How to clean it
Warm soapy water and a soft cloth.
Green, also white, lavender, black
Jade
The birthstone for March.
Is Jade a birthstone?
Yes. Jade is the alternative birthstone for March.
Properties
Composition
Two distinct minerals — nephrite (calcium magnesium silicate) and jadeite (sodium aluminium silicate)
Hardness (Mohs)
6–7
Crystal system
Monoclinic
Colour
Green, also white, lavender, black
Mined in
Myanmar, China, New Zealand, Guatemala, Russia
Worth knowing
Jade is not the hardest stone but among the toughest — its interlocking fibres resist breaking, which is why it was carved into axes before ornaments.
History
Worked in China for over 6000 years; Confucius compared its qualities to virtue.
Practical
Caring for Jade
How to tell it is real
Grading matters more than authenticity: Type A is untreated, Type B bleached and polymer-filled, Type C dyed. Only Type A holds value. Serpentine and dyed quartz are also sold as jade.
One general rule covers most mistakes: never store stones loose together. Diamond at 10 on the Mohs scale scratches everything else you own, and it does not need much contact to do it.
What that hardness means in practice
Softer than household dust. Better in earrings or a pendant than in a ring, where it takes constant knocks.
Traditional associations
Jade is traditionally linked to steadiness, good fortune and long-term thinking. In chakra systems it is placed at the Heart, and in elemental correspondence it is assigned to Earth.
These are cultural associations recorded across various traditions, not claims about physical effects. The composition and hardness above are measurable; this paragraph is folklore, and worth reading as such.
Questions
What is Jade made of?
Two distinct minerals — nephrite (calcium magnesium silicate) and jadeite (sodium aluminium silicate), crystallising in the monoclinic system.
Which month is Jade the birthstone for?
March.
Where does Jade come from?
Myanmar, China, New Zealand, Guatemala, Russia.
How do I clean Jade?
Warm soapy water and a soft cloth.
How can I tell if Jade is real?
Grading matters more than authenticity: Type A is untreated, Type B bleached and polymer-filled, Type C dyed. Only Type A holds value. Serpentine and dyed quartz are also sold as jade.
Can I wear it every day?
At 6–7 on the Mohs scale, not in a ring. Keep it to pieces that take fewer knocks.