Natural Flower Jade Pendant Set with 18K White Gold and Diamonds
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Jadeite Classification & Identification
A Beginner-Friendly Guide for Western Collectors about Jadeite Classification & Identification
When Western jewellery lovers first hear the word “jade,” they often picture a single green stone. In reality, the Asian jade trade distinguishes two minerals: jadeite (硬玉) and nephrite (軟玉). This article focuses on jadeite—the rarer, more valuable variety that reaches record prices at auction. Within the trade, jadeite is grouped into four everyday categories: A-jade, B-jade, C-jade, and B+C-jade. These labels are not official gemmological grades; they simply describe how much the stone has been altered from its natural state. Only A-jade is considered “natural jadeite.” Everything else has undergone some form of artificial enhancement.
1. The Four Trade Categories
A-Jade (Natural Jadeite)
- Zero chemical treatment.
- Polishing with colourless wax is allowed, because wax does not penetrate the crystal structure and is therefore not classed as chemical treatment.
- What you see is exactly what Mother Nature produced.
B-Jade (Chemically Treated & Polymer-Impregnated)
- Acid-bleached to remove stains and open surface pores.
- Pores then filled with a clear polymer (usually epoxy resin) to improve transparency and add strength.
- Still real jadeite, but its structure has been permanently altered.
C-Jade (Dyed Jadeite)
- Natural jadeite that is simply dyed to change or intensify colour.
- Dyes may fade over time, especially with sunlight or skin contact.
B+C-Jade
- The “worst of both worlds”: acid-bleached, resin-filled and dyed.
- Offers the cheapest price tag and the shortest life span.
2. How Professionals Identify Jadeite
Laboratories use two broad approaches:
A. Destructive Tests (Research Only)
- Heat Test
– Natural jadeite withstands 900–1,000 °C.
– B-jade turns brown around 400 °C as the resin burns. - Solvent Test
– Acetone or other solvents dissolve the resin in B-jade, leaving an opaque, chalky mass.
B. Non-Destructive Tests (Standard Practice)
Gemmological labs examine three key points:
- Intrinsic Properties
– Refractive index: 1.65–1.72
– Specific gravity: 3.25–3.50 (higher if chromium-rich)
– Optical character: aggregate, anisotropic under the polariscope - Colour Origin
– Chelsea filter, spectroscope, and microscope check for artificial dyes.
– Dyed stones often show thick, band-like absorption lines in the red region of the spectrum. - Resin Detection
– Long-wave UV lamp: most natural jadeite is inert; resin-treated stones glow bluish-white.
– Infrared spectrometry: unmistakable peaks for epoxy resins or excess wax.
3. Anatomy of a Laboratory Report
Using the Hong Kong Jade & Stone Laboratory as an example, every certificate contains:
Features
- Shape: bangles, cabochons, pendants, Buddha carvings, etc.
- Weight: measured in carats.
- Dimensions: millimetre precision.
- Transparency: transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque.
- Colour: described by hue, tone, and distribution (patchy, streaky, or dotted).
Test Results
- Polariscope: confirms aggregate structure.
- Refractometer: 1.65–1.72.
- Hydrostatic balance: 3.25–3.50 SG.
- UV fluorescence: notes any bluish-white polymer glow.
- Visible-light spectroscope: compares natural vs. dyed absorption patterns.
- Microscopy: fibre-to-grain ratio, surface etch marks from acid.
- Infrared spectrum: flags resin peaks.
Remarks
- Trade terms such as “A-jade,” “B-jade,” etc., may be printed for consumer clarity.
Conclusion
A concise verdict:
- Natural jadeite (A-jade)
- Jadeite treated with resin (B-jade)
- Dyed jadeite (C-jade)
- Jadeite treated with resin and dye (B+C-jade)
Key Takeaway for Western Buyers
If you want a stone that holds value and never changes, insist on A-jade with a reputable laboratory certificate. Anything else—no matter how vivid the green—has been altered and will not age gracefully.
To purchase jade with HKJSL certificates, please click here to visit Virtucasa’s store. All jade items come with verifiable HKJSL certificates.
From HKJSL’Fei Cui Classification
About Fei Cui Gallery
Being the global Fei Cui trading centre, Hong Kong is renowned for its quality, craftsmanship, design and prices. HKJJA has been shouldering the responsibility of promoting the Hong Kong Fei Cui jewellery industry. Starting September 2004, HKJJA has set up Fei Cui Gallery in the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fairs, showcasing the most update designs of Fei Cui jewellery to buyers from every corner of the world.
For years, HKJJA has never ceased upgrading the quality of Fei Cui Gallery, posing very strict requirements for its participants. During the show period, we carry out random checks on exhibition items to ensure all are natural Fei Cui (so-called Type A – Natural Fei Cui) as a protection to consumers’ rights. Our professional gemmologists from the Hong Kong Jade & Stone Laboratory Limited also provide testing and certification services on site.
Moreover, in order to keep abreast with time, the image of Fei Cui Gallery has also changed from its traditional green to gold and black, showing its high caliber and a sense of contemporary.
Natural Ice-type Violet Jadeite Peach-shaped Pendant Set with 18K White Gold and Diamonds
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