| Jade is by far, one of the oldest and sought after | | | | California. |
| gemstones on the planet. It is found on nearly | | | | The art of jade polishing has been practiced for |
| every continent and has played an integral role in | | | | thousands of years. The mineral is harder than |
| the shaping of ancient cultures. Today, it is as | | | | steel and cannot be sculpted; rather, it is ground |
| precious and valuable as it was one thousand | | | | and then polished to create the beautiful beads |
| years ago. | | | | and designs we have come to appreciate. The |
| The gemstone is formed in subduction zones | | | | initial grounding of jade is done wet. The stone |
| around the globe. Subduction happens when two | | | | must be submerged when ground; it gives off a |
| tectonic plates smash together and overlap. The | | | | harmful dust that is comparable to asbestoses. A |
| plate that is forced down takes its minerals into | | | | diamond or silicone carbide is used to do the |
| the depths of the Earth, where the temperature | | | | grounding. When the grinding has reached the |
| and the pressure are right for creating jade. The | | | | artists ideal "grit," it is polished using techniques |
| mineral is then mined. The dangerous task of | | | | and compounds that are guarded closely by the |
| excavating the gemstone takes place the world | | | | artist. This technique has been passed down |
| over, China, India, New Zealand, Canada, Siberia, | | | | through the generations and has helped create |
| North and Central America at one time or another | | | | some of the most appeasing designs known to |
| had mines solely for jade. | | | | human eyes. |
| There are two types of jade: nephrite, from the | | | | It might not be plausible and affordable for you to |
| Greek word nephros, which means "kidney," and | | | | own jade jewelry. But there are alternatives. Faux |
| jadeite, which is the green type of jade most | | | | jade is an acceptable substitute to the |
| people are familiar with. Nephrite jade, when pure, | | | | outrageously priced gemstone. If purchased from |
| is white. Our English word for jade is derived from | | | | a wholesaler, jade beads and pendants can be |
| the Spanish, "piedra de ijada" or loin stone. This | | | | used to create precious jewelry such as |
| correlates to many ancient cultures belief that | | | | necklaces and bracelets. Craftwork is a soothing |
| jade stones helped alleviate the ailments of the | | | | process and is a hobby that can be readily |
| loins and kidneys. But it wasn't simply used for | | | | displayed. With faux jade there's no reason to |
| crystal therapy. Jade was crafted for weapons, | | | | hesitate on experimentation, creating whatever |
| such as spears and axes, but more so as jewelry | | | | you can imagine. |
| and ornamentation. | | | | Jade is still used today to create art that is |
| The stone is classified into several categories. | | | | ubiquitously loved and praised for its elegance and |
| Polar Jade is from the Polar mines in northern | | | | wonder. Most recently it was used to help design |
| Canada, Chrome Jade is specked with brilliant | | | | the 2008 Summer Olympic medals; the first |
| traces of green, Chatoyat has a tiger eye like | | | | non-metallic to ever be used. Jade is one of the |
| effect in it, Bortyoidal or Bubble Jade, is shaped | | | | few gemstones to be held with the same loft |
| like clumps of grapes, and Vulcan Jade is covered | | | | that it was thousands of years ago. Its beauty is |
| with a golden brown skin, found exclusively in | | | | renowned and desired across the globe. |