How to Identify Real Jade

‘Jade’ is a term that is applied to two different rocks called Naphrite and Jadeite, there are many different types of jade, colours vary from green, white to blue and pink, with them appearing in many different shapes are forms it can be very difficult to identify whether jade is real or not. Admittedly we are never going to be experts in this field but we have come up with a quick guide to help you determine whether you have genuine Jade or a fake that has appeared on the market due to the value of the stone.

Treatments to real Jade

Even if you were to have real jade you would have to keep in mind whether or not it has been adjusted in any way, for example by removing marks or enhancing the colour. The types of Jade are separated into three categories:

• Type A- Natural Jade, has been treated traditionally with plum juice and beeswax for polish, but no chemical treatments, so the stone remains its original colour.
   
• Type B- Chemically bleached to remove impurities and injected with polymer to enhance the translucency. Protected with a clear coating for protection, but sometimes the colour is faded due to the polymer. The stone is still its natural colour
   
• Type C- Chemically bleached and dyed to enhance the colour, most likely discoloured over time. 
   

Specific Gravity Test

Personally we always prefer to do a ‘specific gravity’ test to identify the rock, because this is tends to be the most accurate, though we will always undergo other tests alongside this just to be 100% sure.

Specific gravity is a measurement that determines the density of minerals, this test determines how heavy it is by its relative weight to water. At first this all sounds a little confusing, but this is a fairly simple test.

1. Weigh your stone on normal scales (measured in grams)
2. Fill a measuring jug (ml) with cold water (ideally around 4 degrees C) until it is half full (dependent on the size of the stone)
3. Record the height of the liquid
4. Carefully place your stone into the water and measure the height of the water again.
5. Now calculate how much the water level has increased e.g 5ml1ml of water= 1 gram
6. Next divide your original weight (from the scales) with the weight of displaced water. You can also use this specific gravity calculator
7. Next you will need to use your number against this table to determine what mineral is the closest to your weight.

View Table

Scratch Test

A simple way of finding out if your Jade is real or not is performing a scratch test, we prefer not to do this test due to the chance of damaging the rock, so will use it as a last resort.

Jadeite is an extremely hard mineral, it will scratch glass and metal so you should not be able to leave a scratch on the rock. No scratch= Real Jadeite. Though you have to keep in mind that just because your stone may be able to scratch glass its not necessarily real, it could be an alternative to jade such as prehnite or quartz.

Meanwhile Nephrite (form of Jade) is quite soft, so you must be careful when performing this test so that you don’t damage a genuine piece. Use a blue piece or metal, for example the blunt end of some scissors and gently draw a line onto the stone (preferably on an area of the piece that is less visible). If the scratch leaves a white line, gently wipe it off (may be residue from the metal) is there is still a scratch then its probably not authentic jade.

Examine the stone

If you hold genuine jade up to a bright light and look very carefully you should be able to see small granular/ fibrous intertwinings (looks like asbestos or felt).
Meanwhile is you see something resembling layers, then this may be multiple thin layers of jade covering a different stone.
Real jade will not be perfect, when examining the rock, look for imperfections such as marks and slight variations in colour.

Cold Test

Jade should feel cold, smooth with a soap-like texture, if you were to hold the stone, it should take quite a while to warm up. This test is most accurate when you have a piece of real Jade of a similar shape and size for comparison.

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