Nephrite is a hard carving stone related to jade. Sometimes called "greenstone," nephrite is also found in shades of brown, black and gray. This stone is found in Siberia, Central Asia, New Zealand, and even parts of the United States. Nephrite thrived during the Ching Dynasty of China, and beautiful jewelry, trinkets, vases and historical figurines were created using the hard, soft-luster stone.
Nephrite has quite a history. It was once believed to have the power to cure kidney ailments. However, it remained mainly as a material used in jewelry making.
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The most beautiful and most costly white Nephrite is found only in the Xinjiang Province. It was a treacherous ride for those seeking it to collect the stone, as it was a difficult journey and thieves were known to steal it from those who went to collect it.
After 1800 AD, Nephrite carvings seemed to fade out, and the workmanship wasn't as intricate and beautiful as it was years before. Soon after the fall of Nephrite, a close cousin "Jadeite" stepped in and became the favored stone in China for jewelry.
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