The name goes back to the time of the Spanish conquest of Central and South
America and means piedra de ijada, i.e. hip stone, as it was seen as a protection
against and cure for kidney diseases. This word was spread via Europe across
the world. The corresponding Chinese word yu has not been generally
accepted. In 1863 a Frenchman proved that two minerals were considered to
be the same tough stone, a gemstone which had been known for 7,000 years.
He named one jadeite and the other nephrite. In the trade, numerous green
opaque stones have been falsely offered under the name 'jade". Differentiation
between jadeite and nephrite is very difficult, and this may be the reason why
the word jade is used as a description of both
In the time of the Spanish's conquest of Central and South
America and it's name means piedra de ijada i.e. hip stone, as it was
believed to protect against kidney diseases. The word spread across the world. The
Chinese word yu has not been generally accepted.
JADEITE