Nephrite Jade Beads

For 5,000 years, the Chinese believed jade to have all the attributes most valued in society. Jade is a cultural term for slightly different close-grained stones, formed from similar minerals inside rock by heat and pressure. Although most can be categorized as either jadeite or nephrite - the majority of  jade beads are jadeite, despite being less common than nephrite. Nephrite is composed of fibrous crystals inter-twinned in a tough compact mass and is less intense dark spinach greens, white, brown, or black. Jade is thought to radiate unconditional love and balance the emotions.