Choosing Jadeite with Confidence

Green, cool, and quietly radiant, jadeite has been treasured for centuries — and misunderstood for almost as long. Whether you are choosing your first bangle or adding to a collection, this guide gives you the essentials: what jadeite is, how connoisseurs read its quality, how to tell the natural from the treated, and how to keep a fine stone beautiful for a lifetime.

What Is Jadeite, Really?

Put simply, jadeite is one kind of jade — the rarer, harder member of the two great jade families. Its cousin nephrite (软玉, the material of most warm white and cream jades) is softer and differently structured. Beyond these two, many other green stones — serpentine, quartzite, and more — are loosely called “jade” in the market, which is exactly why certificates matter. In this guide, “jadeite” always means natural, untreated jadeite (硬玉, jadeite) unless we say otherwise.

The Four Words That Define Quality

Zhong, Shui & Di — Texture, Water, and Base

• Zhong (种) is the fineness of the stone’s internal crystal structure — from the translucent clarity of glass (玻璃种) and ice (冰种) grades, through glutinous (糯种) and bean (豆种) grades. The finer the zhong, the higher the value tends to be.
• Shui (水) is transparency and glow, the “water head” through which light travels. A stone with good shui looks moist and luminous rather than flat or dry.
• Di (底子) is the base beneath the colour. It should be clean, even, and quiet — free of murky grey or dull patches — so the colour has somewhere beautiful to sit.

Se — Colour

• Green leads the market. The most prized tones run from deep, saturated imperial green through lively yang (阳) green to softer apple green; colour should be rich yet natural, never dark or murky.
• Distribution matters as much as depth. Even, full colour is rare and valuable, while floating flowers (飘花) — graceful clouds of green in a pale, icy base — have a beauty many collectors adore.
• Green is not the whole story. Fine pieces also appear as lavender (紫罗兰), yellow and red (黄翡、红翡), and pure, colourless glassy jadeite that lets light pass like clear water.

Gong — Craft

• Plain or carved, intent matters. A clean bangle or cabochon shows the material honestly; a carving should serve the stone, never fight it.
• Look at the lines. Symmetry, proportion, and balance — along a bangle, across an edge, through every leaf of a carving — separate patient craft from careless cutting.
• Finish is the fingerprint. Run a fingertip over the surface: good polishing feels smooth and even, with no tool marks and no cloudy patches left behind.

A, B, C Goods — Treatments Explained

Type-A (A 货) means completely natural jadeite — no acid, no resin, no dye. Type-B (B 货) has been bleached in strong acid to remove impurities, then filled with resin to restore stability. Type-C (C 货) has been dyed to deepen or change its colour, and B+C combines both treatments. Treated goods are not always “fake” — they are simply altered, and honest sellers label them as such. But only natural Type-A jadeite carries the true character of the stone, and it is all we sell.

Choosing Well, Sizing Right

Bangles: Measure the Hand, Not Just the Wrist

• Fit is felt, not guessed. The bangle must pass over your knuckles, then rest comfortably above the wrist bone — snug enough to stay in place, loose enough for all-day wear.
• Sizes speak in inner diameter. Bangle sizes are quoted in millimetres across the inner circle; adult sizes commonly run from about 52 to 60 mm, though every hand is different.
• Ask us before you commit. Every bangle is measured by hand and described honestly — send us your hand measurement or your questions, and we will help you find the right fit.

Pendants, Charms & Bead Strands

• Pendants and charms: think in daily terms. A small carving or neat cabochon suits a fine chain and everyday wear; a larger piece wants a stronger cord. Check the proportions and the reverse side, which should lie smooth against the skin.
• Bead strands: diameter and count. Beads are measured in millimetres and strands by count — a 6–10 mm single strand reads as an everyday bracelet, while classic 108-bead strands suit meditation or layered styling. Ask for bead count and hole alignment if they matter to you.
• When in doubt, ask for numbers. Width, thickness, diameter, weight, certificate details — a serious seller answers happily, and vague answers are a signal to move on.

Jadeite Care, Day to Day

• Wear it as it is meant to be worn. Jadeite is tough but not indestructible — a sharp knock against metal or stone can chip an edge, so keep bangles clear of hard surfaces.
• Keep it away from chemicals and heat. Perfume, hairspray, household cleaners, and saunas or very hot water can dull the surface over time; put your jadeite on after your cosmetics.
• Clean gently. Rinse with clean water at room temperature and pat dry with a soft cloth — never scrub, and never soak in harsh detergents.
• Store it alone. Keep each piece in its own pouch or compartment so bangles and pendants never knock against one another.
• Nourish it while it rests. If a piece will not be worn for a long while, a tiny amount of white tea oil or olive oil on a soft cloth keeps the surface supple — wipe away any excess afterwards.
• Use ultrasonic cleaners with care. They can loosen settings or disturb fine carvings; when in doubt, clean by hand.

Certificates, Returns & Delivery

• One stone, one certificate. Every finished piece ships with an appraisal report issued by an accredited laboratory, stating that the item is natural jadeite (Type-A).
• Seven-day appreciation period. If a piece does not speak to you, contact us within seven days of receipt and we will guide you through an easy, fair return.
• Insured worldwide delivery. Your order travels insured and trackable to more than twenty countries, and we answer every question within 24 hours on business days.