Everything we wish we knew before buying our first piece of jadeite.
What does a jade gourd, cabbage, plain plaque, or Guanyin actually mean? A clear guide to the traditional symbolism behind the most-worn jadeite motifs, and how those meanings are made.
Real Grade A jadeite ranges from under $50 to six figures. Here is what actually drives the price, why an affordable bangle can be completely genuine, and the warning signs that a "cheap jade" really is treated or fake.
Unlike metal bracelets, jadeite bangles cannot be resized. Getting the right fit is essential. Here is the simple string method to find your perfect size.
Most "jade" on the market is actually nephrite. Jadeite is rarer, harder, and far more valuable, and only two places on Earth produce gem-quality stones.
Jadeite comes in far more colours than just green. From imperial green to icy white, lavender, honey yellow, and blue-water, each colour tells a different story. Burma and Guatemala produce distinctly different palettes.
Red and yellow jadeite exist naturally, formed by iron oxidation over millions of years. They can be certified Grade A. Here is how to tell natural burnt colour from fake.
Cotton (棉), stone lines (石纹), and floating colour (飘花) are not flaws. They are the fingerprints of genuine, untreated Grade A jadeite. Here is what each one is and why it matters.
Jadeite quality is four qualities working together: colour, translucency (water), texture, and craftsmanship. Learn to read all four and judge any piece on its merits.
Flawless does not mean best. All jade is not the same. A stone line is not a crack. We clear up the myths that cost buyers money and confidence.
If a genuine Grade A jade piece is affordable, the reason is usually 包容 - the natural cotton, stone lines, and soft colour variation a real stone carries openly. Here is exactly what you are accepting, why it lowers the price without touching authenticity, and why the flawless cheap stone is the one to be wary of.
