The word “jade” is one of the most misunderstood terms in the gemstone world. Walk into any market from Guadalajara to Guatemala City and you’ll encounter stones sold as jade that are actually very different minerals. So what exactly is jade — and how do you know what you’re getting?
Two Minerals, One Name
True jade refers to two distinct minerals: jadeite and nephrite. Though they share a name and a visual similarity, they are chemically and structurally different stones with different origins, hardness levels, and value.
Jadeite: The Rarer Stone
Jadeite is the rarer and generally more valuable of the two. It is a sodium aluminum silicate mineral with a hardness of 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale. Jadeite comes in a wider range of colors — from the iconic imperial green to lavender, white, yellow, and black — and its finest specimens are found in Myanmar (Burma) and, crucially for our story, in Guatemala’s Motagua Valley.
Guatemalan jadeite was the jade of the ancient Maya and Olmec. It is the only true jadeite source in the Americas, and its blue-green and apple-green varieties were among the most prized materials in the pre-Columbian world.
Nephrite: The More Common Jade
Nephrite is a calcium magnesium silicate and is slightly softer than jadeite. It has been used for thousands of years in China, New Zealand (where the Māori call it pounamu), and by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest and Arctic. Nephrite tends toward darker greens and creamy whites, and while beautiful, it lacks the vivid translucency of the finest jadeite.
What About Serpentine and “New Jade”?
Many stones sold as jade are neither jadeite nor nephrite. Serpentine, aventurine, and other green stones are frequently mislabeled. When purchasing jade, always ask for certification or buy from a trusted source with transparent sourcing practices.
How to Tell the Difference
A few practical tips: jadeite is denser and cooler to the touch than imitations. Genuine jade will not scratch easily with a fingernail or knife. The best way to verify authenticity is through gemological testing — something we take seriously at Jades of America with every piece we offer.
Understanding what you’re buying is the first step to truly appreciating jade. Whether jadeite from Guatemala or nephrite from British Columbia, each stone carries its own history, culture, and beauty.