Soft jade — the carving stone

Nephrite pendant, carved

$138

Nephrite is one of the two stones called jade. It is not jadeite: nephrite is a dense felt of interlocking amphibole crystals — the tremolite–actinolite series — which is why it is tough rather than hard, and why it can be carved thin without breaking. The crystals are bound in a solid mass, not loose fibres; the material is not asbestiform and a finished piece is safe to wear. This pendant is carved in low relief and finished by hand to a soft sheen, not a mirror polish.

Material

Nephrite, natural colour (tremolite–actinolite series, non-asbestiform)

Hardness

6–6.5 on the Mohs scale

Form

Carved low relief, hand finished

Care

Wear or handle; nephrite takes a deeper sheen with skin contact. Wipe with a soft cloth. Avoid solvents. The solid stone is non-asbestiform; cutting dust in a workshop is the only exposure route.

Treatment

None declared — written confirmation from the supplier is still being collected

Every stone carries a treatment line in its specification table. "None declared" means the supplier has not told us of any treatment and we are still collecting that statement in writing. If a stone has been heated, irradiated, dyed or resin-filled, we say which — a treated stone is not a defect, but it is a different object, and some treatments change how it should be kept.

Ships from Hangzhou in 2–5 business days. Delivery is typically 7–15 business days to the US and 8–16 to the EU, UK, Australia and New Zealand, customs permitting. Import duties and taxes are charged by your country's customs, not by us, and are payable on delivery. The United States ended its $800 duty-free exemption on 29 August 2025, so US orders now attract duty at every value. The EU introduces a flat €3 duty per item on goods below €150 from 1 July 2026. Shipping details.