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January 12, 2022 Sheila Satin

Is Your Jade Fake or Real?

sheila of satin crystals holding faux jadesIs your Jade real or fake? How can you be sure? Is New Jade fake or real? What's the difference between real, treated, and faux Jade? Let's find out!

Watch the video on fake vs real Jade

Watch the video on Real vs Fake Jade to see examples and hear the explanation on both. 

What is Jade? 

Jade is a term used for two types of crystals: Jadeite and Nephrite. These are the only two types of Jade that are considered Real Jade. 

To learn in-depth about Jade, visit Jade Crystal Meaning.

Is Real Jade rare?

Depending on the quality of the Jade, it can be rare. For example, Imperial Jade is considered the best of the best. It is a natural, untreated Jadeite stone with a vivid green color comparable to Emerald. This is a rare and expensive stone. However, you can also find low-grade brownish yellow Jade easily and cheaply. 

How do you know if your Jade is real?

The best way to determine if your Jade is real is to find a reputable seller who knows what they are selling you. If you do not have access to a reputable seller, here are some tips to follow to tell if your Jade is real: 

    1. Real Jade is a 6-7 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. This makes it harder than stainless steel. It will not be scratched by stainless steel (which is a 5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness). Use your steel keys, knife, or scissors to scratch the surface of the stone. It should not scratch. However, Quartz simulants won't scratch either and low-grade Jade may scratch in weak spots.

    2. Real Jade has inclusions but will never have air bubbles. Air bubbles are an indication of glass. Use a magnifying jeweler's loupe to help you see into the stone.

    3. Real Jade is always cold to the touch. It will take a while to heat up in your hands and once you put it down, it will quickly turn cold again. Some vendors will show that wrapping a strand of hair around Jade and taking a lighter to it won't burn the hair because Jade is so cold. However, many other real gemstones are cold to the touch and won't burn the hair either. 

    4. Real Jade has a high-pitched tone that sings like a sweet bell when it's clinked with another piece of real Jade. You want the Jade to be hanging from a string when striking it, you don't want your hand to dull the sound and it usually only works with Jade bangles as seen in videos on Youtube. Fake Jade will have a low dull sound with no lingering reverberation. Plastic will sound hollow. Quartz may sing also. 

  1. Real Jade is heavier than other stones because of its density. It should not feel lightweight when compared to other stones of the same size. 

  2. Real Jade should be priced accordingly. Fake Jade can be sold for half the price of Real Jade. 

  3. Real Jade has a steadfast natural color. It won't fade over time or in the light as dyed versions may. 

  4. Real Jadeite has a refractive index of 1.652-1.688 while Nephrite is 1.6 – 1.67. If you have a refractometer, the stone should fall into this range. 

  5. Real Jadeite has a density of 3.3 and Nephrite has a density of 2.95. If you get a Certificate of Authenticity, the Refractive Index and Density should match Jade. 

  6. Real Jade cabochons are usually a little rounder on the bottom. They are rarely super flat because the jeweler wants to make the most of the natural Jade material they have available. If you see a super flat rather than domed Jade cabochon bottom, this is an indication it may be fake. 

  7. Real Jade will register as Nephrite or Jade or on a Gem Tester. This machine can test for real stones vs glass specimens. Note that it will not tell the difference between treated and untreated Jade. 

None of these tests are conclusive in themselves. The only way to know for sure if your Jade is real is to send it to a certified gemological laboratory. You can also find more tips on the Crystal Identification Help.

serpentine crystals called new jade

Does my Jade come with a Certificate of Authenticity?

You've seen it all over the internet, Jade sellers promising you a Certificate of Authenticity (COAs) with your purchase. We hate to break it to you, but their COAs are worth nothing more than the cheap paper it was printed on.

Look closely, it's just a piece of paper that they printed from their home office (often with spelling and grammar mistakes) that they created to make you feel better. COAs have nothing to do with the authenticity of the Jade, it's a marketing gimmick.

Here at Satin Crystals, we are straightforward. No, we don't give you a Certificate of Authenticity because it has no value. The only true way to know if a Jade is real is to have it tested in a reputable laboratory. 

If you do see a certificate with the Jade you are purchasing, make sure you understand it thoroughly. Most of the certificates are written in Chinese. Make sure it is a certified laboratory, the values match up to what Jade should register at, there are no spelling errors, 

Here is a fascinating case study by a gemologist who spots Fake Jade on Etsy & Ebay. The very first example shows "Quartzite" named right on the title of the "COA"! 

Here is another interesting Youtube video on Is there real Jade on Etsy? She also mentions that certified reports could be doctored. If the seller gets a report for a Real Jade stone and then switches the listing to a different stone, this is a deceptive practice. Make sure you know who you are buying from! 

What are the grades of Jade?

