Gemstones are the most exquisite and precious of rocks, boasting vibrant hues, crystalline textures, brilliant luster, and enduring hardness. Their rarity adds to their allure, making them ideal for crafting natural mineral crystals into jewelry and adornments, such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Some are naturally occurring mineral aggregates, like agate and opal, while others are organic materials, including amber, pearls, coral, jet, and ivory, all encompassed within the broad category of gemstones.
Jade is also among nature’s beauties, possessing vivid colors, a hard yet delicate texture, and a beautiful luster when polished.
In contemporary gemology, the concept of gemstones can be broadly or narrowly defined. Broadly speaking, gemstones encompass both gemstones and jade, referring to minerals or rocks with splendid colors, durability, rarity, and the ability to be polished or carved into jewelry and artworks, whether natural or artificially synthesized, including some organic materials.
Narrowly defined, gemstones and jade are distinguished, with gemstones being single mineral crystals with splendid colors, transparency, durability, and rarity, suitable for crafting gemstone jewelry, such as diamonds and sapphires, whether natural or artificially synthesized. Jade, on the other hand, refers to mineral aggregates or rocks with splendid colors, durability, and rarity, suitable for carving into jewelry and artworks, such as jadeite, nephrite, Hetian jade, and Xiuyan jade, encompassing both natural and artificially synthesized varieties. There exists a nuanced classification within the realm of gemstones, distinguishing between the narrow and broad interpretations. Narrowly construed, it encompasses only jadeite (exemplified by Burmese jade) and nephrite (represented by Hetian jade); broadly construed, it encompasses a plethora of minerals and rocks utilized for the artistic craft of sculpting. As for ornamental stones, they denote marbles and the like, possessing aesthetically pleasing colors and textures albeit lower hardness and subdued luster, yet meeting the requirements of crafting techniques. Some scholars advocate for the inclusion of ornamental stones within the broader category of gemstones, or temporarily regard them as synonymous with jade.
