Overview

Jade, a mineral in various shades of green, boasts exquisite luster and translucency. It is a hard stone, highly regarded for its use in various decorative and functional applications. The color of jade varies from deep green to pale white, and its transparency can be opaque or transparent, depending on its variety. Its most valuable variety is Imperial Jade, a translucent green stone found in Myanmar, China, and Central America.

Origin

Many ancient civilizations have highly valued jade for its beauty, durability, and symbolism. The origin of jade dates back to Neolithic China, used as a tool,  weapon, and ornament. In ancient China, it became a symbol of power, protection, and nobility. Besides, it was also highly prized among the Maya and Olmec civilizations in Central America, who used it for making tools, ornaments, and religious artifacts. Today, jade remains an integral part of many cultural traditions and a popular material for decorative objects and jewelry.

Variety

Jadeite and nephrite are both forms of jade, but they differ in their mineral composition and physical properties. Jadeite is a hard and tightly-grained stone, while nephrite has a softer, fibrous structure. A broader range of colors can feature in Jadeite, including blue, purple, green, and white, while Nephrite typically occurs in shades of green, brown, and black. Jadeite is more valuable and rare, primarily found in Myanmar, while nephrite is more abundant and can be found in various parts of the world.

Benefits and Properties

It is a precious gemstone that is rich in color and mystical properties. Some of the benefits and properties of jade include its ability to promote calmness, tranquility, and relaxation. In traditional Chinese medicine, this gem stimulates the flow of energy or “qi” in the body, which can help alleviate tension and improve mental clarity. Additionally, people believe that jade has protective and healing properties that can benefit both the mind and body. It also can promote longevity, prosperity, and good luck. Overall, jade is a precious stone that offers a wide range of benefits for those who wear and appreciate it.

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11th Anniversary Gemstone: Turquoise

Turquoise is one of the world’s most ancient gems as an opaque, blue-to-green mineral. The famous Turquoise Jewelry worldwide is the Pharaoh’s iconic burial mask from Tutankhamun’s tomb. The gorgeous Turquoise liberally spread on it artistically to express the distinguished status of the ruler.

Believed to be a ceremonial gem, Turquoise was very popular among Native American tribes in the southwestern US. Also, it was not only an amulet that represented energy and wisdom but also a popular piece of jewelry in the modern age. It received its upsurge in Europe during the excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Turquoise influenced many architecture and artwork at the time and was often cut in cabochon in silver rings or chunky necklaces in the jewelry.

12th Anniversary Gem: Jade

Jade is a mineral of tiny interlocking mineral crystals. The word jade can refer to either of two distinct silicate minerals: nephrite or Jadeite, which have distinctly different compositions.

Jadeite often has various bright and attractive colors like classic shades of green, fancy yellow, reddish-orange, etc. In addition, it can be solid-colored and beautifully patterned with streaked or mottled motifs. However, Nephrites own a softer color than Jadeite, and their color can range from light to dark green, yellow, black, or white. Moreover, its durable and colorful essence makes it a desirable anniversary gemstone.

13th Anniversary Gem: Citrine

The 13th-anniversary gemstone citrine is a transparent variety of quartz. Thanks to the submicroscopic distribution of colloidal ferric hydroxide impurities, it can attain this charming and vivid yellow-to-orange color. Citrine was also considered Greece’s first golden-yellow gemstone between 300 and 150 BC.
Additionally, it is still popular among younger until now. Its bright color, high transparency, durability, and economical price make it the most frequently purchased yellow-to-orange gem. Finally associated with positivity and optimism, stunning citrine is one of the ideal anniversary gemstones.

14th Anniversary Gemstone: Opal

Compared with other brilliant anniversary gemstones, opals look more unique and magical. It’s a hydrated amorphous form of silica and is one of the most elegant and regal-colored gemstones, loved by royalty for years. Its name originated from the Sanskrit word Upala, which means ‘jewel,’ and later the Greek derivative opállios, which means seeing a color change. Some precious opals could present an iridescence, a pseudo-chromatic optical effect resulting in flashes of colored light from certain minerals. Its fancifully changing colors will light up your marriage and your passion for life.

15th Anniversary: Ruby

The 15th wedding anniversary is quite a significant year that deserves commemoration. The gorgeous and fascinating ruby is the best to interpret this special day. Firstly, it’s a pinkish-red to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum. Its name was from the Latin word ruber, meaning “red”— the color of love and passion. The attractive red shade results from the chromium trace element, the more chromium, the stronger the red color.

With the popularity of diamond alternatives, rubies have become increasingly popular in recent years. Ruby rings, pendants, and earrings are gradually appearing in every woman’s jewelry box not only because of their pink hue but also for their hardness, durability, brilliance, and rarity.

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Emerald

When it comes to green gemstones, the first thing that comes to mind is the May Birthstone——emeralds. It’s a member of the beryl family with a medium or darker green to blue-green color. Similar to peridot, although emeralds have a hardness of between 7.5 and 8, emeralds also have flaws in their crystal structure and are likely to crack if accidentally broken.

There’re many legends about emeralds, and the biggest fan of emeralds, Cleopatra, once made a series of fine jewelry and ornaments to show off her wealth. One of the emerald jewelry nowadays is The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara.

The emerald has a variety of meanings depending on the diverse area. In Greece, it reflects the goddess Venus, which symbolizes love and hope. While in Eygpt, it’s considered a gift from Thoth, a source of eternal life.

Peridot

Peridot is a silicate mineral, often found in lavas and peridotite xenoliths of the mantle. Generally, some volcanoes in eruptions could eject peridots into the sky and then fall to the ground nearby.

Peridots are very popular among customers and Jewellers for their unique green color. The perfect yellow-green color of the peridot is the result of ferrous and ferric iron. Ferrous provides green and ferric iron creates yellow. Although these gorgeous peridots are one of the most popular and affordable gemstone jewelry, they’re not mos durable actually. Their delicate and sensitive nature makes them prone to acid and rupture on a strong impact.

Jade

Jade refers to either of the silicate minerals, which could be divided into two types——nephrite and jadeite. Jadeite is the rarer and harder jade that has more value than nephrite. It’s typically green without much transparency, presenting a soft and gentle color.

Jade is trendy in Asia, especially in East Asia. China owns a long history of jade. In Neolithic times, the Chinese people started to use nephrite jade as a ceremonial jade for ancient sacrifices. And with the development of sculpture and craftsmanship, jade gradually became a divine decoration to present the social class of the people. While in early Mesoamerica, jade was a rare and valued mineral. Always crafted to convey symbolic meanings, jade was an elite good at that time to express ideological practices and rituals of humans.

Malachite

The last impressive green gemstone is Malachite, a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral. Its name is from the ancient Greek Μολοχίτης λίθος means “mallow-green stone.” As it represents, it’s an opaque green gemstone with irregular swirl patterns inside. Its vivid green is from copper, and its intricate swirls result from a complex chemical reaction.

Thanks to the beautiful shades of green and low hardness, malachite has been used as decorative stones, jewelry gems, and lapidary artistry. The celebrated “Malachite Room” in the Winter Palace is the ultimate representation of sophisticated malachite artwork.

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