite jade, characterized by its deep green color and elegant appearance. Premium jasper has a spinach-green color with fine, uniform texture, ideal for vessels and ornamental pieces.

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Chalcedony

H: 6.5-7.0

Nanhong Agate

Nanhong Agate is a precious gemstone unique to China, famous for its distinctive red color. Quality Nanhong has vivid color and warm texture, known as the Red Jade and symbolizing good fortune in Chinese culture.

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Phosphate Mineral

H: 5.0-6.0

Turquoise

Turquoise is one of the world's oldest gemstones, prized for its distinctive sky-blue to blue-green color. Shiyan, Hubei, China is a major global source, producing high-porcelain turquoise of superior quality with international acclaim.

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Chalcedony

H: 6.5-7.0

Huanglong Jade (Chalcedony)

Huanglong Jade is a type of chalcedony discovered in Yunnan, China in 2004. Initially known as 'yellow wax stone', it gained fame for its fine texture, vibrant yellow-to-red colors, and hardness comparable to jadeite. It has quickly become a cherished gemstone in Chinese culture, symbolizing wealth, fortune, and imperial power, and is prized for both ornamental and collectible purposes.

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Zoisite Plagioclasite

H: 6.0-6.5

Dushan Jade (Zoisite Plagioclase)

Dushan Jade, one of the four great jades of China, is treasured for its rich and diverse colors and fine texture. Produced in Dushan, Nanyang, Henan Province, it has a history of mining and use dating back to the Han Dynasty. It is not only an important material for jade carving but also carries profound historical and cultural significance, often hailed as 'Nanyang Jade' and regarded as a gem of Chinese jade culture.

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Serpentine Jade

H: 2.5-5.5

Xiuyan Jade (Serpentine)

Xiuyan Jade, named after its main production area in Xiuyan Manchu Autonomous County, Anshan City, Liaoning Province, China, is a national geographical indication product and one of China's 'Four Great Jades'. With a long history and profound cultural heritage, Xiuyan Jade is renowned for its warm and delicate texture, rich and diverse colors, and bright luster. It is not only an exquisite carving material but is also endowed with symbolic meanings of auspiciousness, peace, and purity in traditional Chinese culture, making it widely loved and collected.

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Serpentinized Marble

H: 2-6

Lantian Jade (Serpentine Jade)

Lantian Jade is one of the four great jades of China, named for its origin in the Lantian mountains of Xi'an, Shaanxi. It is characterized by its unique serpentinized marble composition, offering a rich palette of colors from white and beige to emerald and dark green, often displaying cloud-like or banded patterns. With a history stretching back to the Neolithic era, Lantian Jade was extensively used in ancient times for ritual objects, ornaments, and artworks, embodying the profound heritage of Chinese jade culture.

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Marble

H: 3.0-4.0

Afghan Jade (Calcite)

Afghan Jade is a common white gemstone named after its country of origin. It is not a traditional jade; its main mineral component is calcite, making it a type of marble. It features a fine, white texture, often with elegant patterns, and is easy to carve due to its low hardness. In the market, it is frequently used as an affordable substitute for white nephrite jade, crafted into various ornaments, bangles, and decorative items, appreciated by some for its accessible price and smooth appearance.

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Nephrite

H: 6.0-6.5

Kunlun Jade (Nephrite)

Kunlun Jade, also known as Qinghai Jade, is a high-quality nephrite found in the Kunlun Mountains. It gained international fame as the material for the medals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This jade is treasured for its fine texture, moist luster, and rich historical and cultural significance, symbolizing purity and nobility in Chinese culture.

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Quartzite

H: 6.5-7.0

Golden Silk Jade (Quartzite)

Jinsi Jade, or Golden Silk Jade, is a type of quartzite jade cherished for its golden hues and intricate internal silk-like patterns. Originating from the ancient Silk Road region in Xinjiang, China, it embodies a rich history and cultural significance, representing wealth and nobility. Its fine texture and warm colors make it a favored material for carving and jewelry.

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Agate

H: 6.5-7.0

Zhanguo Red Agate (Banded Agate)

Zhanguo Red Agate is a prized variety of agate characterized by its distinctive red and yellow bands. Its name, meaning 'Warring States Red,' comes from its material's similarity to agate artifacts from China's Warring States period. It is highly valued for its vibrant, interwoven patterns of rich red and noble yellow, which symbolize fortune and power. This durable and colorful gemstone is not just a beautiful adornment but also a carrier of deep historical and cultural significance.

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Chalcedony

H: 6.5-7.0

Agate (Chalcedony)

Agate is a cryptocrystalline variety of silica, chiefly chalcedony, characterized by its fine grain and bright, banded colors. Valued since antiquity, it has been used for decorative objects, carvings, and jewelry. Its name comes from the Achates River in Sicily, where it was first found. Agate is cherished not only for its beauty but also for its perceived metaphysical properties, believed to bring emotional balance and protection.

