Because of its warm touch, chic patterns and deep cultural heritage, jade has always been favoured by people and is often used to make a wide range of jewellery. However, while jade trading is becoming more and more frequent, counterfeit jade products are also emerging frequently, which brings great confusion and doubts to the majority of consumers. So, how to accurately identify the authenticity of jade has become the focus of consumers’ attention. This article will introduce you to the key points of jade authentication, hoping to help you avoid being deceived by counterfeit products when buying jade.
1. Look at the texture of jade
When identifying the authenticity of jade, the first step is to observe its texture. The texture of genuine jade is usually delicate and warm, as if it has a natural greasy lustre, compared with the roughness of fake jade. When buying jade, you can further distinguish its authenticity by touching it with your own hands. Genuine jade is usually warm to the touch, as if it blends in with the skin, while fake jade feels cold or too smooth. Moreover, genuine jade has a heavy texture when held in the hand because of its relatively high density, while fake jade tends to be relatively light due to the difference in materials.
2. Look at the colour of the jade
Colour is one of the key elements in identifying the authenticity of jade. The colours of genuine jade are natural and soft, and when observed carefully, you can still see the roots and bands of colour; whereas the colours of fake jade are too bright and harsh, and the colours are evenly distributed, lacking the sense of hierarchy of natural jade. When buying jade, be sure to observe whether the colour distribution is natural. If there are obvious colour differences or spots on the stone, it may be a fake jade that has been dyed or artificially treated. Moreover, different jade varieties have different colour characteristics. For example, Hetian jade is usually white or cyan in colour, while Jadeite is known for its green colour. Therefore, when conducting jade appraisal, we need to give due consideration to the jade variety and accordingly determine whether its colour matches the natural characteristics of that variety.
3. Checking the Transparency of Jade
Genuine jade has a certain degree of transparency, only that different varieties of jade have different degrees of transparency. However, because of the limitations of the production materials and processes, fake jade may be completely opaque or have very poor light transmission. Therefore, you can put the jade in a well-lit place to check its degree of light transmittance. However, we need to be wary of the fact that in order to mislead consumers, some fake jades may undergo special treatment to enhance their light transmittance. Therefore, we cannot rely solely on the single factor of light transmission to judge the authenticity of jade.
4. Look at the grain pattern of jade
Genuine jade has a natural grain direction, and occasionally we can observe cloud lines and water lines. In contrast, the grain of fake jade is blurred, because they are artificially processed or synthesised, and are unable to replicate the kind of natural and delicate grain variations of genuine jade. Therefore, we can carefully observe whether the jade has been artificially carved. Different varieties of jade have different grain variations. For example, those showing flocculent distribution are Hetian jade, while those showing fibrous interwoven structure are jadeite.
5. Observation with a magnifying glass
Jade has a complex structure and sometimes it may be difficult for us to identify its authenticity simply with the naked eye, so more specialised tools are needed. A stereo microscope can help us observe the internal structure and composition of jade, such as crystals, grains, impurities, veins, etc., so as to carry out authentication and quality assessment. Jewellery stereo microscopes usually have a magnification of 10-60 times, and you can choose the right magnification according to your needs in order to observe the details of the jade more clearly. The fracture of genuine jade is jagged and a relatively fine structure is visible; the fracture of fake jade is very neat and usually a glass-like product. Moreover, the jewellery stereo microscope has two light sources, one at the top and one at the base, which is convenient for us to observe the jade more clearly and get more detailed information.
6. Listen to the sound of jade
Apart from observing the surface of jade, knocking and listening to the sound is also an effective way to assist in identifying the authenticity of jade. Genuine jade will emit a clear and crisp sound when it is struck. This is because the internal structure of genuine jade is tight, and the sound can maintain resonance and reverberation when it travels within the jade. If the sound is dull or sharp, it is a fake jade.
7. Common Counterfeiting Techniques and Recognition Skills
An understanding of common counterfeiting techniques and identification skills can help us identify the authenticity of jade more accurately. Common jade counterfeiting techniques on the market today include, but are not limited to, glue-filling, splicing, colouring, etc. These counterfeiting techniques make the fake jade look like a fake jade. These counterfeiting techniques make the fake jade almost identical to the real one on the surface, but there are still significant differences in texture, colour and internal structure.
Summary
The authenticity of jade should be analysed from multiple dimensions, including colour, texture, grain, transparency and sound, and if necessary, a stereoscopic microscope can be used to assist in the identification; at the same time, familiarity with common counterfeiting techniques and identification skills can also help us accurately determine the authenticity of jade. In this way, we can purchase genuine jade and truly appreciate the auspicious and beautiful meanings that jade carries.