Hardness 6–7, Specific gravity 3–3.5, Refractive index 1.6–1.67

Jade is usually translucent to opaque. Its colors range from apple green to emerald green, and almost-white to greenish white. Jade can be highly polished. Jade is hard and does not scratch easily. Nor is it easily cut. Therefore, well-cut and polished jade is more valuable than uncut stones. Jade is used as a substitute for emerald to str engthen Mercury. Only green jade is used for this purpose. Good quality jade can be effective in removing the negative effects of badly placed planets. There are two types of jade, and they are actually two different minerals—jadeite and nephrite. Jadeite is a silicate of sodium and aluminum; nephrite is a silicate of calcium and magnesium. Both are hard and durable, more difficult to carve than steel. Jade will not usually break if hit with a hammer. Jadeite is slightly harder than nephrite, but it is easier to fracture it. Most of the world’s jadeite comes from Upper Myanmar. This jadeite is what we have come to know as “imperial jade,” or “Chinese jade.” Jadeite is also found in South America, Brazil, Malagasy Republic, South China, Mexico, and Tibet. British Columbia in Canada is the largest producer in the world of nephrite jade. Nephrite jade is also found in Turkistan, New Zealand, and Siberia. The color and translucency of jade are the main things that affect its value. Jade can be several different colors. White jade is usually nephrite. The emerald green jade (“Imperial jade”) is always jadeite and is the rarest and most valuable form of the stone. Jadeite also comes in orange-red, mauve, blue-green, and lavender. Both types of jade can appear in a variety of colors. Sometimes jewelers dye jade green, but the dyes are usually not permanent and the stone fades over time. There are many substitutes for jade, one of which is chalcedony. Jade should be set in gold on a Wednesday. It can also be set on a Friday or Saturday. The piece of jade should weigh at least five carats. The proper rituals should be performed to install the stone in its setting, and the ring should be worn on the little finger of the right hand for men and of the left hand for women, within one or two hours after sunrise on a Wednesday of the bright half of a lunar month. The ring should be made when Mercury is in its own sign of Virgo, or in a friendly sign, a constellation tenanted by Mercury, or a constellation friendly to Mercury. The mantra to be chan ted is: Om bum budhaya namaha om. Jade is worn to help improve kidney disease, skin problems, epilepsy, and allergies. It is said to give one long life and to protect one from accidents.  If you know of information that is not listed here, or if you would like to help update our listings, please e-mail us at: