Jade jewelry has been long revered by the Chinese. The gem is an important part of the Chinese wedding ceremony. According to Chinese, the stone is considered the concentrated essence of love. The gem is also a symbol of high rank and authority in China. The gem is translucent to opaque, and is often found in jewelry and carvings.

The gem occurs in two varieties: jadeite and nephrite. The two gems are distinctly different from each other by weight, hardness, and color range. The former is the most expensive and more desirable variety. It comes from Burma. Some of it comes from Guatemala. Even though most people associate the color green with the gem, but it occurs in a wide range of natural colors, including pink, brown, yellow, orange, mauve, mottled green with white, whitish gray and lilac. The most desirable color of the gem is a rich emerald green. Evenly colored gems are highly prized and are sought after by those who can afford them.

Jewelry consisting of a smooth, rich emerald green gem is very expensive. Jewelry in this category can cost thousands of dollars or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Only the rich and the famous and connoisseurs of the fine gems can afford to spend that much money for such jewelry. Mottled pieces of irregular shades of green gems are less valuable. The mottled variety is often seen carved. The mottled variety is rare and more valuable than the nephrite variety.

Nephrite is the true Chinese gem. Nephrite is much more common, and therefore much less expensive than its counterpart. Nevertheless, it is popular and is used extensively in jewelry and carvings. Nephrite is a more sober green than the emerald green of its fine counterpart.

Nephrite is closer to the color of sage or spinach. Nephrite is usually fashioned in cabochon cut, or round beads, or carvings. It is regularly seen in darker shades. Nephrite jewelry is more affordable than its fine counterpart.