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Quartz

H: 7.0

Crystal (Quartz)

Crystal is the colorless and transparent crystalline form of Quartz, with its main chemical component being silicon dioxide (SiO2). Since ancient times, it has been regarded as a treasure for its crystal-clear and flawless quality, widely used in making jewelry, ornaments, and sacred objects. In many cultures, crystal is considered a symbol of purity, energy, and healing, endowed with mystical powers to store memories and amplify intentions.

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Organic Gemstone

H: 2.0-2.5

Amber / Beeswax (Fossilized Resin)

Amber and Beeswax are organic gemstones formed from the resin of coniferous trees tens of millions of years ago. They are lightweight and have a warm, gentle luster. The transparent variety is known as Amber, while the opaque variety is called Beeswax for its honey-like color and waxy sheen. Since ancient times, it has been regarded as a precious gem with deep historical and cultural significance, often crafted into jewelry and art, symbolizing eternity, purity, and good fortune.

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Organic Gemstone

H: 3.5-4.0

Coral (Calcium Carbonate)

Coral is a precious organic gemstone from the ocean, formed over thousands of years from the skeletal remains of coral polyps. It has a warm and moist luster, with red varieties being the most prized, and has been regarded as a symbol of auspiciousness and nobility since ancient times. In Chinese, ancient Roman, and Indian cultures, coral was endowed with special meanings of protection and blessing, often made into exquisite jewelry and artworks, serving not only as beautiful decoration but also carrying profound historical and cultural heritage.

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Rock

H: 5.0-5.5

Lapis Lazuli (Lazurite-bearing rock)

Lapis Lazuli is an ancient gemstone cherished for its intense, celestial blue color, often speckled with golden pyrite inclusions. For millennia, it has been a symbol of royalty, wisdom, and truth across various cultures, from ancient Egypt to the Renaissance, where it was ground into the precious pigment ultramarine. Its deep color and historical significance make it a prized material in jewelry and ornamental art.

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Carbonate Mineral

H: 3.5-4.0

Malachite

Malachite is renowned for its vibrant green color and unique banded patterns, resembling the feathers of a peacock. It is an ancient gemstone, used as jewelry and amulets in ancient Egypt. In China, it is favored for its bright colors and unique textures, often used in crafts and decorations, symbolizing good luck and wealth.

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Pyrophyllite/Dickite

H: 2.0-2.5

Shoushan Stone (Pyrophyllite/Dickite)

Shoushan stone is one of China's four traditional seal stones, treasured for over 1,500 years. Renowned for its smooth, moist texture, brilliant colors, and suitability for carving, it holds significant cultural and artistic value. Varieties like the exceptionally rare Tianhuang stone are often more valuable than gold. It is not just a material for carving but a symbol of Chinese artistic heritage and scholarly taste, representing a deep connection between nature's beauty and human craftsmanship.

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Rock

H: 2.0-7.0

Chicken Blood Stone (Rock)

Chicken Blood Stone is a prized ornamental rock from China, renowned for its vivid red patterns resembling fresh chicken blood. It is a mixture of minerals, primarily dickite or kaolinite with cinnabar, which provides the red color. Historically used for crafting exquisite seals, carvings, and decorative items, it is highly valued in Chinese culture as a symbol of fortune, prosperity, and vitality, making it a favorite among collectors and artists.

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Dickite

H: 2.0-3.0

Tianhuang Stone (Dickite)

Tianhuang stone, known as the "King of Stones," is a precious seal stone unique to China. It is found in the paddy fields along the Shoushan Stream in Shoushan Township, Fujian Province. Its name, which translates to "field yellow stone," comes from its typical yellow color and its origin in the fields. With a warm and fine texture, pure color, and unique "radish grain" patterns, Tianhuang stone has been highly sought after by scholars, artists, and royalty since the Ming and Qing dynasties, symbolizing status and taste with its profound historical and cultural significance.

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Organic Gemstone

H: 2.5-4.0

Giant Clam (Tridacna)

Tridacna, also known as giant clam, is the largest marine bivalve mollusk and is considered one of the Seven Treasures in Buddhism. Its shell, revered for its pure white color and iridescence, has been used for centuries in jewelry and carvings. Valued for its organic origin and spiritual significance, Tridacna symbolizes purity, peace, and protection, holding a distinguished place in both natural history and cultural heritage.

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Chrysoberyl

H: 8.5

Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl

Cat's Eye, also known as Cymophane, refers specifically to Chrysoberyl that exhibits the cat's eye effect, and is one of the world's five most precious gemstones. Its unique optical phenomenon is caused by the reflection of light from parallel needle-like or tubular inclusions within the stone, creating a bright band of light reminiscent of a cat's pupil. This distinctive effect, combined with its long history and symbolism of good fortune and protection in Asian cultures, makes it highly prized.

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Beryl

H: 7.5-8.0

Emerald (Beryl)

Emerald, a prized variety of the mineral beryl, is celebrated for its stunning deep green color, caused by traces of chromium and vanadium. Revered since antiquity, it symbolizes rebirth, love, and security, making it one of the most coveted gemstones. Its unique inclusions, known as 'jardin', add to its character, making each stone one-of-a-kind.

