Prized in Asian cultures for thousands of years, Jades are actually found in many different regions of the world. Jade beads can be pleasing hues including lighter tones of creamy white and light mint. They also come in darker shades of sage and can be as dark as dried tea leaves.
Jade is actually a catch-all term for two separate stones - jadeite and nephrite. Jades are formed in metamorphic rocks. They are composed of fine-grained crystal structures. The distinctive green color of jade is actually caused by impurities of chromium.