Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Learning to recognize jade
• Part 2 of 3: Conducting simple tests
• Part 3 of 3: Perform a tightness test
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Jade is a beautiful stone that can be green, orange or white. The value of the stone is determined by the following factors: transparency, color, processing, rarity, beauty and authenticity. It is useful to be able to determine for yourself whether the jade you want to buy or the antique piece of jade you have is real or imitation. Using simple and quick tests, you can really learn to distinguish from imitation and estimate your real value. Read on below for the instructions.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Learning to recognize jade

1. Try to learn more about jade. Only jadeite jade and nephrite jade are considered real jade.
   • The most expensive and sought-after jade (Burmese jadeite, Burmese jade, the "Imperial" jade or Chinese jade) usually comes from Myanmar (formerly Burma). However, small amounts of jade are also mined in Guatemala, Mexico and Russia.
   • 75% of all nephrite jade on Earth comes from the mines of British Columbia (on the west coast of Canada), Taiwan, the United States and (in small quantities) in Australia.
2. Be aware of what kind of stone the imitation jade really is. The following stones are often sold as jade:
   
   
   • Serpentine.
   • Prehnite.
   • Green aventurine.
   • Transvaal jade (garnet that resembles jade in color and texture).
   • Chrysoprase (the "Australian jade" - usually from Queensland, Australia).
   • Malaysian jade (a permanently dyed transparent quartz named for its color - red, yellow and blue jade.
   • Opaque dolomite marble (from Asia, colored in bright colors).
   • The so-called "Greenstone" or "Pounamu" is highly regarded by the Maori in New Zealand. Maori distinguish four types of pounamu based on the color and degree of transparency: "kawakawa, kahurangi," nanga ". These three types come under nephrite jade. The fourth kind of pounamu - "de" tangiwai "- comes from Milford Sound. Although the tangiwai is generally highly valued, it is actually bowenite, not nephrite.
3. Hold the jade up to a bright light. Try to study the inner structure with a 10x magnifying glass. Can you see the small fibrous, grainy and velvety bits? The structure also resembles that of asbestos. If so, you are probably dealing with real nephrite or jadeite. Chrysoprase consists of tightly packed microscopic quartz crystals, making it easy to confuse these species.
   • If you observe something that looks like several layers with the 10x magnifier, you are probably dealing with jadeite that has "doubled" or even "tripled" (a thin layer of jadeite is then glued to another rock).
4. Get to know the different methods of deception and deception. Because although the jade is sometimes real, it can still be artificially processed by means of dyeing, bleaching, heating, applying a layer of polymer resin and doubling or tripling as mentioned above. Jade can be divided into three categories based on all these possibilities:
   • Type A - Natural, untreated, has undergone a traditional process (washing with plum juice and polishing with beeswax), no artificial treatments (heating or high pressure treatments). The color is "real".
   • Type B - chemically bleached to remove blemishes; polymer was injected with a centrifuge to make the stone more transparent; covered with hard and transparent plastic such as nail polish. This species is weak and discolors over time as the polymer is crumbled by heat or cleaning agents; yet the stones that fall under this category are 100% jade with a natural color.
   • Type C - chemically bleached; artificially colored to create a jade color; discoloration occurs over time from contact with bright light, body heat, or cleaning products.

Part 2 of 3: Conducting simple tests

1. Throw the stone in the air and catch it with your hand. Real jade has a high density which makes it feel a bit heavier than it looks. If it feels heavier than most stones of roughly the same size and passes the eye test, chances are it is real jade.
   • Of course, this is not a scientific or precise test, but it is an effective one that is often used by gem traders and buyers.
2. Let the stones bounce together. Another traditional way to measure the density of stones is to listen to the sound of plastic beads bouncing against each other. If you have a real piece of jade, let it bounce off the stone in question. If that sound sounds like the two plastic beads bouncing together, it is probably imitation. However, if the sound is deeper and with more resonance, it could well be real.
   
   
3. Hold the piece of jade in your hand. If it is real jade it will feel cold, smooth and slightly soapy in your hand. It should take a while for it to get warm. You can perform this test properly if you can compare the supposed jade with a piece of jade of approximately the same size and shape that you are sure is real jade.
4. Do a scratch test. Jadeite is very hard; it can scratch glass and even metal. Nephrite is often much softer, so a scratch test can still damage a real piece of jade. However, if the piece leaves scratches on glass or steel, it can still be one of many alternatives to jade as well as variants of green quartz and prehnite.
   • Using the blunt tip of a pair of scissors, press gently on the stone while drawing a line. Always do this at the bottom so that you do not damage the cutting and polishing work.
   • Do not run it on weathered areas as these are often much softer and can be easily damaged. If the scratch leaves a white line, gently wipe it away (this could be residue from the metal of the scissors). Is there still a scratch after this? Then it is probably not real jade.

Part 3 of 3: Perform a tightness test

1. Divide the weight of the jade by the volume. Both jadeite and nephrite have a high density (jadeite - 3.3; nephrite - 2.95).
   
   
2. Use a crocodile clip to hold the object. If there is no clamp on the scale, you can also use a string, rubber band or hairpin.
3. Weigh the object with a spring balance and write down the result. It is important that the spring balance indicates the weight in grams.
   
   
4. Carefully place the object in a bucket filled with water and write down the weight in water. The clamp may also touch the water; it shouldn't affect weight very much.
   
   
   • However, if you are concerned about this, please do one of the other tests described above. However, because this test is based on the weight difference, the difference will be the same as long as you make sure that the string, rubber band or clip is attached to the jade in both water and air and is therefore included.
5. Calculate the volume of the object. Divide the weight in air by 1000 (or 981 if you have a calculator handy) and subtract the weight of the object in water, also divided by 1000 (or 981 if you have a calculator handy). Now you can determine the volume in cc.
   
   
6. Compare your outcome with the figures of real jade. Jadeite has a density of 3.20-3.33 g./cc and nephrite has a density of 2.98 - 3.33 g./cc.
   
   

Tips

• If you really like jade and want to buy high quality pieces make sure you get a certificate from a laboratory stating that the piece is "A" quality. Most recognized exclusive jewelers only sell the A quality.
• If there are bubbles in the jade, it is not real.

Warnings

• Be aware that a scratch test can damage a beautiful piece of nephrite jade.
• Never take a scratch test on a piece that is not yours. Because if you damage the piece, you have to pay for the damage. Clean it with alcohol before you start.
• Antique jade objects are usually unique. If you see an antique dealer selling several pieces that look similar, this is a sign that something is probably wrong. Ask lots of questions and ask for a certificate of authenticity.

Necessities

For the tightness test:

• A spring balance (100g, 500g or 2500g, depending on the weight of the object you are testing)
• Bucket large enough to dip the jade objects in
• Strings, a hairpin or rubber bands
• Kitchen paper (to dry the stones)