Gem Encyclopedia
Jade: The Gem of Eternity
In brief. «Jade» refers to two distinct minerals: nephrite and jadeite. Both are extraordinarily tough — they do not chip — but only imperial jadeite reaches the price levels of a truly rare gemstone. The single most important factor when purchasing is the A, B, and C classification: A is natural jade, B has been bleached with acids and filled with resin, C is dyed. Grade-B jade deteriorates within a few years, and the difference is invisible to the naked eye.
Jade is arguably the most venerated gemstone in human history — not for its optical properties, but for its cultural significance across the civilizations of East Asia, Mesoamerica, and New Zealand. To the ancient Chinese it was worth more than gold, and the phrase that has described it for two thousand years remains the finest: it is the stone «with the five virtues».
Jadeite and Nephrite: Two Stones, One Name
Nephrite — calcium and magnesium silicate (amphibole), hardness 6–6.5. It is the older variety of the Chinese tradition: green, white, grey, black, with an interlocking fibrous structure that makes it nearly impossible to break. It is more common and less expensive.
Jadeite — sodium and aluminum silicate (pyroxene), hardness 6.5–7. It reached China from Burma only in the eighteenth century and immediately became «imperial jade» in its translucent emerald-green form. It is far rarer, and the finest pieces command prices that rival those of the classic precious stones.
The distinction was established only in 1863, by the French mineralogist Alexis Damour: until then, the two were considered one and the same.
A, B, C: The Grading That Determines Value
This is the point on which nearly the entire jadeite market turns, and one that almost no one explains to the buyer.
- Grade-A Jade — natural. Treated at most with a light surface wax, as has been done for centuries. It is the only grade that holds its value over time.
- Grade-B Jade — bleached with strong acids to remove brown staining, then impregnated with polymer resin to restore translucency. It looks beautiful at first; over time the resin yellows, clouds, and cracks. It is worth a fraction of Grade A.
- Grade-C Jade — dyed with colorants that often fade in light.
- B+C — bleached, impregnated, and dyed at once: the worst of both worlds.
The uncomfortable truth is that the difference cannot be seen with the naked eye: infrared spectroscopy is required to detect the resin. For any significant purchase, a laboratory certificate is not a luxury — it is the only way to know what you are actually paying for.
How to Recognize Real Jade
- The sound. Two pieces of Grade-A jade tapped lightly together produce a clear, high-pitched ring; Grade-B jade and resin imitations sound dull.
- Weight and cold. Jade is dense and remains cool in the hand for a long time — more so than glass, and far more than plastic.
- Toughness. It does not chip at the edges: a chipped edge is a warning sign.
- Common imitations: serpentine («new jade»), aventurine, dyed quartz, glass. They are inexpensive and found everywhere.
Why It Commands Such Value in the East
In China, jade has accompanied life and death for eight thousand years: Neolithic tools, symbols of rank, amulets, funerary suits made entirely of plaques sewn together with gold wire. Confucius attributed to it the virtues of the gentleman — benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, courage, sincerity — and Chinese culture ties it to the protection of the person who wears it. This is not residual folklore: it remains, to this day, the reason why the imperial jadeite market moves sums that consistently surprise the Western world.
How to Care for Jade
Warm water and mild soap, soft cloth. 🔴 Never ultrasonic cleaners, steam, or solvents: on Grade-B jade they would dissolve the resin, and even on Grade-A pieces they can damage the surface wax. Keep jade away from heat, and — if the stone is dyed — from direct light.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jade
- Which jade is the most valuable?
- Burmese «imperial» jadeite: intense emerald green, translucent, and uniform. The finest pieces sell at auction for figures that surpass many classic precious stones.
- Is light green jade worth less?
- Not necessarily: translucency and uniformity matter more than depth of tone. A top-quality «mutton-fat» white jade is worth more than an opaque green stone.
- How can I tell if it is Grade-A jade?
- Only through laboratory analysis. Be wary of generic seller certificates and prices that seem too low for the apparent quality: B-treatment is inexpensive and only reveals itself over time.
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