The magical group of gems that falls into the group “jade” is known to be one of the oldest gemstones in crystal history. It was discovered more than seven thousand years ago. Find out here about nephrite jade stones, where they come from, and what their properties are. This gem differs from jadeite and other jade.
In 1863, a team of geologists found that jade is actually grouped into two separate and different minerals, these are nephrite and jadeite. It’s tricky when trying to tell them apart because they have similar visual composition and colours. But when you look deeply at the chemical composition and structure it is much easier to see which is which.
In this article, we will be taking a closer look at nephrite jade stones, their meaning, healing properties and uses.
Jump To a Section Below
- What Is Nephrite Jade?
- What Is The Meaning Of Nephrite Jade?
- Benefits And Healing Properties Of Nephrite Jade
- How To Use Nephrite Jade
- Is Nephrite Jade Real Jade?
- Is Nephrite Jade Rare?
- Why Is Nephrite Jade So Expensive?
- Can Nephrite Jade Get Wet?
- How To Recharge Nephrite Jade
- What Is The Difference Between Jade And Nephrite Jade?
What Is Nephrite Jade?
Nephrite jade stones are a stunning crystal mineral with dense and fibrous crystal masses. It’s considered to be a highly valuable and sacred substance in traditional Chinese culture.
Nephrite jade and jadeite have been confused with each other since they were first discovered, despite their very different chemical make-up.
Nephrite jade is soft and fibrous. It is the type of jade that Western society most associates with carvings, jewellery, and decor.
Nephrite is definitely the more popular and widely used of the two types, and is the easier one to find too.
What Is The Meaning Of Nephrite Jade?
The name Nephrite comes from the Greek word “nephros”, which directly translated means kidney. The boulders, rocks and pebbles that nephrite jade is mined from look remarkably like the shape of a kidney.
When the Chinese discovered nephrite jade so many years ago, the kidney shape of the rocks inspired them to believe that this beautiful stone would aid in healing kidney disease.
Nephrite jade is part of the silicates family of crystals, it comes in an array of specific colours, and this makes it tricky to tell the difference between nephrite jade and jadeite. Nephrite jade stones are most commonly found in shades of green or beige. They are also known to be found in dark brown, black, grey-brown, yellow, and yellow-green.
Nephrite jade stones are most frequently found in Russia, New Zealand, China, Thailand, and Canada. It’s also found in other countries too, but it’s much less abundant in these places: Australia, Mexico, Taiwan, Brazil, Poland, Zimbabwe, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany.
Benefits And Healing Properties Of Nephrite Jade
Nephrite jade is an overall brilliant healer. It is known to get to the root cause of illness and disease in the body and assist in healing. It’s an empowering stone full of revitalisation and is said to speed up the body’s healing process.
Nephrite jade keeps the body safe from the damaging effects of external sources and soothes the nervous system. It can also bring strength and healing to the immune system whilst bringing your body into a more alkaline state of being.
Nephrite jade is said to be one of the best stones for women having a difficult time with PMS symptoms and infertility. Anything related to the female reproductive centre is said to be balanced and healed by using nephrite jade daily. It makes a thoughtful gift for pregnant women, especially if the birth is close, the new mother can use the stones in her birth ceremony for calling harmony, ease and comfort.
This amazing stone is supportive of the liver, kidneys and heart. It cleanses the blood and assists in regulating issues surrounding blood supply and circulation.
It also brings its wearer abundance and good luck, especially if you are struggling with financial woes. Nephrite jade is a powerful stone of manifestation and it brings dreams and hopes into reality.
Nephrite jade is also popular for being a powerful emotional healer, bringing emotional stability to anyone struggling with regulating their feelings. It knows how to be soothing and energising at the same time, bringing clarity and awareness to those parts of ourselves that require our love and healing.
How To Use Nephrite Jade
Nephrite jade is an extremely popular stone for jewellery of all kinds. The best way to utilise the stone’s powerful healing support is to wear it on you as much as possible.
Another way to harness the magic of this stone is to use it in your morning meditation. Due to its ability to help you manifest your dreams into reality, it’s the perfect stone to use to set intentions for the day.
Is Nephrite Jade Real Jade?
This is a hotly debated topic.
Is nephrite jade real jade, or not?
The simple answer is yes, it is.
The only reason that some people say it isn’t real jade is only due to there being a high demand and expectation of receiving jadeite jade when purchasing a jade item.
Some crystal and gemstone enthusiasts feel that jadeite jade is the only type of jade to be considered legitimate. But the fact remains, regardless of demand and popularity, nephrite jade is definitely part of the jade family.
Is Nephrite Jade Rare?
Nephrite jade by nature and commonality is not rare. But finding a one-colour stone is considered to be rare. When you see nephrite jade that is that deep, dark, solid green, it is considered to be the most valuable and is somewhat rare to find, especially finding a stone that has been mined naturally from the earth.
Why Is Nephrite Jade So Expensive?
Nephrite jade is a highly sought-after material, and this is one of the reasons that it comes with a high price tag. The other main factor is the origin of the stone. The origin of the stone and the way in which it was mined plays a big role in the end result of the quality of the stone being sold.
The three key elements in determining the value and therefore, price are colour, texture and transparency.
Can Nephrite Jade Get Wet?
Ideally, no, nephrite jade should not get wet.
The chemicals in pools, hot tubs, even in common tap water, are too high for the stone. Any chemicals, especially the chlorine found in most water, can have negative effects on nephrite jade and its appearance. It’s best to remove your nephrite jade from your body when getting wet, and keep your stones indoors and out of wet weather.
How To Recharge Nephrite Jade
Nephrite jade is best charged and cleansed by other stones, such as amethyst and clear quartz. The other stones remove and transmute any negative stored energy from your nephrite jade.
What Is The Difference Between Jade And Nephrite Jade?
Detecting the difference between nephrite jade and jadeite is not something that just anyone can do. It usually takes an expert to check the stone out and spot the differences.
Nephrite jade tends to have a lower translucency and lustre than jadeite has. Nephrite jade’s lustre is said to be resinous, with jadeite’s lustre being more glass-like.
Another way to tell the difference between the two is having the stone measured on the Mohs Scale by a jeweller. Nephrite jade will come in at around 6 – 6.5, and jadeite will measure somewhere between 6.5 – 7.
Chermaine’s journey into the world of gemstones and crystals began as a child, collecting shimmering stones on family vacations. Today, she’s a certified gemologist and spiritual healer, intertwining the physical beauty of jewels with their metaphysical properties.
Chermaine has traveled to mines in Africa, marketplaces in India, and spiritual retreats in Bali, always seeking to deepen her understanding.