Whereas Nephrite is not as commonly treated as Jadeite, it can be heated to improve its colors. This does break down its stability. You may find Nephrite Jade graded by individual mines and companies, but there is no standard grade yet. 

Meanwhile, Jadeite is often treated because of its high demand on the market. Jadeite is broken down into three grades: 

A Jade is natural, untreated with long-lasting stable color. It could be waxed to bring out its luster and this is a common practice that does not devalue the piece. 

B Jade is treated with acid and bleached to remove oxidation stains, impurities, and lighten the color. It is then impregnated with resin or wax to fill the pores. It is brittle, unstable, changes colors, and has a 5-10% value of "A Jade"

C Jade is treated like "B Jade" plus it is dyed. It has very little value.

B and C Jades will still test as Real Jade on a refractometer. They are still considered Real Jade, they have just been treated. You will need advanced gemological testing to determine their grade. 

serpentine and mountain jade sculptures

What is faux Jade?

Faux Jade is an actual gemstone that is being called Jade. Meanwhile, fake Jades can be made of glass, resin, plastic. 

Here are some stone substitutes that vendors try to pass off as Jade. By placing the name Jade in the title of the stone, it makes it easier to sell for a higher price.

Serpentine: New Jade, Afghanistan Jade, Bowenite Jade, Tangiwaite or Tangawaite Jade, Teton Jade, Styrian Jade, Olive Jade, Korean Jade

Dolomite: Mountain Jade

Calcite: Mexican Jade (dyed green Calcite)

Aventurine: Indian Jade

Amazonite: Amazon Jade

Chrysoprase: Australian Jade 

Garnet: Transvaal Jade, African Jade, South African Jade

Quartz: Guizhou Jade, Malaysia Jade, Soochow Jade, Honan Jade

Vesuvianite: California Jade (Californite), American Jade

Talc: Manchurian Jade, Shanghai Jade, Fujian Jade, Honan Jade

Soapstone: Korean Jade, Manchurian Jade

sheila of satin crystals holding jade and serpentine wands

Can I use fake Jade for healing?

If your fake Jade is actually another gemstone, you can definitely use it for healing. You do want to know this upfront though so you can program your crystal accordingly.

For example, instead of working with "Australian Jade", you want to know that you actually have Chrysoprase and not Jade. Chrysoprase has benefits that may differ to you from Jade. 

If you are looking to work with Jade, make sure you have true Nephrite or Jadeite Jade. 

real and fake jade pieces on a table

Where can I buy real Jade?

We have your real Nephrite and Jadeite stones at Satin Crystals. We also have faux Jade, but these are always disclosed in the listings.

Check out the Jade Collection or shop right here on the blog:

 

Your Path to Crystal Knowledge...

Here are other links to tap into Jade energy: 

Disclaimer: The metaphysical information provided is for entertainment only. See full disclosure.

Filed in: crystal video, jade, real vs fake stones
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Comments

Sheila Satin - April 15, 2022

Hi Rich, thanks for asking. I would say 95% of our stones are natural and we have a few that are manmade like Goldstone, Opalite, and Hematine (although we have real Hematite as well). All of our newest products include their treatments in the listing. If in doubt, feel free to ask!

To start learning about real vs fake stones, we have a covered a few stones already: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9PAInKYsNGPSmneqQUxJNHiZuuAx5Dpy

Sincerely,
Sheila Satin

Richard C. - April 15, 2022

Thank you for your personalized video. This is why I love supporting small businesses. I have to ask, and I truly mean no offense by this. Are all of the stones and gems that you use real and genuinely authentic? I wouldn’t know how to tell the difference anyway. And thank you for the lightning fast shipping. That’s really amazing. Hope you have a great week. Ric

Sheila Satin - January 13, 2022

Wow, that is an interesting story, Margaret. I didn’t know it could shrink. I know that they can be sawed off to remove from wrists, but then the piece is damaged. Thank you for sharing. ~ Sheila Satin

Margaret - January 13, 2022

Thank you for the interesting video. I have a very nice Burmese jade bracelet which I bought in the Hong Kong jade market @ 30 years ago. Fortunately, I was able to understand the seller when she was selling an identical one to a HongKongnese woman, so I felt a little more secure in my purchase (unfortunately, since I was not Chinese, I could not get the same price as the woman who bought the identical one – never mind! I got a nice bracelet for a very reasonable price. ) Over the years, I have read up on this piece, and, yes, it is everything it is supposed to be. the most interesting thing, however, is that it shrank over the first few years, so that, now, it is impossible for me to remove from my wrist. I’ve been told that jade is likely to do that if you wear a piece a lot. This bracelet is part of my arm now. I’ve been told jade is considered to be very protective in China and Taiwan, so I’m happy to be stuck with it.

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