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Emerald and Jade are two of the most beautiful green gemstones known for their lush hues and shine. Often, these two gemstones look very similar which is why it is hard to distinguish between them.
Hence many people wonder - Is jade and emerald the same? No, these two are very distinctive gemstones with different physical properties and astrological significance. Both gems are quite popular since they have a beauty that appeals to the eye and many spiritual and healing benefits but the difference between jade and emerald can be seen in their chemical formulation, origin, astrological benefits, price, and hardness.
Indeed, they have put gemstone lovers in a dubious situation many times of whether to go for an all-time classic emerald or sage appearance Jadite.
So, here, we have a comprehensive and utterly informative blog post on Jade vs Emerald - what are the differences?; which will help you differentiate emerald by jade and decide which one to choose for yourself.
Emerald gemstone, also known as Panna Ratna, are from the mineral beryl family, in which the green colour comes from the presence of chromium or vanadium. It is found transparent or opaque in nature and known for its dark green hue. Panna Stone is one of the longest-known gemstones in the world, and because of their beauty and scarcity, is often in demand.
Jade is a type of metamorphic rock that is made up of both jadeite and nephrite minerals. It is a very rare type of gem that is tough and often opaque. It is found in many hues like green, white, orange, black, purple, and yellow. But, in this post, we're talking about - green jade vs emerald.
| Properties /Gem | Emerald | Jade |
| Chemical Composition | Be3Al2(SiO3)6 | NaAlSi2O6 or Na(Al,Fe3+)Si2O |
| Crystal Structure | Hexagonal | Jadeite - pyroxene Nephrite - amphibole |
| Refractive Index | 1.57-1.59 | Jadeite - 1.66 Nephrite - 1.62 |
| Specific Gravity | 2.76 | 3.24 to 3.43 |
| Density | 2.71–2.78 g/cm3 | Jadeite: 3.25–3.45 g/cm3 Nephrite: 2.9–3.03 g/cm3 |
The hardness of Emerald on Moh’s scale is between 7.5-8, which makes it quite a durable gemstone. Because of its toughness, it is a good gemstone for making jewellery that can be worn on a daily basis.
Jade has a hardness of 6.5 to 7, which is also quite durable. Mostly, it is used to make decorative items to be kept at home for decor.
Comparatively, Panna gems are more ready to wear daily than Jade, as their hardness is higher. So, of you are looking for a green gem to be worn regularly, the emerald stone is recommended.
Emeralds are found in many regions all around the world including Colombia, Brazil, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Colombia is the primary source of Panna gemstones since it is the world’s largest producer of it, supplying around 70-90% of gems, globally. They are known for their premium quality and best clarity. Other than that, Brazilian Emeralds are also very popular.
The origins of Jade stone are in China, Myanmar, Russia, Canada, Guatemala, New Zealand, South Europe, and many other Asian countries. The best quality of Jade is found in Myanmar. They are often very valuable and are popularly known as the Burmese Jade stones. Also, Myanmar produces almost 95% of Jadeit present in the market today.
Emerald gemstones come in dark green hues, their vibrant colour with transparency makes them look highly alluring. Some low-quality gems may have a yellow or blue undertone while some can have a lighter shade of green due to the decrease of concentration of chromium or vanadium. The best quality of emeralds comes in deep green hue, intense saturation, and shine.
On the other hand, Jade gemstones are found in a number of colours. Along with green, Jade also comes in white, lavender, red, yellow, etc. The green Jade gems are the most valuable because of their translucency, Panna-like hue, and Rarity. They are often known as Imperial Jade.
Mostly, in emerald vs jade green, the green of Panna Stones is preferred because they are transparent, have shine and look more alluring when set in necklaces or jewellery.
Both Panna and Jade have the same ruling planet as per Vedic astrology, which is Mercury (Budh Grah). Hence, anyone who have this planet positioned in a negative position in their birth chart can wear either of the gems. However, the benefits and healing properties vary so you can differ jade versus emerald.
Enhances communication skills and self-expression ability.
Boosts mental clarity, removing obsessive or negative thinking.
Brings prosperity and strengthens relationships.
Heightens the intuition powers to help make better judgments.
Increases wisdom, growth, and wealth.
Balances the energies and maintains emotional well-being.
Instills the feelings of love, compassion, and friendship.
Promotes inner peace and helps make better connections.
Cures insomnia and helps to sleep better with calmness.
Helps you overcome past trauma and reduces anxiety.
