Small Jade Coins
This is not just another ordinary green bead. Jade is the gemstone that evokes the power of one of the greatest empires in the world’s history, China, and it should be the central piece in your next beading project.
Jade has been appreciated by humanity for at least 7,000 years, not only because of its beautiful color but also its remarkable toughness , which made this stone very useful for making weapons and tools before the Iron Age.
Although Jade is known for its green color, this is not always the case. Jade comes in a huge range of colors, from very dark to almost white. It doesn´t matter what color you choose, its shiny and sparkling surface always looks good in necklaces, earrings or bracelets, and it will turn your beading project into a sophisticated piece of jewelry.
Geologically speaking, there are two types of Jade, Jadeite and Nephrite. These two are very alike and for centuries they were considered the same mineral, because is very hard to say the difference between them. Truth is, both minerals are so similar that even the most experienced mineralogists can confuse them without a chemical test.
Black Jade Rectangles
In Ancient China, Jade was not only used for ornamental purposes but it was even considered more valuable than silver or gold. Jade was known as the Imperial Gem. Europeans always thought that Jade originated in China, but that was because it was often traded where most skillful artisans were. In fact, the best stones come from Myanmar, at China´s southern border.
Jade can also be found in other parts of the world. In the Mayan culture, Jade was also highly valued by nobles and it was used in important religious ceremonies. For them, Jade symbolized life and it was considered as a connector between humans and nature.
There are some myths about Jade. For example real Jade is not completely transparent. Also, it’s value is not just based on the color but also in the intensity, harmony and balance of the stone. Some impertfections add more value to the stone.
Egg-Shaped Jade Beads
Nowadays, Jade is still very appreciated and in Asia it’s collected as an antique. Jade is revered as a symbol of good luck and health. It’s said that Jade cures loin and kidney ailments, stimulates creativity and mental agility and it’s very useful to reduce stress. It’s considered as the stone of inner peace, harmony and balance.
Here at For the Love of Beads we have this is marvelous gemstone in 12 beautiful and elegant styles, 17 sizes and 2 vibrant colors, green and black. As always we would love to hear from you about this or another subject and you are very welcome if you want to send us pics of your pieces of jewelry whether with this or another material.
