The material jade is in actual fact, made up of two different types of stone.

Jade is primarily composed of nephrite, a hard non-crystalline mineral that consists of silicates of calcium and magnesium. The properties of iron and manganese provide most of the color variations.

Jade is one of the strongest materials on Earth—it is even stronger than steel. This was one reason for its widespread use in early civilisations in Europe, Far-East and Meso-America. Besides its toughness, the smoothness of the stone and the broad range of colors made it very attractive to early artists and artisans.

On the sites of Hongshan and Hemudu cultures in China, archaeologists have found jade objects which date back to the early Neolithic period (around 7,000years ago).

A traditional style Chess Set made from green jade and white marble

The basic colors of jade are white, and a colorless opaqueness. Inclusions of different metals give it the beautiful colours: chromium makes it emerald green ("Imperial Jade"), iron makes it brown and green, while manganese creates violet hues.

The Chinese associate jade with a host of cultural connotations. Jade is revered. “Gold is valuable,” says a Chinese proverb. “But Jade is invaluable.”

Jade in Chinese is pronounced “yu” and it stands for beauty, purity and good virtue.

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