Jade Jewelry has been highly valued for thousands of years. The term “Jade” actually describes two distinct minerals: Jadeite and Nephrite. Broadly speaking, Jadeite is the more precious of the two, and is used in finer pieces of Jade jewelry. Jade Rings The origin of these terms relates to ancient beliefs associated with the stones which are quite fascinating. It is believed that the term “Jade” comes from the Spanish term “piedra de ijada,” used by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans, which translates to “loin stone.” This refers to the healing powers associated with the stone by these ancient peoples; Jade Bangle it was believed that wearing jade near the kidneys or liver cured ailments associated with these organs. The term “Nephrite” likely came from the Latin term, “lapis nephriticus,” meaning “stone of the kidney.” Though the origins of the term “jade” are relatively recent, jade has been valued by various cultures for thousands of years. Jade Necklaces It is a very hard gemstone, having a Mohs hardness of about 7.0 where a diamond rates at 10.0, and thus was valued for its use in tools and weapons, in addition to its beautiful appearance.