Jade and Serpentine Beads

Jade and Serpentine Gemstone Beads: For centuries, the word jade applied to green gemstones brought to Europe from China and Central America. It wasn't until 1863 that society realized the term "jade" was being applied to two different minerals. These two semiprecious gemstones, nephrite and jadeite, are relatively hard to distinguish from each other, and so even today both are still called jade.

Varieties of serpentine have also been confused with jade throughout history, and some serpentine is also still called jade. In fact, the Chinese word for jade is applied to a variety of minerals, including serpentine, agate and quartz!

Our semiprecious jade beads include true jades, serpentine beads, and beads called "jade" descriptively (because they look like jade). Choose from African jade, antiqued jade, new jade, olive jade, yellow jade and more! Jade semiprecious beads and pendants are said to increase longevity, and are a symbol of love and virtue.

African Jade Beads	Dendritic Jade Beads	New Jade Beads and Pendants	Rainbow New Jade Beads
Serpentine Beads	Bright Dyed Faceted Jade Beads	More Jade Beads and Pendants

Sometimes we also have BC Jade: BC jade beads are a beautiful, mossy, medium-green color. The "B.C." stands for British Columbia, which is where real BC jade (a true nephrite jade) is mined. Stock that we know to be actual British Columbian nephrite jade, we have labeled with a "C" (for Canada) at the end of the stock number. Other times we may also have "BC Style Jade" -- these are more likely to be "new jade" (a serpentine), dyed "white jade", and sometimes they may even be "Taiwan jade" (another true nephrite jade, just not from BC). Without extensive testing, it is difficult to tell the difference between these stones.

See Also: