A 9.7 carat nephrite jade — 10.66 ratti — at Rs. 4,430, about Rs. 457 per carat.

What "premium" means in nephrite, specifically

The word gets used loosely, so here is what it rests on for this stone. 92% green coverage, meaning the tone is carried right across the face rather than fading into grey or yellow at the edges. Brightness of 61 out of 255, which places it mid-range in this collection — light enough to show translucency, dark enough to hold colour in ordinary indoor light. And an even, unblemished dome with no visible speckling.

In nephrite specifically, evenness is worth more than intensity. The material is rarely transparent, so what you are judging is how uniformly the colour sits and how smoothly the polish runs. A stone with brilliant colour in one patch and grey in another is worth less than a slightly paler stone that is consistent throughout.

The four things that set nephrite value

Colour evenness first, for the reason above. Then translucency — how far light travels into the body before stopping. Then texture, since finer-grained nephrite takes a better polish and shows fewer surface irregularities. Size comes last, and matters least: nephrite occurs in boulders weighing tonnes, so large stones are not rare the way large jadeite is.

Nephrite or jadeite

Both are sold as jade and they are unrelated minerals. Nephrite is fibrous and extremely tough; jadeite is granular, slightly harder and more valuable in fine grades. We list them separately rather than blurring the two, and the per-carat rates reflect the real market difference: roughly Rs. 450 here, about Rs. 600 for our jadeite-grade stones.

Rate and care

Rs. 457 per carat, at the upper edge of this category's Rs. 442 to Rs. 457 band. Warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth; no ultrasonic cleaner, no steam.

Treatment has not been tested on this stone, so we say so rather than calling it untreated. No documented origin is held. Dimensions and clarity are not recorded yet — ask and we will measure before you buy.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural nephrite with a weight of 9.7 Carat. Its price is Rs. 4,430 — roughly Rs. 457 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-NE-0010 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.

From six carats up a stone becomes the centre of attention. It wants a broader shank or a secure claw setting and suits an occasion ring, a signet or a centre pendant. Clean natural material of this size turns up far less often, and the per-carat rate reflects that.

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.