When most people hear the word “jade” they picture a green gemstone. But in gemology, jade is not one stone — it refers to two entirely different minerals: jadeite and nephrite. They share a name, a history, and a visual resemblance. But they are chemically distinct, formed differently, and valued very differently in the market.
Understanding the difference is not just academic. It determines what you are actually buying — and what you are paying for.
Two stones, one name
Jade in gemology refers to two distinct minerals: jadeite and nephrite. Both have been treasured for thousands of years. Both are called jade. But they are chemically different, formed under different geological conditions, and valued very differently in the market.
Jadeite is the rarer of the two — harder, more vibrant in colour, and more translucent. Nephrite is older in cultural history, tougher in structure, and more abundant. The finest jadeite comes almost exclusively from Myanmar (Burma). Nephrite is found across Russia, China and Canada.
Most of what appears at fine auction houses and commands prices in the millions is jadeite. It is also what Gransky works with exclusively.
What is nephrite?
Nephrite is the original jade of ancient China. For millennia it was revered for its toughness, its soothing luster, and a texture so refined it was compared to mutton fat — smooth, flawless, pure. Its heritage stretches back to the Stone Age, where it was used to fashion tools, ritual vessels and jewellery.
Nephrite is a silicate of calcium and magnesium. It comes in white, green, black, yellow and brown, and is found today primarily in Russia, China and Canada. It is exceptionally tough — resistant to breaking — which made it ideal for carving and for daily-wear bangles across generations.
Nephrite is a beautiful material with deep cultural roots. However it is not what collectors and connoisseurs mean when they speak of fine jade.
What is jadeite?
Jadeite is rarer, harder and chemically distinct from nephrite. It is a silicate of sodium and aluminium, with a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7 — the highest of all jade types. Its interlocking crystal structure gives it both exceptional toughness and a luminous, semi-transparent quality that nephrite cannot replicate.
Jadeite did not arrive in China until the 1700s, when the Qing Dynasty opened trade with what is now Myanmar. Emperor Qianlong — an obsessive jade collector — was mesmerised by its vivid green colour and apparent inner glow, describing it as “poetry without words.” Within generations, jadeite had become the most prized gemstone in Chinese culture, a position it has held ever since.
In Chinese, fine jadeite is called Fei Cui (翡翠). Under Hong Kong law, the term “natural Fei Cui” is formally defined and regulated: it must be a polycrystalline aggregate composed principally of jadeite, omphacite or kosmochlor, and must not have undergone any treatment that altered its crystalline structure or original colour.
At Gransky, every piece we make meets this definition. Natural, untreated, Type A jadeite — nothing else.
The word “jade” is a trade term, not a scientific one
This is where buyers get misled. “Jade” is an English trade term with no fixed gemological definition. Some sellers apply it to nephrite, to treated jadeite, and even to stones that are neither — serpentine, aventurine, prehnite and others that resemble jade in colour but share none of its properties.
A French mineralogist named Alexis Damour made the formal distinction between nephrite and jadeite in the 1800s, after seeing vivid green jadeite pieces looted from the Summer Palace outside Beijing in 1860. Before that, Western buyers had no reliable way to tell them apart.
Today, any reputable seller should be able to tell you immediately: is this jadeite or nephrite? If they cannot answer, that is a serious red flag.
What makes jadeite valuable — and how to judge quality
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), jadeite’s three most important quality factors are colour, transparency and texture — in that order.
Colour is the primary value driver. While jadeite comes in green, lavender, white, black, red, orange and yellow, the most prized colour is a pure, vivid emerald green known as Imperial jade. The finest Imperial jade is pure and penetrating — vivid even from a distance, with no grey undertone. The GIA notes that the royal court of China once had a standing order for all available Imperial jadeite; today it commands some of the highest prices of any gemstone in international markets.
Lavender is the next most valuable colour — particularly in deep, saturated tones. At Gransky, both imperial green and lavender jadeite form the core of our collection.
Transparency is what gives fine jadeite its distinctive glow. The best jadeite is semi-transparent — light penetrates the surface and reflects from within, giving the stone an almost luminous quality. Opaque or cloudy jadeite is significantly less valuable. Experienced buyers sometimes place a thin jadeite slice over printed text: if the text is slightly blurred but legible, the transparency is excellent.
Texture refers to the crystal structure of the stone. Fine-grained jadeite — sometimes called “old mine” material — has a smooth, even surface and high luster. Coarser-grained material, while still genuine jadeite, lacks the refinement of the finest pieces.
The treatment problem — why Type A matters
Most jadeite on the market today is treated. Bleached, dyed, polymer-impregnated — these processes improve the appearance of lower-quality material but fundamentally compromise its integrity. Treated jadeite (Type B or Type C) is less durable, may change colour over time, and is worth a fraction of its natural equivalent.
Natural, untreated jadeite is classified as Type A. It has not been subjected to any chemical treatment beyond surface polishing. This is the only type Gransky works with, and independent certification from recognised Hong Kong laboratories — HKJSL and HKKJJLL — is available for every piece upon request.
When you buy jadeite, always ask: is this Type A? Is there a certificate? A seller who cannot provide both answers is not selling at the standard that fine jadeite deserves.
Jadeite from Myanmar — why origin matters
The finest jadeite in the world comes almost exclusively from Myanmar (Burma), from mining regions including Hpakan, Lonkin and Mogaung. Burmese jadeite is distinguished by its colour saturation, translucency and fine crystal texture — qualities that jadeite from other sources rarely match.
At Gransky, all jadeite is sourced directly from Myanmar through official channels, in raw rough form. Each stone is hand cut and finished by our craftsmen in Hong Kong. No mass production, no pre-cut stones — every piece begins as a decision made by a human being who has studied that specific piece of rough.
With proper care, a fine jadeite piece will retain its beauty across generations.
Every Gransky piece is guaranteed natural, untreated Type A Burmese jadeite — independently certifiable and sourced directly from Myanmar. Browse our current collection at granskyjewellery.com
