Jade is a stunning gemstone with colors ranging from vibrant green, lavender, orange, red, to white. The quality of jade is categorized into grades A, B, and C, depending on the processing method. Whether you're purchasing jade or simply curious about your jewelry collection, knowing how to identify whether it is real or fake can be quite valuable. First, examine the color and texture to ensure the stone is smooth, lustrous, and uniform. Next, you can try some simple tests at home to assess the stone. Ultimately, the best approach is to take it to a jeweler for a professional authenticity check.
Steps
Examine the smoothness and brilliance of the stone, which should reflect light like water. Check if the stone’s color is vibrant and radiant. Most jade stones will not be completely opaque or entirely transparent. Due to its mix of transparency and opacity, look for a glossy appearance similar to light reflecting off water. If the stone appears dull or too uniform, it might be a fake.
- Genuine jade can sometimes be fully opaque, but these opaque stones tend to be of lower value.
- If the stone looks like it has bubbles inside, it's likely not authentic.
Advice: Genuine jade is categorized into A, B, and C grades based on the treatment process used to achieve its color. Grade A jade is natural and untreated, often coated with a thin layer of wax to enhance its color. Grade B jade undergoes chemical treatment to remove impurities and is then impregnated with polymer to strengthen it. Lastly, Grade C jade is chemically treated and dyed to improve its appearance, which means it may fade over time.
Examine the color of the jade to ensure it's consistent, imperfect, and free of spots. When observing real jade, you may notice slight color variations, but these are usually uniform, with the same pattern throughout the stone. On the other hand, fake jade may have perfect or inconsistent colors with noticeable spots or blemishes.
- It’s best to inspect the jade under direct light for a clearer view.
Look for imperfections on the jade’s surface, such as indentations or rough patches. Authentic jade stones often have small flaws like asymmetry or pits on the surface. These imperfections can remain even after polishing. If the stone looks too perfect, it might be a fake.
- This may not apply if you're examining a high-quality piece of jewelry, as top-grade jade may be flawless.
Perform Basic Tests
Toss the stone into the air and catch it in the palm of your hand to check its weight. Genuine jade has a very high density, meaning it will feel heavier than expected for its size. Toss the jade a few times and feel its weight. If possible, compare it to another stone to estimate its weight.
- While this is not an exact test, it’s commonly used to assess jade authenticity.
Press the jade against your cheek to see if it feels cool. Jade is naturally cool to the touch, so you should feel a chill when you press it against your skin. Try placing the stone on your face or neck to check if it gives off a cooling sensation. If it doesn’t, it might be fake jade.
- Real jade will not warm up even if pressed against your face for a few minutes. It remains cool, even when rubbed on your skin.
Try warming the stone in your hand to see if it maintains its coolness. Place the jade in your palm, then close your hand tightly around it. Hold the stone to try and warm it up, then wait for about 1-2 minutes before checking if it’s still cool. Genuine jade will stay cool, while fake jade tends to warm up.
- Fake jade might also feel cool initially, but this method can still help you differentiate between real and fake jade.
Jerry Ehrenwald President of the International Gemological Institute & Gemstone Expert
Expert Opinion: The temperature of the stone can help determine if it’s real jade. Hold the stone in your hand and feel it – real jade takes a long time to warm up. If your stone warms up quickly and doesn’t feel cool when you hold it, it’s likely to be fake jade.
Tap the jade you want to test against real jade. This method can help estimate the density of the stone you believe to be jade. Tap two stones together a few times and listen to the sound. Because jade is quite hard, you should hear a resonant, deep sound when the stones collide. If the sound resembles the clicking of plastic beads, then the stone you’re testing is probably fake.
- If you don’t have real jade available, you can use another stone for comparison, but it won’t be as effective as using real jade.
Perform a scratch test using your fingernail or a piece of metal. One of the easiest ways to check is to lightly scrape your fingernail along the edge of the stone to see if it gets scratched. Alternatively, you can use scissors or a razor blade to gently scrape an inconspicuous area of the stone’s surface. If you notice any scratches, it’s likely not authentic.
- Jade is a hard stone, so it is not easily scratched.
Alternative test: You can also perform a scratch test using a heated pin to ensure the stone hasn’t been dyed to resemble jade. Heat a pin in hot water, then use the sharp end to scratch the surface of the stone. Check for any scratches. If scratches appear, the stone is probably fake.
Take the stone to a jeweler
Ask a jeweler to examine the stone to confirm if it’s genuine jade. Jewelers are trained to distinguish between real and fake gemstones. They can examine the stone under magnification to identify the structure of authentic jade and check for signs of a fake. They will assess the stone’s characteristics and tell you whether it is genuine or not.
- Jewelers typically perform the examination in front of you.
- You may want to consult more than one jeweler to get additional opinions on the authenticity of the stone.
Ask the jeweler to perform a density test. A jeweler can measure the density of the stone you suspect to be jade using a spring scale and water displacement. They will then compare the density of the stone to a jade density chart to see if it matches the standards of real jade. If the result matches, it’s authentic. If the stone’s density doesn’t match jade, it’s likely fake.
- If you’re concerned about the density test method, ask the jeweler how they usually conduct it before they begin. You may even be able to watch them test the stone.
Ask a jeweler to estimate the value of the jade. One of the advantages of taking jade to a jeweler is that you can find out its worth. Jewelers can evaluate both the jade itself and the jewelry it may be set in. Inquire if the jade can be sold, and whether its value might increase over time.
- Note that this valuation is merely an estimate.
- It’s best to consult multiple jewelers if you want a more accurate assessment of your jade's value.
Advice
- If you're genuinely passionate about jade and want a high-quality piece, request that the seller provide a certification verifying that your jade is of 'A' grade. Most jewelers will have this certification available.
Warning
- It’s difficult to determine whether jade is genuine on your own, so be cautious when purchasing it. It’s advisable to have a gemologist evaluate it before you invest a significant amount of money.
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