Gems : Jade

The jade family includes mostly green stones, but there are many different colours. Lavender jade is one of the most prized and beautiful.
There are two main types of jade. The first, Nephrite, is usually a dark green colour, and very common in New Zealand and the surrounding area. Jadeite, sometimes called Oriental Jade, is the more valuable form. It occurs in a fantastic range of colours, including lavender, white, red, yellow, brown, orange and pink. Rarest of all is a variety called “moss in snow” in which a green swirl appears in a white stone.