JEWELRY EDUCATION > GLOSSARY > Jade
Jade
The name jade refers to two mineral species — jadeite and nephrite. They are similar only in appearance and toughness — both are very durable. The ancient "jade" carved in China was what we today call nephrite jade (from nephros, the Greek word for kidney). In the 19th century, it was discovered that jade from the new world was not the same, and it was called jadeite to distinguish it from nephrite. Today, jadeite jade is considered the "real" jade and commands much higher prices than nephrite jade.
