Jade gemshave been considered precious and sacred since prehistory. 
Jade implements pre-dated its use as ornament or amulet in China, New Zealand and other locales due to its ability to take and keep an edge. 
Carvings of Jade were made by the Olmec culture of southern Mexico, the Maori of New Zealand and by the Chinese  many thousands of years ago.

The indigenous societies of China, Central and South America, Mexico, Alaska, Turkestan and Persia all independently came to the belief that Jade has the power to confer immortality.  

Jade, whether as jewellery or in the form amulet, talisman or carving, was considered a sacred gift.  When giving Jade as a gift one was giving away a part of oneself.

"... Jade is a possession to be cherished by anyone who can find it or buy it or steal it.  The poorest courtesan has her bit of Jade to hang in her ears or to use in a hairpin, and the most popular and successful actresses wear Jade instead of Diamonds, because Jade is the most sumptuous jewel against a woman's flesh ..."

                    --- My Several Worlds, by Pearl S. Buck

The touch of Jade is a delight, it is beautiful to look at and it is even musical to the ears.  These precious stones are so resonant that they were frequently used to make bells, chimes and flutes.

Legends of the Chinese Emperor Kao-Tsu playing his Jade flute tell of his ability to,

"... conjure images of mountains, rivers, groves and horses as in a mist - visions that vanished as the notes of music died on the air."

The quality of Jade was appreciated to such an extent that it was used to describe all things of value and beauty.

There on a stretch by the fen,

I was plucking Mulberry leaves;

There came a gentleman lovely as the glint of Jade,

Lovely as the glint of Jade,

More splendid than any that attend

the prince in his coach.

There in the bend of the Fen

I was plucking water-plantain;

There came a gentleman lovely as Jade,

Lovely as Jade,

More splendid than any that escort

The prince in his coach.

 --- "Book of Odes", compiled 1100 BC (Chou Dynasty)

"If Jade is discarded and Pearls destroyed, petty thieves will disappear, there being no valuables left to steal."

                       --- from a dictionary published c. 1700

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