The most valuable jade color is known as “imperial jade” and occurs only in
Imperial Jade from Burma is the most expensive type of Jade. It is the most expensive because it is the highest quality, the most sought-after color, and remains today the most highly prized source of jadeite around the world.
Hue (zheng): Top-quality jadeite is pure green. While its hue position is usually slightly more yellow than that of fine emerald and it never quite reaches the same saturation of color, the ideal for jadeite is a fine "emerald" green.
Green Jade
Many of us think of the rich bottle green color when we think of jade, and this is not a coincidence. The more green jade is, the higher its value. The most expensive examples of jade are in so called Imperial Jade color, which is a rich and vibrant emerald green.
Jadeite is most prized in its pure green variety, but can be found in many colors ranging from red, pink, black, brown, white, and even violet with variations of colors overlapping one another.
Color is one of the most important factors in determining the value of jade. The most valuable colors are green, white, and lavender. The more intense the color, the more valuable the stone. Jade that has been dyed or treated is usually a uniform color with little variation.
Green Jade: The Most Iconic Jade Color
The most valuable green jade, also known as “imperial jade,” exhibits a vibrant emerald hue. Green jade is often associated with luck, abundance, and prosperity, as well as emotional and spiritual benefits such as wisdom, balance, and calm.
Green jade symbolizes well-being and longevity, and green is connected to the wood element. Red jade (also called hong red) is related to love, joy, and the fire element. White jade also has meaning; it is expected to help calm and give clear purpose and is associated with the metal element.
White Jade has been used with this purpose for hundreds of years. It was considered to be a lucky stone, whether it came to health, love or business. This stone is known for its power to make you feel calm and peaceful. White Jade also has the ability to increase or enhance the energy of love in your life.
The stone itself is typically of a green hue, but variations of it can range anywhere from a pale green/brown to near black. The color name "Jade" itself can refer to several shades of green.
These polymineralic jades are polychromatic, usually white with gray-green to blackish green specks or streaks. Rarely, they appear green with fairly even color distribution.
Generally, dark green jade is most valuable and preferred by people due to its semi-transparency and vivid color quality. Some popular green jade shades are apple jade, moss-in-snow jade, and kingfisher jade. Other colors like lavender, red, black, and orange are the second most popular and valuable varieties.
Lavender Jade
The second most expensive jade stone exhibits a lavender hue. Lavender jade will be worth more than other types of non-Imperial green jade, such as those with a more blue or yellow tint.
The finest source of Jadeite Jade in the world comes from Kachin state, Myanmar (Burma). It's also the only commercial source for Jadeite in the world. Other small deposits are found in Kazakhstan, Russia, Japan, Guatemala, and USA.
Jade is most highly valued in Chinese culture today. The philosopher Confucius reportedly expressed this fascination by making jade a metaphor for virtue, kindness, wisdom, justice, civility, music, sincerity, truth, Heaven and Earth.
In some cultures, wearing jade is a big deal – and not always in a good way. For example, some Chinese people believe that wearing jade can bring bad luck to certain astrological signs, like those born in the Year of the Horse. Others believe that pregnant women shouldn't wear jade, as it can harm the baby.
The term 'jade' is actually a catch-all term that encompasses two separate minerals: nephrite, which is more opaque and traditionally used for sculptural objects and ornaments; and jadeite, which is more translucent and can be polished to a high lustre, making it more suitable for jewellery.
The intensity of the colour of Jade will only change due to dirt or grease that can sometimes get trapped on the surface, or if the Jade piece has undergone colour treatment, gradually fading to its original state as time passes.
As in keeping with western astrology, jade is the birthstone for aries, taurus, pisces, gemini, and libra. It's also termed as historic birthstone for may additionally born natives.
Emerald is one of the four most sought-after stones, along with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. Its price can vary wildly depending on quality and particular blue-green hue; in general, the highest quality emeralds priced at USD$100,000 per carat, are more expensive than jade.
Grade 1: Many inclusions, most of which are black. Grade 2: Many inclusions, most of which are white, with some black inclusions. Grade 3: Some inclusions, all are white or light coloured. Grade 4: Few inclusions, all white or light coloured.
Jadeite comes in a broader range of colors than nephrite which only comes in green, white, and yellow. However, jadeite mainly has varying shades of green that range between apple-green and emerald. Jadeite's luster appears more oily, while nephrite luster is vitreous or glassy.