Jade has a unique allure and a timeless beauty. It has been seen as a status symbol of wealth in numerous cultures, from North and South American pre-Columbian times to ancient Asia, to Europe and Africa. Here at Sisco Antiques Appraisals, we can assist you in appraising your jade items.

Is it nephrite or Jadeite?

First some basics. The term jade can refer to two distinct stones; nephrite (also called nephrite jade) and jadeite. The two can be similar in terms of texture and color. Both can come in hues from near white to green to dark reddish or brown. But they differ in properties. Nephrite is softer, and more common than jadeite. Jadeite often has a translucent crystaline structure, and is considerably rarer than nephrite.

Nephrite often has a greasy or waxy appearance, while Jadeite is more translucent. And Jadeite is somewhat harder than nephrite. The occurrence of natural nephrite is much more widespread than Jadeite, which is found mostly in Myanmar, with smaller deposits in the Alps, California, Russia, Japan and Guatemala.

Jade Jewelry and Carvings

For jewelry, jade is often cut into cabochons, which are round and polished, but not faceted. For other objects, jade is cut into a variety of shapes and sizes, to form religious objects, tribal masks and other ornaments. Here at Sisco Antiques Appraisals, we can help you determine the value of your jade, whether it be a vintage pair of earrings, an ancient Mayan tribal mask, or a Chinese Buddhist statue. Just click on the link and we’ll be happy to have a look.

https://siscoantiquesappraisals.com/appraisal/