Jade Rings
and
The Types of Jade Gemstones

Types of Jade Gemstones

Jade is an umbrella name for two types of gemstones: nephrite and jadeite. The differences between nephrite and jadeite are chemical composition, colors of jade, and physical properties.

Properties of Jade

As you can see, jadeite is a bit more durable than nephrite and it has a slightly higher refractive index - which means jadeite will refract light a little more than nephrite for a slightly higher level of flash and fire.

Jadeite is also a bit heavier than nephrite, although the difference is very slight and would not really be noticeable in a jade gemstone ring.

Jade Gemstone Enhancements

Like other types of gemstones, jade is sometimes enhanced to change or deepen its color. But some of the enhancements are not stable and should not be used on jade ring gemstone designs. Some enhanced jade gemstones too will need special care to maintain the stability of the color enhancement.

Type A jadeite is commonly enhanced with a coating of colorless wax; this type of enhancement has a fair stability rating, but jadeite which has received a wax coat should not undergo ultrasonic cleaning.

Type B jadeite is bleached and injected with wax to lighten and improve color, although this type of enhancement is not very common. Bleaching or whitening the stone has a poor stability rating and the stone should not be subject to heat, chemicals, or ultrasonic cleaners.

Type C jadeite has been dyed to improve the stone's color. Dying the stone has a medium stability rating, and the stone should not be exposed to heat, chemicals, strong light, or ultrasonic cleaners after it is dyed.

In rare cases nephrite is dyed (Type C nephrite) to change its color. This type of enhancement has an unknown stability rating, and stones which undergo this type of treatment should not be exposed to chemicals, strong light, and ultrasonic cleaning.

It is best to avoid jade rings made with Type B and Type C jade - these gemstones have undergone enhancements which have low stability ratings, and the stones can easily become damaged. Instead, try to stick with Type A jade rings - especially for rings that will be worn often.

Special Care for Jade and Jade Rings

Jadeite may scratch from daily wear, and to preserve the stone it is best to remove a jade ring before engaging in any activities where the gemstone may be scratched. If the gemstone does become scratched with time, a professional jeweler may be able to buff out any small scratches once they occur.

Jadeite and nephrite gemstones which have undergone enhancement treatments require special care (mentioned above).

Nephrite is especially sensitive to scratches and should not be worn on a daily basis - instead, reserve this type of jade ring for special occasions!

Jade Price Guide

Due to its rarity, jadeite is priced much higher than nephrite.

The price of jadeite varies from country to country as many countries have their own preferences when it comes to colors of jade. The most desirable jadeite is an emerald green color - and this type of gemstone is usually priced around $1200.00 per carat.

Nephrite, a much more common gemstone, is often priced $50.00 to $100.00 per carat depending on the quality of the gemstone.

High quality jadeite and nephrite gemstones are valued by the jade colors and color properties such as texture, intensity, radiance, and transparency. The most highly sought after jadeite, the emerald jadeite, is a very intense green which has a high degree of transparency and seems to shine from within.

The overall price of a nephrite gemstone is not affected much by the carat size of the stone - and an increase in carat size results in only a minimal increase in price.

But, the price of a jadeite gemstone is affected by the carat size of the stone due to the rarity of jadeite. An increase over one carat in size may drastically increase the price and long term value of a jadeite stone.

Shopping Tips for Jade Rings

If you are looking for wedding or engagement rings with jade, then you'll want to find a jadeite ring - and here is where things can get a little tricky.

Unfortunately there is a large amount of simulant jade on the market which is falsely sold as jadeite and even nephrite. These simulant forms of jade rings are usually made with quartz, colored glass, soapstone, chrysoprase, or serpentine.

To ensure that you are buying true jade, pay attention to the price of the ring and where the gemstone came from. Authentic jadeite is rare and expensive - particularly the prized emerald green jadeite. If you find a jadeite ring for an exceptionally low price, it is most likely not real jadeite. Currently, jadeite is only found in China, Guatemala, Myanmar, and Russia.(*Note - until ethical standards have improved in Myanmar, it is best to avoid purchasing gemstone sourced from Myanmar).

While nephrite is much more common, and less expensive, than jadeite, it still pays to make sure the ring you are buying is made with true nephrite. Nephrite is found in Canada, China, Guatemala, New Zealand, Russia, and the Swiss Alps.

To protect yourself as a shopper, stick with reputable sellers who can offer you a return policy at the time of the ring's purchase (if the ring is handcrafted, an exchange or warranty should be offered instead).

It is a good idea to have your jadeite ring, or even your nephrite ring, evaluated by a certified gemologist (EWR highly recommends certified American Gem Society gemologists) to confirm its authenticity and value - especially if the ring you purchase is highly valued. If you are not happy with the independent appraisal results, you can always return the ring with your policy.

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