Elastic bracelet with 19–23 8mm XinYi jade beads, strung on high-strength elastic cord. XinYi jade — a variety of green serpentine from Guangdong province, China — offers a characteristic deep green with white and grey veins running across the surface of each bead. The feel is smooth and waxy, very different from the vitreous luster of quartz. The elasticity of the cord allows it to fit most wrist sizes without a metal clasp.
Item Details
| Mineral |
XinYi Jade (green serpentine — Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄) |
| Bead size |
8 mm diameter (±0.5 mm) |
| Number of beads |
19–23 units depending on wrist size |
| Finish |
Waxy polish |
| Hardness |
2.5–3.5 Mohs — avoid direct impacts and abrasion |
| Clasp |
No clasp — adjustable elastic cord |
| Origin |
China (Guangdong province) |
| Treatment |
No treatment |
| Type |
Multi-unit — natural mineral beads |
The beads in detail
XinYi jade belongs to the mineralogical group of serpentine, a family of magnesium phyllosilicates that includes antigorite, lizardite, and chrysotile varieties. The characteristic deep green to grayish-green color of this variety comes from trace amounts of iron and chromium incorporated into the magnesium lattice during crystallization.
Each bead shows subtle variations in color — from dark moss green to lighter mint green — with white or grey veins running irregularly across the surface. This natural variation is the mineral's signature: no two beads exactly replicate the pattern of the next. In direct natural light, the bracelet as a whole creates an organic green gradient effect that varies with the viewing angle.
How XinYi jade forms
Serpentine originates primarily through serpentinization: hot water circulates through ultramafic rocks (peridotite, dunite) and transforms olivine and pyroxene minerals into hydrated phyllosilicates of the serpentine group. This process occurs in oceanic subduction zones and in the deep continental crust. The deposits in Guangdong, China, are associated with Mesozoic ophiolite belts.
Jade in lapidary tradition
Jade has held a central place in Chinese culture for over five thousand years. The Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) used jade in funerary ceremonies and buried nobles in suits made of jade pieces sewn with gold thread. In the traditional Chinese hierarchical scale, jade was associated with the five Confucian virtues: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, courage, and purity.
In crystal tradition, green jade is associated with emotional serenity, openness of heart, and prosperity — qualities that in Chinese culture were considered inherent to the stone. This is shared as a cultural reference, not as medical advice.
How to recognize genuine XinYi jade
Genuine serpentine has a green color ranging from moss green to grayish-green, with characteristic white or black veins. Under magnification, the surface shows a very fine scaly texture, different from that of glass or synthetic resin. The hardness test is the most practical: at 2.5–3.5 Mohs, a coin can scratch the surface — dyed quartz (Mohs 7) would not allow this. Genuine mineral also feels cold to the touch and has a significantly higher density than plastic.
Frequently asked questions
Is XinYi jade authentic jade?
XinYi jade is a variety of green serpentine, mineralogically distinct from jadeite jade and nephrite. In international lapidary markets, serpentine is sold as "new jade" — an established trade name, not an imitation. The main difference lies in hardness (2.5–3.5 Mohs versus 6–7 for jadeite jade) and chemical composition (magnesium phyllosilicate versus sodium pyroxene).
Is this bracelet treated?
No detectable treatment. The green comes from trace amounts of iron and chromium in the serpentine structure, without dyeing or chemical stabilization. This statement is based on lapidary observation; the piece does not include formal gemological certification.
Is the bracelet one size fits all?
Yes. The elastic cord adapts to most wrist sizes (16–20 cm circumference). The number of beads varies between 19 and 23 units depending on the batch; the diameter of each bead is 8 mm ±0.5 mm.
See also: mineral bracelets collection · jade properties.