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Corundum

H: 9.0

Ruby (Corundum)

Renowned for its fiery red allure and title as the "king of gems," ruby is the birthstone for July, symbolizing passion, love, and vitality. For millennia, it has been a symbol of power and wealth across various cultures, often adorning royal jewelry. Its unique fluorescence and high hardness make it a prized choice for jewelry collectors and enthusiasts.

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Corundum

H: 9

Sapphire (Corundum)

Sapphire, a precious variety of the mineral corundum, is treasured for its magnificent blue hues, symbolizing wisdom, royalty, and divine favor. As one of the four cardinal gemstones, its history dates back to ancient civilizations, where it was believed to protect its owner from harm and envy. Its durability and brilliance make it a timeless choice for fine jewelry, representing faithfulness and sincerity.

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Native Carbon Mineral

H: 10

Diamond (Carbon)

Diamond is a mineral composed entirely of carbon and is the hardest known natural substance. Renowned for its unparalleled brilliance and "fire," it symbolizes eternity, purity, and strength. Throughout history, diamond has been not only a precious ornament but also a symbol of wealth and status, carrying significant cultural and emotional value, often used in engagement rings and heirloom jewelry.

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Organic Gemstone

H: 2.5-4.5

Pearl (Organic Gem)

Pearl is an ancient organic gemstone produced by mollusks, primarily oysters and mussels. It is highly prized for its unique warm luster and elegant temperament, symbolizing health, purity, wealth, and happiness. Since ancient times, pearls have been used as jewelry and ornaments around the world, carrying profound historical and cultural significance.

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Hydrated Amorphous Silica

H: 5.0-6.5

Opal (Hydrated Amorphous Silica)

Opal is a gem of kaleidoscopic beauty, renowned for its unique play-of-color that flashes a spectrum of rainbow hues. Composed of hydrated silica, its structure diffracts light to create this mesmerizing effect. Historically treasured by Romans as the most powerful gem and believed by Bedouins to contain lightning, opal is the birthstone for October, symbolizing hope, purity, and truth. Its diverse varieties range from the dark, precious black opals of Australia to the fiery opals of Mexico.

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Tourmaline

H: 7.0-7.5

Tourmaline (Elbaite)

Tourmaline, also known as 'elbaite' in mineralogy, is a precious gemstone celebrated for its diverse spectrum of colors. Its name originates from the Sinhalese word 'turamali,' meaning 'mixed gems,' which aptly describes its rich palette. It spans nearly every hue, from deep black to vibrant red, and from serene blue to lively green. In Chinese culture, tourmaline is highly favored for its phonetic similarity to 'bìxié' (辟邪), meaning to ward off evil, and is regarded as a talisman of good fortune and peace. As the birthstone for October, it symbolizes hope, comfort, and tranquility.

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Silicate Mineral

H: 6.5-7.5

Garnet (Silicate mineral group)

Garnet is a group of silicate minerals with a long history, used as gemstones and abrasives since the Bronze Age. Its crystal form and color are similar to pomegranate seeds, hence the name 'Garnet'. It symbolizes loyalty, friendship, and chastity, and is known as the 'January birthstone,' representing new life, faith, and simplicity. Its rich colors and deep cultural heritage make it highly favored in the jewelry market.

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Feldspar

H: 6.0-6.5

Moonstone (Feldspar)

Moonstone, a captivating gemstone from the feldspar group, is celebrated for its adularescence—a unique, billowy light that seems to float beneath its surface, reminiscent of moonlight. Revered since ancient times, it is associated with love, fertility, and intuition. Its ethereal beauty and deep-rooted symbolism make it a cherished stone in jewelry and spiritual practices, embodying a sense of mystery and romance.

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Quartz

H: 6.5-7.0

Tiger's Eye (Quartz)

Tiger's Eye is a chatoyant gemstone known for its silky luster and a golden to reddish-brown color. It is a pseudomorph of Quartz after Crocidolite, creating its iconic wavy light effect. Historically revered by ancient civilizations like the Romans and Egyptians, it was used as a talisman for protection, courage, and prosperity. This stone is believed to empower the wearer, boosting confidence and providing mental clarity, making it a popular choice for both jewelry and ornamentation.

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Volcanic Glass

H: 5.0-6.5

Obsidian (Volcanic Glass)

Obsidian is a natural glass formed from the rapid cooling of volcanic lava, prized for its deep black color and vitreous luster. Since ancient times, it has not only been used for weapons and tools due to its sharp fractures but has also been endowed with mystical symbolism in various cultures, often used as a protective amulet and a ritual tool. Its unique formation process and long history make it a special link between geology and human civilization.

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Gem & Jade Knowledge

Gems and jade are precious minerals bestowed by nature, encompassing nephrite, jadeite, gemstones, organic gems, seal stones, and more. China is one of the earliest countries to use jade, with jade culture spanning thousands of years of Chinese civilization.

This encyclopedia contains detailed information about 35 major gem and jade varieties, including identification methods, market trends, origin characteristics, and mineralogical classifications.