Jade Tips

Jade Tips

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Differences among Type A, B, and C Jade

Since the beginning of 1980's, the demand for jade has increased in mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea. People desire high quality jades, but there are fewer and fewer naturally produced jades (Type A jade). The price of Type A jades become higher and higher. To meet the need of the customers, the jade manufacturer try their best to use chemical bleach to remove impurities from the lower end jades. This treatment damages the structure integrity of the jade. This kind of jade are also called Type B jades. The classification of Type A, Type B, Type C jade is an international classification and is used by the jade industry.

Type A Jade (Natural Jade):

Type A jade, natural, untreated jade, only undergoes a traditional process, including plum juice washing and polishing with beewax. These procedures are internationally recognized as standard practice and are not defined as "artificial treatments". It is not disguised with any dirt picking, high temperature or high-pressure treatments. The color is natural, so they are called "true color".


$2778	$2779	$3088

Type B Jade:

Type B jade, bleached, polymer impregnated jade. To distinguish Type B jade, you need to know the structure of jade as well as the principle and procedure of the processing of Type B jade. We know that the chemical composition of jade is NaAlSi2O6, which is composite with columnar crystals and the interlocking structure made it to be a very tough mineral stone. Because of oxygenation and hydrolysis, oxides such as iron, manganese and calcium are adhered on the surface and even immerge into the interspaces between crystal, which turn the color of the jade into orange, brown, black, or grew. These impurities influence the transparency, as well as the color of the jade. The purpose of using powerful acid such as sulfuric acid and chemical on the jade is to remove these impurities, improve the transparency and to make the green color of jade uninfluenced by the varied colors (caused by the chrome and iron ion), which make it more delicate and charming (the green color is the original color of the jade which cannot be removed and affected by powerful acid). Sometimes the acid is heated to increase its strength. After the jade has been chemically bleached to remove impurities, it will then impregnated with polymer to enhance translucency. Polymer is injected into the jade with the use of a centrifuge. At this stage the jade is covered with hard and clear plastic like coating.

The quality of this kind of jade is not natural, its structure integrity has been damaged and become loose. The artificially treated Type B jade will become unstable and discolor after a certain period of time since heat or household detergent will break down the polymer.

Type C Jade:

Not only the Type C jade has been chemically bleached to remove impurities, it has been dyed to enhance its color. The color will be very rich but will not retain its brilliant coloration and will discolor after certain period because the chemical used on treatment is not stable. The transparency and equality will be loose under strong light, body heat or household detergent.

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Pai Flower Pendant

Dragon Phoenix Pendant

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Glassy Burma Jade rabbit ring

When they say it is a "Real Jade" or "Real Jade with Natural Color". It may be a Type A jade or it may be not. Treated jade (Type B jade) is still 100% real jade with 100% natural color, it is just not Type A jade because it has been artificial treated.

http://www.jadeinfo.com/type.htm

After the French mineralogist, Alexis Damour studied Chinese jade in 1863, he published his study results, stating that jade can be divided into two types, one is called "Jadeite", also known as "hard jade". In mineralogy, it is a kind of pyroxene. Another is the ancient Chinese jade, called "Nephrite", also known as "soft jade". In mineralogy, it is a kind of amphibole. They comprise two different minerals; so the chemical composition and various features are different, please see following table:

	(Jadeite)	(Nephrite)
Chemical Composition	NaAlSi2O6	Ca(Mg,Fe)5Si6O22(OH)
Mineral Type	Pyroxene	Amphibole
Fracture	Granular	Splintery
Luster	Glossy or pearly	Vitreous or silky
Hardness	6.5~7	6~6.5
Refractive Index	1.66	1.60
Specific Gravity	3.30~3.34	2.98~3.00
Sources	Mainly in Burma. Others like Russia, Guatemala, US (California), Japan	Sin Kiang, Russia, South Korea, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan

What are the differences between jade and jadeite?

Jadeite is a gem quality precious stone, hardness 6.5-7, is one kind of jade that is produced only in mines from Burma (95%) and its surrounding areas.

As for jewelry, Jadeite is the most desirable and most valuable, for its rich color and shine. Because of its hardness and its special quality of changing to a more beautiful and translucent color after being worn by its owner, it is the most valuable type of jade that people all over the world are seeking after.

Many people will call Jadeite as Chinese Jade. Well, it is because Burma is so close to China, and the Chinese have over three thousands years of history in carving/wearing jade. In worldwide jade market, 95% of jade is supplied from Burma, but 99% of Burma jade is shipped to China first for carving then sold from China.

Serpentine, Aventurine are Jade-like stones, hardness 6-6.5, are semi-precious stones, and not of gem quality. Nephrite is jade, hardness 6-6.5. Good white color Nephrite Jade carving is a piece of art.

http://www.cooljade.com/

• How to distinguish quality jade from fake or inferior jade?

1) The weight of the piece. Jade, even the lesser density nephrite jade like Xiu jade, is heavier than regular glass or resin. For Burma jadeite, the weight is very easy to tell, since you can feel the heavy sensation in your palm when you are handling it

2) Observe carefully, there are tiny air bubbles in fake jade most of the time..

3) Jade has the property of cooling very fast and remains in cool temperature. Hold a piece in your hand until you feel that the temperature of the piece is equal to your body's, then open your palm right away and put the jade aside. After about 25 seconds in regular room temperature surrounding, use the tip of tongue to feel the piece. If there is a very cool sensation, then it is most likely jade.

4) Jade is more durable than glass. If you wear a piece and it breaks very easily, it definitely is not jade. Even the soft nephrite jade should not break easily.

5) Texture, the texture of jade is very smooth. Run your finder nail on the surface of the piece, if it feels bumpy on your nail, but the surface appears to be smooth, it is most likely not jade. This method works better on glass and other synthetic resin fake jade.

6) The Sound test. Let two jade bracelets loosely hang on one of the fingers on each of your hands, and then collide the two bangles very lightly. If the bracelets are made from jade, the sound should have a very clear, pleasant and higher pitch sound than the sound produced by two pieces of glass or other synthetic substances.

7) The method which delivers the most accuracy is to break the piece. If the piece is made from jade, then the inside should be composed by tiny mineral particles you can see. However, if it is made from glass, the broken surface should be smooth with glassy pattern.

http://www.lumingta.com/cs2.php