It’s important to understand what Jade really is and what it isn’t because, according to Ashley Levy, founder and director of education at the Love and Light School of Crystal Therapy, there are many fakes out there, and many stones are often called jade when they’re not jade at all.

As she Tells Mindbodygreen, technically real jade can be one of two different materials: jadeite or jadeite. “Jadeite consists of small granular crystals, [whereas] jade jade has a more fibrous internal structure, which when polished can sometimes give it a slightly silky appearance,” she notes. Jade can also come in a variety of colors, from green to black to lavender and even sometimes blue, she tells mindbodygreen.

“So one of these minerals is considered to be true jade,” Leavy explains, adding that the stone is highly sought after and has a rich history around the world.

In ancient China, for example, it was used to help loved ones pass into the afterlife, and a similar application was used in ancient Mesoamerica. “Especially in Central America, like Guatemala, we see a lot of jade artifacts associated with the dead, so it’s really interesting that even though these cultures were very far apart and distant, the ancient people used jade in a similar way.” she says

Today, jade has become a popular crystal around the world and, according to Livi, is still most sought after and revered in China, where it has traditionally been associated with health, longevity, prosperity and power.