How to Know a Real Jade Stone

Genuine jade can be one of two different minerals: jadeite or nephrite. And true jade might not be green. Jadeite is a very rare mineral. The highest quality jadeite is found in Burma, but the mineral is also found in a few other areas around the world. Although jadeite is usually green, it can also be white, pale blue, lavender and even yellow. Jadeite may be opaque or nearly transparent, which is the rarest and most valuable of all. Nephrite is more common than jadeite and therefore less expensive. Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Australia are the major sources of nephrite. The mineral is also found in China and New Zealand. Nephrite jade may sometimes be a mottled green instead of the purer color of jadeite. The surest way to be certain your stone is genuine jade is to take it to a gemologist, an expert who can identify gems. You can also do some tests yourself.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Consider the depth of the color. Jade is a stone you can "see into," according to JadeHunt.com.

   • 2

     Look for air bubbles. If you see any, the "gem" you're holding is actually glass.

   • 3

     Check its temperature. Many Burmese simply hold jade to their cheeks to be sure it feels cool. According to JadeHunt.com, jade is a condenser of heat and cool. A test this website recommends is to wrap a long strand of hair around the stone and then wave a match beneath it. If the hair burns, the stone is probably not jade.

   • 4

     Evaluate the heaviness of the stone relative to its size. Jade is a dense stone; both jadeite and nephrite should feel heavier than glass.

   • 5

     Measure the gem's hardness using a Mohs hardess test, if you have access to one. Nephrite should measure 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Jadeite should measure 7. Neither mineral can be scratched by steel.