This bangle has been fashioned from jadeite jade, possibly in China. Although in China a wide variety of translucent to opaque, green stones are generically referred to as "jade", there are only two minerals - nephrite and jadeite - that are officially accepted as such and they can occur in many colours other than green. Both are hard and durable materials that have been used to carve both decorative and functional objects. Being different minerals, they have differing chemical compositions and structures, with nephrite jade generally being composed of interlocking fibrous crystals and jadeite jade generally being composed of interlocking, more granular crystals. However, they can sometimes be very similar in appearance which then require testing to separate. In their finest qualities, jadeite jade is the more highly valued. This bangle was originally acquired by the India Museum in London, and transferred to the South Kensington Museum (later renamed the Victoria and Albert Museum) in 1879.