Jade is a name, which may refer to two minerals: Jadeite or Nephrite. Today over 90% of Jade comes from Myanmar. Jade has cultural significance to people of the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania but perhaps the deepest and most enduring legacy is that of China.
For thousands of years, Chinese sculptors have refined an artistic tradition of jade carving and the gemstone is an important part of Chinese cultural heritage. In Chinese tradition, Jade is especially significant as a gift, bestowing luck and protection on the recipient. It is also highly personal and thought to be linked with the wearer. For that reason, Jade jewelry as an heirloom is especially powerful, conveying familial love, protection, and respect through generations.