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How to Test for Genuine Jade

Jade is a valuable gemstone that has been prized by countless civilizations, from the dynasties of ancient China to the Aztec tribes in South America. Great value comes with a high price, and often cheap, counterfeit jade is created from glass, plastic and inferior stones. Consulting a jeweler or gemologist can give a potential jade buyer a solid, fail-safe answer as to the authenticity of a specimen, but many times a jeweler may not be readily available. There are, however, some low-tech techniques that allow buyers to test whether an object is real jade.

Instructions

- 1
  Scratch the jade sample to test the hardness of the stone. Jade measures 6.5 on the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness, making it a fairly tough and durable stone. Scratch the jade with a steel knife blade in an unobtrusive spot. Knife blades typically measure a hardness of 5.5 on the same scale. If the jade specimen is scratched by the knife blade, the stone is not genuine jade.
- 2
  Hold the jade specimen up to a bright light and examine the stone closely. Check for any small bubbles, as these denote that your jade sample is composed of glass, plastic or other materials. Dark, slender streaks and ribbons of minerals should be visible in genuine jade and are usually absent from fake jade made of glass or plastic.
- 3
  Turn the jade sample over in your hands, feeling for any rough, raised edges. Glass jade is often made by pouring molten glass into molds, which results in glass seeping through the mold's edges. This results in visible seams along the edges of the fake jade object that can be felt by running your hands over the specimen.

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