Jade jewelry: a style guide

Jade jewelry is built around a genuine natural stone — jadeite or nephrite — set into metal. Styling it well comes down to two honest questions: is the jade natural rather than dyed, and what is the hardware actually made of?

The quick version

• “Jade” means one of two real minerals — jadeite (Mohs ~6.5–7) or nephrite (~6–6.5) — both genuine natural stones, durable enough for everyday wear with light care.
• The decision that matters most is natural vs. treated: Type A is untreated, while Type B (bleached and polymer-filled) and Type C (dyed) are altered — so it’s fair to ask which you’re buying.
• Affordable-luxury jade pieces set genuine jade into 18k gold-plated 316L stainless steel — a surface plating, not solid gold, so follow our care tips.

Jade has carried meaning for thousands of years as the “stone of heaven.” Read the full style guide on our blog.