A 21.5 carat nephrite jade — 23.63 ratti — at Rs. 9,680, about Rs. 450 per carat. It is the largest stone in this category and also the lightest in tone, measuring 84 out of 255 for brightness where the darkest stone here reads 42.

Nephrite is not jadeite, and the difference matters

Two unrelated minerals are sold as jade. Nephrite is a calcium-magnesium-iron silicate from the actinolite-tremolite family, built from microscopic fibres that interlock like matted felt. Jadeite is a sodium-aluminium silicate with a granular structure. They look similar polished, which is why the trade used one word for both for centuries.

The practical consequence is toughness. Jadeite is marginally harder — it resists scratching slightly better — but nephrite's interlocking fibres make it one of the toughest natural materials known, far more resistant to chipping and breaking than its hardness of 6 to 6.5 would suggest. That is why neolithic toolmakers used nephrite for axe heads and why a nephrite cabochon survives knocks that would damage most gems of similar hardness.

Why this stone belongs on a chain

At twenty-one and a half carats it is substantial. Set in a ring it would sit high and wide; on a pendant the weight hangs clear and the broad face is seen flat-on, which is how a translucent green stone wants to be looked at. The lighter tone helps here too: at 91% green coverage with a bright body, light passes through the stone rather than stopping in it, and a pendant catches far more light than a ring ever does.

Setting it

A bezel in silver or white metal, with the back left open if your jeweller will do it. Nephrite's toughness means it tolerates setting better than most stones, but an open back is what turns a good green cabochon into a bright one.

Rate and care

At Rs. 450 per carat this sits where the whole nephrite category sits — between about Rs. 442 and Rs. 457. That is noticeably below our jadeite-grade jade listings at around Rs. 600 per carat, which reflects the real difference between the two materials rather than a difference in quality within one.

Warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. No ultrasonic cleaner and no steam. Treatment has not been tested on this stone, and we record that rather than calling it untreated. No documented origin is held for it, so we do not claim one. Dimensions and clarity are not recorded yet — ask and we will measure.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural nephrite with a weight of 21.5 Carat. Its price is Rs. 9,680 — roughly Rs. 450 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-NE-0014 when you message us about it. The photographs show this exact stone, so what arrives at your door is the piece you chose on screen.

Above twelve carats you are into collector territory. Pieces this heavy are usually set as pendants or kept loose, and they are prized for the size of rough they came from. If you do set it, choose a bezel or a heavy claw to protect the edges.

On the Mohs scale nephrite rates 6 to 6.5. That is middle-of-the-road hardness: comfortable in pendants and earrings, and in rings worn with some care. Store it apart from harder stones so it does not pick up scratches, and wipe it with a damp cloth rather than scrubbing.

Whoever you buy nephrite from, make sure of three things: the stone is natural rather than lab-grown, glass or glass-filled; any treatment is stated in writing; and the weight quoted is the weight of the finished stone. We check every nephrite for those three points before it is listed, a certificate is available on request, and because you pay on delivery you can look at the stone — or have it tested — before any money changes hands.

We sell natural stones only and inspect each one before it is listed. Treatment for this stone: Treatment not tested. Certificate available on request. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Nephrite is usually untreated, though some is dyed or waxed. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone; independent lab testing is available on request.

A certificate of authenticity is available on request for this stone, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay on delivery, you can also take the stone to a lab of your choice within the 7-day return window. Read more on our authenticity page.