Attracts growth and abundance into your life.
Known to have anti-ageing properties.
Strengthens and heals the heart.
Treats any kidney and liver-related ailments.
Regulates the circulatory system.
Radiates the skin.
Provides relief from headaches.
Cures sore throats and toothaches.
Boosts the immunity system of the wearer.
Maintains the blood circulation and removes toxic substances.
Lowers the blood pressure and regulates the heart.
Positively affects the reproductive system and increases fertility.
Sustains the function of kidneys and bladder.
Improves the health of the cardiovascular system.
Also, as per Western astrology, the difference between emerald and jade is that emerald is the May birthstone while Jade is the birthstone for March borns.
Jade stone is more affordable as compared to Emerald (Markat Stone). This is because Emeralds are more in demand and hold much astrological significance. As per Astrology, they are one of the Navratans, which are considered to be the nine most dynamic and influential gemstones. Indeed, they have a rich history and are known for their beauty. Hence, they are also one of the most expensive gemstones in the world, which have selling prices in millions of dollars as well.
Jade is a more abundant gemstone than Panna stones and is not as highly important in astrology. It is a semi-precious gemstone with less durability. And is often used as a substitute of Emerald gemstones.
Also, emeralds of the finest quality with fewer inclusions are highly rare therefore, they are sold at very high prices.
The cost of a gemstone depends on many factors like cut, colour, weight, quality, clarity, and treatment processes, so sometimes a particular jade stone can have more value, but generally, emeralds are more expensive.
The emerald vs jade prices have a huge difference because of a number of factors, including origin, colour, clarity, cut, treatment, and size.
The gem of good quality, cut in a precise manner with fewer inclusions, often demands a higher price. Also, untreated stones are much preferable to treated ones, so their value will be higher.
The price of Emerald Stone (Panna) ranges between INR 2,000 to 5,00,000 per carat. Some gems which are known by their origin can be of more value, like the Colombian emeralds price starts around INR 5,000 and can go as high as INR 10,00,000 per carat. The most expensive emerald gemstone is the Rockefeller emerald, which was sold for the amount of 5.51 Million Dollars.
On the other hand, Jade stone price ranges between INR 600 to 7,00,000 per carat based on its quality. The most expensive Jadeite stone was sold at $27.44 million.
Popularity and history also define the jade and emerald difference. Panna gems were found thousands of years ago and are known in history as a symbol of luxury and communication. These elegant gems are the birthstone of May borns and are known to be the traditional gift for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.
As per the ancient texts, they were highly valued in Egypt as their queen Cleopatra used to wear them as jewellery all the time and used them to make makeup as well. She used to trade and export them as well, making them very demandable in the world at her time. Greeks and Romans also believed in the powers of these gems and thought it would protect them.
Jade was more popular in the traditional Chinese culture and aesthetics. It was most often used to make Chinese art and jewellery for thousands of years. It is highly valued for its beauty, durability, and symbolism. It represents good luck, prosperity, and longevity in their culture.
We have mentioned all the points to answer ‘What is the difference between jade and emerald?’ to help you decide between these two similar-looking gemstones. Having very different properties, you can choose one based on its price, benefits, and durability as per your need and preference.
We highly advise you to consult an astrologer before wearing a gemstone as well as buy an original gem from a trusted source like Navratan to get a real gemstone with lab certification.
Ques. What is better, jade or emerald?
Ans. Jade and Emerald are both powerful gemstones, though if you want to gain high positive energy benefits, emerald is the stone for you.
Ques. Can I wear jade and emerald together?
Ans. Yes, these two green gems can be worn together since they both have the same ruling planet as per Vedic astrology.
Ques. Can I wear Jade instead of Emerald?
Ans. Yes, Jade is often used as an Emerald substitute. You can wear it instead of the Panna stone.
Ques. Where can I buy an Original Emerald stone online?
Ans. You can buy an original emerald gemstone online at the best price at Navratan.com. You should always purchase an authentic and lab-certified gem from a reputable seller.
Ques. Is Jade cheaper than Emerald?
Ans. Yes. Jade is a semi-precious gem less popular than the Panna stones, so its less expensive comparatively.
Ques. Is Jade a good investment or Emerald?
Ans. Emerald is a good investment instead of Jade. It is more expensive, rare and gives good ROI.
Ques. Which one is more lucky - Jade or Emerald?
Ans. Astrologically, emeralds are more powerful and have high potential energies, so they will be more lucky to wear.
