Nephrite is a type of jade, usually green but sometimes white (then it can be called white jade or mutton-fat jade). It can also be found in shades from yellow to brown, and in various shades of black or grey. It is less valuable than jadeite, the other jade type, but popular in jewellery mainly because it is easy to carve.

Green nephrite tends to have a greyish or brownish tinge. The more green it is, the more valuable. Even when nephrite is very green, it will usually be what is called forest green or an olive colour, rather than the characteristic bright green (called jade green) which is more associated with jadeite.

Both nephrite and jadeite should be transparent, or nearly so, and in the better quality stones the colour is usually even or uniform. In some cases you can have a mixture of colours which is very desirable, but lighter or darker shades of the same colour are less so.