Jade (Nephrite and Jadeite)

Historically treated as a single material, modern gemology recognises jade as two distinct, extremely tough aggregate minerals: nephrite (an amphibole silicate) and jadeite (a pyroxene silicate). Jadeite is the rarer and more valuable of the two, particularly the translucent, chromium-rich “Imperial jade” from Myanmar. Because jade is frequently treated, the trade uses a strict nomenclature: A-jade refers to entirely natural, untreated material (save for traditional surface waxing), while B-jade has been bleached with acid to remove brown staining and then impregnated with polymer resins to improve stability and apparent transparency. Careful collectors insist on A-jade and require disclosure of any treatment.

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