Jade (Jadeite)

About Jade (Jadeite)

In China, jade is more precious than gold or diamonds. The most valuable jade (imperial jade) is translucent emerald green and can sell for $3,000+ per carat. Jade has been carved in China for 7,000 years. It is actually two minerals - jadeite and nephrite - with jadeite being more valuable. New Zealands Maori people treasure greenstone (nephrite) as a sacred material. Emperor Qianlong owned over 20,000 jade objects. The heaviest jade boulder found weighed 260 tons. Myanmar produces the finest jadeite. Jade burial suits from the Han Dynasty were believed to preserve the body for eternity. The jade market is worth billions annually.