ABOUT VARIETY of JADEITE

To classify and to learn more about the value of a piece of Jadeite, besides color, polishing, there is a tradition grading system to classify a Jadeite according to the quality, texture, translucent (sometimes together with color) and some characteristics.

Here are some Popular Grade which are commonly known.

Glassy Variety

• Toppest Quality on Jadeite.
• Highly transparent and clean like Glass.
• Fine Texture
• Called "Imperial Green Jadeite" if the Jadeite is in Intense Green.

• Highly Transparent like Ice.
• Fine Texture
• Lower quality than Glassy Variety, but is still considered as Collectible Grade.

• Fine Texture
• Semi-transparent, translucent like Glutinous rice.
• Sometimes also called Icy if this is clean enough.

• Fine Texture
• White in the base, cloud-like Green on the top.
• Usually carved and designed to make a beautiful scene.
• Usually not translucent, or partly translucent.

• Green or White in the base, unevenly distributed.
• Good Texture, can see by eye the crystal-like stone line.

• Green with a little touch of dull.
• Oily like feel.
• Fine Texture and clean.

• Usually in light green.
• Even color distribution.
• Clean Texture.

• Intense Green, sometimes dull.
• Low transparent.
• Tough Texture.

• Green like Pea.
• Usually in light color.
• Tough Texture, can see by eye the crystal-like stone line.

• Fine and Soft Texture.
• Thread-like Color shown in parallel manner.

• Fine and Soft Texture.

• Purple in Color.

• Look Black by eye but show Deep Green and Translucent under direct lighting from behind.
• The Higher the translucent, the higher the value.

But it takes years for one to learn how to classify them very professionally and correctly. Here are some more example with these characteristics for reference.