According to an old Chinese proverb, “there is a price for Gold, but no price for Jade”. This means that, to understand the true value of Jade, you must look at the properties beyond its beauty and strength.

As we explained in our blog that introduces Jade, it’s an umbrella term for two minerals (Nephrite and Jadeite) and is a spiritual stone that’s hugely significant to Chinese culture. The Chinese have held Jade in high regard since its discovery in Burma (now Myanmar), and top-quality Jadeite is extremely rare.

In today’s market, Jadeite has much more value than Nephrite due to its durability and provenance. Its vivid, translucent and demands some of the highest prices among gemstones today – but what exactly is it about Jadeite that determines its value?

Here, we explain Jade’s most important qualities, and how they impact its market value.

TYPE

Both Jadeite and Nephrite are graded based on their treatments, and are split into a number of different Jade ‘types’. These types are:

Type A: Jade that’s untreated and completely natural

Type B: Jade that has undergone treatment, such as bleach or polymer treatment

Type C: Jade that has been dyed

Type B + C: Jade that has been dyed and has undergone bleach and polymer treatment

Naturally, we always recommend Type A Jade. Although certain methods of treating gemstones are acceptable, various methods can weaken Jade and lower its value. So, we’d always suggest the most natural and authentic form of Jade to you, which is Type A.

COLOUR

Although Jadeite comes in lavender, orange and other hues, its most desirable colour is undoubtedly green.

Gemstone and jewellery lovers may only associate Jade with the colour green, however entuisasts and avid collectors will know that Jadeite comes in a range of other colours aswell, including:

• Red

• Orange

• Yellow

• Lavender

• Brown

• Black

• Grey

• White

Despite this however, the finest-quality Jade (known as ‘Imperial Jade’) is almost transparent and a vibrant green. It's measured by the purity and saturation of the stone, and its brilliance is sought after by gemstone collectors worldwide.

TEXTURE

The texture of Jade depends on the fineness of the crystal grains within it. Because of this, Jadeite’s texture can be anywhere from fine to coarse, and can also have a highly desirable smoothness that only adds to its unique beauty.

Alongside its texture, Jadeite's crystal structure contributes just as much to its strength. Due to its formation under intense heat and pressure, Jadeite’s interlocking crystals bond together and resist damage, making Jadeite incredibly durable and perfect for daily wear.

TRANSPARENCY

Jade ranges from completely opaque to translucent; however, due to its remarkable brilliance, the highest-value deposit is translucent.

A Jadeite piece that’s semi-transparent is extra brilliant because it allows the light to penetrate below the surface, which results in a stunning unique glow that only increases this gemstone’s charm. Often, Jadeite’s translucency is so desirable that it can be used to compensate for other areas that may decrease its value, such as low colour saturation.

SIZE AND WEIGHT

Although the size of a Jade piece does not solely dictate its value, it is a major contributor.

Because Jade (particularly Jadeite) is so desirable for carving, larger and heavier pieces offer greater opportunities for this – so this, alongside their rarity, makes them more valuable. However, a smaller piece of Jadeite that’s higher in quality could be worth just as much – if not more. With Imperial Jadeite, even the slightest size difference can make a massive impact on its value.

CUT, CARVING AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

When it comes to crafting Jade for jewellery, the finest-quality material is usually cut into cabochons for rings. Most noteably, though, the Jadeite bangle – first carved in China – is a style that dates back thousands of years, and is considered a symbol of protection even today. So, a smooth circle of Jadeite retrieves extreme importance and value from its history alone.

Top-quality Jadeite is sometimes used for round beads, too, and are used for necklaces and bracelets – but ensuring the individual beads are matched correctly proves just as much of a challenge for crafters. For Jadeite beads, manufacturers must match their size, transparency, texture and colour which – as you can imagine – is extremely difficult. As a result, longer strands can have immense value on the gemstone market.

Alongside jewellery, Jade can also be carved into incredibly detailed decorative items, which are some of the most historical and desirable artefacts in the gemstone world. These Jade carvings are valued by piece, not carat weight; therefore, their value primarily comes from the artistry and provenance.

Ultimately, though, Jadeite jewellery and carvings made from one solid piece is even more valuable; so, if every part of your Jadeite piece is cut from the same rough, then you have yourself something extraordinary.

PROVENANCE AND RARITY

The most significant factors that determine the value of Jade are size, colour and origin - and like we’ve mentioned before, the most sought-after Jade variety comes from Burma (now Myanmar).

Historically, the Chinese considered Burmese Jadeite to be the most desirable varieties in the world. Myanmar is the world's largest source of Jade today, and produces deposits renowned for their durability, firmness and lustre. So, gem enthusiasts and market buyers hold it in just as high a regard today.

Clearly, Jade is a gemstone that collectors, enthusiasts and buyers alike have a fascination with. Its beauty knows no bounds, and we’re incredibly proud to be able to bring you some of the finest Jade on the market today.