Whether you’re shopping for Lunar New Year or looking to add a colorful piece to your collectsion, the best jade jewelry makes an elegant and meaningful statement. “Jade is often known as the symbol for new beginnings, hence its relevance to the new lunar year,” says Sylva Yepremian, founder and designer of Sylva & Cie. Adding, “People wear jade throughout the new year to promote good fortune, for good luck, and to ward off bad luck.”
Most notably associated with Asian culture and countries, Yepremian explains how the roots of the gemstone run deeper. “Jade has been around for thousands of years and used in ornaments, jewelry, and artifacts in many tribes across the globe for healing and religious purposes,” she tells Vogue. “Ancient Mayan tribes believed that jade was magical and often used it as a tool in emotional healing, dream work and connecting with higher realms.” There’s also the practice of activating jade to reload the energy stored in the gemstone. “By placing it outside on the night of a full moon, you can charge your jade with lunar energy to ensure its back with the highest possible vibration,” Yepremian shares.
When shopping for the best jade jewelry, including jade necklaces, jade bracelets, and jade rings, green is the most popular color variation of the gemstone. However, other vibrant iterations exist as well as black. “Jade is a very durable stone and comes in a variety of colors from green-gray, brown, and lavender,” Yepremian explains. “My favorite is the variety known as Imperial jade, which is a deep emerald green,” she continues. “The best representation of imperial jade comes in a bright green with an even translucent quality that’s extremely rare and highly covetable.”
While jade is durable, Retrouvai’s Kirsty Stone says to think about how you intend to wear a piece of jade and your past experience with semiprecious gemstone jewelry before purchasing. “If you’re looking for a ring to be worn daily, consider a setting where the stone does not have exposed edges, like a bezel set cabochon,” the designer advises, explaining how some are rougher on our fine jewelry than others. Additionally, she recommends reserving more stone-exposed designs for less frequent wear, like special occasions.
When caring for jade, there are a few ways to keep pieces in prime condition. Like most other semi-precious colored stones, you should store jade jewelry in a soft, cool, and dry pouch away from other pieces to avoid scratches, Stone explains; “It’s always best to remove during sleep, a shower, swims, and exercise for the longevity of the piece.” Yepremian adds, “Jade should not be exposed to chemicals—the best way to clean it is with a soft cloth and mild soap and water.”
Without further ado, here are the best jade jewelry pieces to shop now.
As evidenced in this pair of Art Deco-style earrings crafted with oval-shaped jade and round brilliant-cut diamonds, Yepremian is passionate about the precious material. "I love working with jade because it has been the stone associated with nobility, beauty, and good fortune," says the designer. "The strong cultural significance of this gemstone has always stood out for me."
Jade was prominent throughout the 1920s and ’30s due to the era’s affinity for opulence and adoration of Chinese culture. This pair of French Art Deco dangle tassel earrings are an authentic and extremely rare find from the period, featuring green and black jade with pearls.
