Celebrate the Lunar New Year With These Festive Jade Jewelry Pieces 

Photo: Sauer / Moda Operandi

Whether you’re shopping for Lunar New Year or looking to add a colorful piece to your collection, 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.