Green Jade (Nephrite)

Gemstone Quality Standard

Nephrite rough rock

About Green Jade

Nephrite is a type of jade. Jade can refer to either of two different silicate minerals: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium), or jadeite.

Nephrite consists of a microcrystalline interlocking fibrous matrix of the calcium, magnesium-iron rich amphibole mineral series tremolite. The higher the iron content, the greener the color.

Rarity

Green Nephrite Jade can be found in many countries. The famous New Zealand Greenstone is Nephrite too.

Availability

We don’t know how big the natural reserve of Green Nephite Jade is in Peru. So far the stone is readily available. We sell rough rock, pre-selected cabochon slabs, polished decor products, cabochons, and jewelry with nephrite Jade

Green Jade (Nephrite)

Color

Different shades of olive green to dark green, mixed together. Often the dark green colors appear as dots giving the stone a mottled  appearance. Sometimes mixed with milky quartz.

Nephrite tumbled

Impurities

The majority of rough Green Jade shows yellow flecks and patches as impurities. This material should not be used for jewelry purposes. 

drop shaped Master Cabochon made from peruvian green jade
Master Cabochon made from green jade

Polishable

Jewelry-grade Green Jade can be polished to near glass-finish

Cutting Quality

Advantages:

Angelite does not tend to break or chip. Experienced cutters therefore can obtain very sharp unchipped edges between the backside and bezel as well as between the bezel and dome.

Top-cutting-quality is characterized by:

  • a polished backside
  • a sharp unchipped edge between the backside and the bezel
  • a very straight and even highly polished bezel
  • a sharp unchipped edge between the bezel and the dome
  • a well-shaped dome, not showing any deformation
  • Top-quality polish
Nephrite sphere

Pricing

Adequate pricing must take into account the cost factors to obtain top-quality cabochons:

  • Acquisition of top-grade Green Jade with strong color in the mine.
  • Selection of material without impurities and discarding more than 60 percent of the rough rock as unsuitable for jewelry.
  • A usual material loss of approximately 90 % of the selected material during the cutting and shaping process.
  • The level of experience required by a cutter to produce a flawlessly shaped and highly polished cabochon.

The data in this sheet has been compiled by reviewing a great number of websites and sales platforms. 

Material quality:

The material quality used for cabochons was overall good.

Cutting quality:

The cutting quality of reviewed offers was overall good, taking into account that cutting quality overall is low. We found acceptable polish quality. Cabochons are rounded off at the side, no visible bezel was found in the reviewed cabochons.

Quality Grading

 As with other stones cabochons are sold as AA or AAA grade, without providing any information about what criteria lead to such grading. As the quality of cutting is not very good, such grading is a scam.

Pricing

The average pricing of cabochons was 0.39 USD per carat with a range from 0.09 USD per carat to 0.84 USD per carat. We could not find a difference in material quality in cutting quality that would justify such price differences.

Jewelry Grade Material:

strong shades of dark green, no yellow impurities.

Cutting Quality:

  • Straight bezel (minor irregularities possible), 3 mm high
  • Perfect dome (3-5 mm high)
  • Edges between bezel and dome, as well as bezel and backside: sharp and crispy, minor chips on lower edge possible
  • Backside flat at 280 grit, unpolished

Pricing:

Recommended Retail Price (AA): 0.39 USD per carat

Jewelry Grade Material:

Strong shades of dark green, no yellow impurities.

Cutting Quality:

  • Straight bezel, 3 mm high
  • Flat and perfect dome (3 mm high)
  • Edges between bezel and dome, as well as bezel and backside: sharp and crispy, minor chips on lower edge possible but very rare.
  • Backside flat, at 280 grit

Additional Quality (AA+): Backside polished to 3000 grit

Pricing:

Recommended Retail Price (AA): 0.69 USD per carat

AA+: 0.79 USD/c

Jewelry Grade Material:

Strong shades of dark green, no yellow impurities.

Cutting Quality:

  • Only cut by our best master cutters
  • Straight bezel, 3 mm high
  • Flat and perfect dome (1-3 mm high)
  • The edges between the bezel and dome, as well as the bezel and backside, are sharp and crispy, with no chips on the lower edge.

Additional Quality (AAA+): Backside polished to 3000 grit

Pricing:

Recommended Retail Price (AAA): 0.99 USD per carat

AAA+: 1.09 USD/c

Is there anything you wish to know about:

Shipping cost and logistics, Payment options, Product quality, Packaging, Shipping damage, Refunds, etc. ?

Cutting services

Do you need reliable high-quality cutting services for a reasonable price?  Are you looking for a service provider that is willing to develop new products according to your requirements? Would you like to get expert advice in order to improve your product? Do you wish for someone to optimize the process and get the most out of your rough? Just talk to us.

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gemrockinternational@gmail.com

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