Antique Jade Jewelry Appraisal: How to Identify Raw Jade

Recognizing Raw Jade

Jade is the most valuable gemstone in the market. It fetches a high value for its beauty and durability. No wonder collectors are always on the lookout for experts for their antique jade jewelry appraisal. This is especially true when they want to know how to identify raw jade. You can contact experts at Appraisily.com for a hassle-free consultation and evaluation.

The jade gemstone has been in use for thousands of years in many different cultures and is particularly popular in Asia. In ancient China, jade was used to make jewelry, weapons, and tools. Even today, the rock is used to make jewelry, sculptures, and other decorative items. Jade is quite popular in Feng Shui, a Chinese practice that uses elements to bring balance and harmony to a space. The gemstone is believed to bring good luck.

In the antique market, jade is highly valued for its rarity, beauty, and durability, as well as its aesthetic value. But, unfortunately, the antique market is also filled with fake “antique” jades. Hard stones resembling the original are passed off as real jade that an untrained eye cannot distinguish.

Unlocking the Secrets of Raw Jade

To know how to identify raw jade accurately, it is important to understand its physical and chemical properties.

The first step in identifying raw jade is to study its color. Jade comes in a variety of colors, including green, white, yellow, lavender, orange, pink, purple, brown, and black. In addition, some jade stones have a mottled or speckled look. Along with color, it is also essential to observe the texture of the jade. The surface of the gemstone should feel smooth and slightly greasy and not brittle.

The next step is to examine the hardness of the stone. Jade is known for its hardness and durability, so it should not scratch easily. If the stone is not hard, it is not likely to be jade. It could be a softer stone, such as chrysolite or serpentine. Also, for the rock to be jade, it should have a strong and distinct smell, something often described as a “wet” or “earthy” smell.

Finally, it is important to determine the chemical composition of the jade. Real jade is composed of two minerals: nephrite and jadeite. Nephrite is usually white or gray with a fibrous texture, while jadeite is usually green with a glassy texture. To determine which mineral is present, it is necessary to perform a chemical test.

Types of Jade

Made up of two different minerals, Nephrite and Jadeite are the two main types of jade. To identify real jade, expert gemologists need to study with precision the chemical compositions of the stones.

Jade is a generic term that is used for jadeite and nephrite. Though the two stones look very similar, macroscopically, jadeite jade is derived from the pyroxene group minerals. Nephrite jade, on the other hand, is part of the amphibole group minerals.

While both nephrite and jadeite may look and feel similar, their chemical compositions are different. Nephrite can be green, white, yellow, brown, or black and jadeite is usually found as a green, pink, lavender, brown, or white stone.

Nephrite jade is tougher than jadeite jade and does not break easily. Due to its tough and brittle-free nature, in the Neolithic times nephrite was used to make axe heads, knife blades, and even ornamental carvings.

Why the Confusion

Wondering why the market is flooded with stones that look like jade but are not real jade? Because there are other minerals and materials that exactly match the look of jade but are not jade. These stones cause much confusion. Some of these jade gemstone look-alikes include chrysoprase, serpentine, hydrogrossular garnet, vesuvianite, maw sit sit, aventurine, etc.

While some buyers may be tricked into buying jade look-alikes, there are others who prefer buying them because they resemble real jade. It always helps to know what you are buying so you don’t end up shopping a fake!

Save Yourself from Getting Tricked. Hire a Genuine Appraiser to Identify a Genuine Gem

Identifying raw jade can be a difficult task and should be best left to the judgment of expert and certified appraisers and gemologists. They have the knowledge and experience to tell if a gemstone is original or fake. For antique jade jewelry appraisal by an experienced appraiser, contact Appraisily.com so you are sure you own the original.

Cited Sources

https://www.invaluable.com/blog/what-you-should-know-about-jade/

https://www.vipartfair.com/how-much-is-jade-worth/

https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/features/judging-jade-how-to-identify-type-a-b-and-c-jadeite/

https://www.truefacet.com/guide/spot-difference-jade-vs-jadeite/

https://www.gia.edu/jade-quality-factor

https://www.appraisily.com/antique-jade-jewelry-appraisal/

https://www.sweetandspark.com/how-to-find-a-reputable-appraiser-for-your-carved-jade-bracelet/

https://diamondestate.com/how-much-is-my-jade-worth/

https://www.lotusgemology.com/index.php/library/articles/270-jade-buying-guide-jade-auction-records