Jade
- HEX
- #00A86B
- RGB
- 0 168 107
- HSL
- 158° 100% 33%
- CMYK
- 100 0 36 34
Jade or Emerald?
Darker and bluer than emerald.
Language
Jade means 'flank stone'. Spaniards in the Americas called it piedra de ijada, recorded in the 1560s, believing it cured pains in the side and kidneys. Translated into Latin as lapis nephriticus, kidney stone, it also gave us nephrite.
Science
Jade is two different minerals. In 1863 the French mineralogist Alexis Damour showed that 'jade' could be nephrite or jadeite, which look alike but differ in chemistry.
Culture
In China jade was the imperial gem, valued above gold and carved for ritual since Neolithic cultures like Hongshan and Liangzhu. In Mesoamerica, the Olmec and Maya took all their jade from one river valley, the Motagua in Guatemala.
Kin
- Celadon: The glaze Chinese potters made to look like jade
- Gold: In Chinese tradition, jade outranked gold
- Emerald: Spain met both in the Americas: jade in Mexico, emeralds in Colombia
Sources
- Wikipedia, 'Jade' (piedra de ijada 1565; Damour 1863; Motagua valley)
Hex values are screen approximations. Every page lists its sources.