Natural Jade (Yashab) Stone in Pakistan

Jadeite and Nephrite: Two Minerals, One Name

"Jade" covers two separate minerals, and both are genuine jade:

• Jadeite - a pyroxene, 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, rarer and more valuable. It produces the vivid, translucent greens collectors look for.
• Nephrite - an amphibole, 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, usually a calmer spinach or olive green. Most classical Chinese carving was done in nephrite. Browse our nephrite collection for this variety.

Anything else sold as jade, such as serpentine, green aventurine quartz or dyed marble, is not jade. We name the mineral on every listing.

Why Jade Is So Tough

A sapphire is harder than jade, but jade is tougher. Its crystals grow tangled together like felted wool, so a blow that would split a crystal along a cleavage plane is absorbed instead. That is why jade has been carved rather than faceted for thousands of years, and why a jade cabochon holds up so well on the hand.

What Sets the Value of a Jade

Colour

Colour matters most. The most valuable jadeite is an even, intense, slightly bluish green often called "imperial" green. Apple green and softer spring greens cost considerably less, and lavender, white and grey jade have their own followings.

Translucency

Next comes translucency: in fine jade, light passes a few millimetres into the stone before scattering, giving it a soft inner glow. Opaque material sits lower in value.

Texture

A fine, even grain takes a glassy polish; coarse grain always looks slightly dull, however well it is finished.

Because colour outweighs size, a small, vivid stone can be worth more than a large, dull one.

Jade in the Pakistani Market

Most jade reaching Pakistan comes through trade routes from Myanmar and China and is sold here by the carat. The bulk of what is available is good mid-grade material rather than top imperial colour, which keeps jade one of the more affordable green gemstones and far below emerald of a similar size.

Is It Real? Checks and Treatment Grades

Real jade feels cool and stays cool a moment longer than glass. It is dense, so a cabochon feels heavier than its size suggests, and two pieces tapped gently together give a clear, ringing note rather than a dull click. Under magnification, natural jade shows a fibrous, interlocking texture; dye collects in cracks, and glass shows round bubbles.

The trade grades jade treatment in three types:

• Type A - natural, untreated apart from surface waxing.
• Type B - bleached and impregnated with polymer to improve clarity.
• Type C - dyed to add or strengthen colour.

We disclose any treatment we know of, and independent lab testing can be arranged on request.

Jade in Tradition

Jade is not one of the nine navratna stones, so it has no planetary link in South Asian astrology. Its reputation comes from Chinese tradition, where for some two thousand years it has been worn as a stone of prosperity, harmony and long life, and it remains a favourite gift across East Asia. In Pakistan many buyers simply love its colour and how it wears. These are traditional beliefs, not guaranteed outcomes.

Caring for Jade

Jade's toughness suits daily wear and it looks lovely in a bezel setting. It is still worth protecting: keep it away from perfume, hairspray and household cleaners, avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners if the stone is treated, and clean it with lukewarm water and a soft cloth. Jade that is worn often tends to develop a richer polish over time.

Buying Yashab from GemStore

Every jade on this page is one individual stone, photographed exactly as it is and priced on its own measured weight. We inspect each piece, tell you whether it is jadeite or nephrite, disclose treatment, and never sell serpentine or dyed quartz as jade. A certificate of authenticity is available on request. Delivery is by insured, tracked courier to every city in Pakistan for a flat Rs. 500 per order. Pay Cash on Delivery after inspecting the stone, and if it isn't right, return or exchange it within 7 days of delivery.