Most "jade" questions are not about whether a stone is jade at all, but whether it has been bleached, dyed or impregnated. Those treatments are common, legal in most markets when disclosed, and the single biggest source of confusion in the trade. Here is what actually distinguishes them, and what does not.
What the grades mean
The A/B/C system is a trade convention, not an international standard, but almost every jadeite seller uses it.
- Type A — natural jadeite, not bleached, not polymer-impregnated. Waxing is allowed and traditional.
- Type B — bleached and filled with polymer to improve clarity.
- Type C — dyed.
- B+C — both.
A seller who cannot name the grade is telling you something: the piece is unverified.
What you can check by eye
Colour distribution. Natural colour usually pools unevenly and follows the grain. A large, perfectly even field of strong green at a low price is a reason to slow down rather than a bargain.
Surface sheen. Untreated jadeite has a fine, glassy lustre. Polymer-filled pieces can look slightly waxy or dull, especially after wear, because the filler ages differently from the stone.
Weight. Jadeite is dense. A piece that feels light for its size is worth questioning, though this is a weak test on small pendants.
What does not work
Scratching it. People still suggest scratching jade with a knife. It tells you almost nothing and may damage the piece.
The "burn test". Heating a stone to smell resin is unreliable, can crack it, and is not a method any lab uses on finished jewellery.
Holding it to a light. Every translucent stone glows. It is not evidence of anything.
What actually settles it
A laboratory report from a recognised gem lab, naming the material and the treatment. If a piece is expensive, ask for one before buying. For inexpensive pieces, a written statement of treatment from the seller is the practical minimum, and that is what we print on each product page.
What this article does not claim
It does not claim that jade has protective or health properties, and it does not replace a gemological examination. Grading terminology describes treatment only; it says nothing about beauty or value.
Scope. This essay is cultural and material commentary. It is not medical, financial or spiritual advice, and it makes no claims about the effects of any object.
