JADEITE - Canadian Institute of Gemmology

Transparency. This quality is also referred to as translucency. The most valued jadeite is
semi-transparent (sometimes called "honey jade") or highly translucent. Increasing opaqueness
results in lower values. An exception is white jade. Its price is not much influenced by this factor.
Clarity. The best fashioned jadeite is free of flaws (e.g., cracks, inclusions, cloudy areas, or
spots); it is free of inclusions or other clarity defects that are visible to the naked eye. Among
common imperfections are mineral inclusions (these are often dark green, black, or brown, but may
be other colors as well) and white spots. Ou Yang (1999) remarks that perhaps the most serious
defects are healed or unhealed fractures. These can have an considerable impact on the value of the
stone—in part because jadeite is believed by Chinese to symbolize durability and perfection.
Texture. This can range from fine to coarse. The finer the better. Hughes, Galibert, et al (2000:
19) note that
texture is intimately related to transparency. In the authors’ experience, typically the finer
the texture is, the higher the transparency will be. Further, the evenness of the transparency
depends on the consistency of the grain size. Our observations also suggest that coarsegrained
jadeite tends to have more irregularities, blotches, or discolorations.
Ho (1996) discusses three categories that are commonly employed for fashioned jadeite: 1) fine or
"old mine", medium or "relatively old mine", and coarse or "new mine". Texture plays a key role in
this categorization (which is not any longer actually associated with whether the piece in question
came from one of the so-called "old mines" or the "new mines", although it did to some extent at
one time). Old mine jadeite is viewed as having a higher quality, being of finer grain size, and
having greater luster and translucency.
Shape. The best quality jadeite is cut into cabochons. Ovals and rounds generally are priced
higher than rectangular, marquise, or pear shapes. Smooth uncarved pieces are more valuable than
carved pieces.
Size. Large fine pieces are very rare and hence more valuable. Thickness is a factor. Basically
cabochons smaller than 8 x 6 mm and thinner than 2 mm are worth less. Size is discussed in more
detail in the next section.
Polish and Finish. The more brilliant the polish and smoother the finish the better. Hughes,
Galibert, et al (2000: 20) remark that "polish is particularly important with jadeite. Fine polish
results in fine luster, so that light can pass cleanly in and out of a translucent or semi-transparent
piece." They also write that "one method of judging the quality of polish is to examine the reflection
of a beam of light on the surface of a piece of jadeite. A stone with fine polish will produce a sharp,
undistorted reflection, with no 'orange-peel' or dimpling visible." Field (2000: 2) has noted that the
"fine granular structure of interlocking crystals that may vary slightly in hardness... gives rise to a
subtly dimpled surface when the material is cut and polished," but that in recent years "the use of
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