About

How to recognize real jade? Our tips to avoid making mistakes.

Jade is a precious stone as beautiful as it is symbolic. Sought after for its unique color and purity, it is frequently imitated. So, how can you distinguish genuine jade from an imitation?

Genuine jade comes in two main varieties:

- jadeite jade (the rarest and most precious)

- nephrite jade (more common).

The visual aspect

Color : Natural jade has a uniform but not perfect color. Subtle variations, marbling, or veining may be observed. A color that is too bright or too uniform may be a sign of imitation or artificial processing.

Transparency : High-quality jadeite is semi-transparent to translucent. A completely opaque or excessively shiny stone may indicate a counterfeit.

Surface : Genuine jade has a vitreous to oily luster. If the stone is too dull or too shiny, be wary.

The hardness test

Jade is a very hard stone (6 to 7 on the Mohs scale). You can:

Gently scratch the surface with a metal point or blade (without damaging the stone): real jade does not scratch easily .

Lightly strike two pieces of jade together: an authentic jade produces a clear, deep sound , like a light ringing.

The touch

Natural jade feels cool to the touch , even in a warm room. This coolness lasts for a few seconds against the skin.

It is also heavy for its size , due to its high density.

The light test

By placing the jade under bright light:

You will be able to distinguish a fibrous or granular structure inside the stone, characteristic of natural jade.

A perfectly smooth appearance or bubbles inside may betray resin or glass.