The stone known as “African jade” is actually a relative of the gemstone garnet with a slightly different chemical composition known as hydrogrossular garnet. Hydrogrossular garnet is translucent to opaque, and occurs in shades of green and pink. Green hydrogrossular garnet is found in South Africa, and has the nickname “African jade” or “Transvaal jade”. These 6mm beads are smooth and round, and are a jade green color.
Semi-precious stone beads are mined all over the world and then are usually cut in China. They will often be dyed or color-treated to enhance their appearance. We select the best quality semi-precious that is available, and try to avoid finishes that are not durable. It is best to assume that some semi-precious beads will fade over time.