Two stones, one ancient name. "Jade" covers two different minerals — jadeite and nephrite — both built from tightly interlocking crystals that make them astonishingly tough. Carved for tools, ornaments and ritual objects for thousands of years. GIA's 12th-anniversary gem.
Imperial jadeite — the most prized jade
For most of history "jade" was one thing; only in 1863 did the chemist Alexis Damour show it was two. Jadeite — a pyroxene — is the rarer, and reaches the vivid "imperial" green. Nephrite — an amphibole — is more common and, crystal-for-crystal, even tougher.
Neither is especially hard, yet jade resists breaking like almost nothing else: its crystals grow interlocked — jadeite granular, nephrite fibrous and matted — so a blow spreads instead of splitting it. That toughness is why jade was carved into axes long before it was worn as jewellery.
NamesJadeite · Nephrite
Hardness6–7 Mohs
ToughnessExceptional
JadeitePyroxene
NephriteAmphibole
Usual cutCabochon · carving
Two minerals, both tough
Jade's secret isn't hardness — it's toughness. Both jades are aggregates of tiny crystals locked together: jadeite in granular interlocking grains, nephrite in matted fibres. The mesh resists chipping and breaking far better than its Mohs 6–7 would suggest — nephrite is among the toughest of all gem materials. — GIA
Dense near-black nephrite, carved for tools and ornaments. black
Tough, but mind the treatments. Jade is only moderately hard (Mohs 6–7) yet exceptionally tough — superb for bangles and carving. Disclosure matters: jadeite is graded A (natural, wax only), B (bleached and polymer-impregnated), and C (dyed); B, C and B+C must be disclosed. Treated jade's polymer and dye can be harmed by heat, ultrasonic cleaning and harsh chemicals, and dyed colour may fade — clean gently and keep it from solvents and heat.
Illustrations are stylised, not photographs; colours and patterns are typical of each kind, not to scale. General educational guidance — value is not financial advice.