Jade is a semi-precious stone that goes by many names

South Australian jade from Cowell is known for its black jade nephrite, which can be anything from deep black through to olive green.

The stone we seek out in western China is characterised by its ‘kiwifruit’ finish, comprised of a vibrant green base and black speckled dots. New Zealand jade comes in a variety of colours, including milky and yellowy mottled patches, silvery grey-green stones and rich green finishes, and boasts a variety of patterns and textures.

Meanwhile, Canadian jade includes both dark and light green colours and an even carving consistency, though it’s typically much harder than stone sources from elsewhere.

We only use nephrite jade for our carvings, but there can be some confusion between the stones nephrite and jadeite.

The term jade is often used to describe jadeite, which is in fact a vastly different gemstone. It is slightly rarer than nephrite jade, comes in a range of unique colours such as yellow, purple, and emerald green, is harder and can only be carved into structures with rounded edges. John Sheehan Snr is browsing jadeite carvings of a common pale colour in the left hand image.

Nephrite jade is rich in colour and tough, with a waxy and rich, resinous feel. Its fibres bend before breaking, making it a hard stone that is best worked with high-speed diamond cutting tools.