website Skip to content
10% Off First Order - "FIRST10"

Search Products

Buying Jade Gemstone: An Imperial Lesson

profile picture of Wai Yan

Written By: Wai Yan
13 December 2018

A few months back, I received an email from a customer about authenticating and valuing a parcel of Burmese Jadeite Jade. Of course this wasn't the first of this kind of inquiry. There had always been requests from customers walking in or over the phone wanting to sell their Jade or to have an appraisal done but this one was special. There is a lesson here that we should all learn from in gemstone trading.

I promptly reply to the email with the standard procedure in valuing any gemstone. Explaining that we first need to establish that the stones are indeed Jadeite. Then, we need to make sure if there are any sort of treatments. Only then, we can come to an estimation of the stones' value. In the response, I added. "Please send me some photos first for an initial visual assessment." To which I received the following photos a couple of hours later.

There was a sense of eagerness with this request. The stones seemed to have been just washed and the photos taken outside under natural daylight. She was very keen to bring out the best in the photos. The first thought that went through my mind was the uniformity in colour and sizes of all the stones. Other than that, there was nothing else to go on. They looked perfect. Colour, texture and translucency were that of top quality imperial jadeite suitable to be set in jade jewellery. Either she has hit a jackpot or there was some kind of treatment done to these jade cabochons. If they were even jade at all. They look like jade but that's about all I was comfortable with as an initial assessment. There was no way of telling just from looking at these photos. The only way we were going to be certain was to conduct a lab test. Over the next few days, I brought the stones into the lab and compiled a report. Straight after taking a RI reading and measuring the SG, my suspicions were confirmed. The constants were too low to be that of Jadeite but were rather in the range of Cryptocrystalline Quartz. Further testings were done to reinforce the conclusion. These stones were a Jadeite imitation, they were Dyed Chalcedony.  I arranged an appointment for her to bring in the pieces to perform standard gemological testing. The next morning the stones were in my office. While they were laid out on a tray, at first glance, they looked odd. They don't quite fit the description of most jadeite cabochons I have handled. The polish on them was superb with great lustre and the stones felt light to handle. Regardless of what I felt, a set of tests still needed to be done and I held onto my thoughts while the customer watched me weigh the stones. I wasn't going to come to a conclusion without any scientific backing.

I explained the results to the customers that same afternoon after the testing was done. Sure enough, there was a tone of disappointment in her voice and I understood her completely. Had they been Grade A Jadeite, they would have been worth upwards of $15,000 per stone but instead the value of a dyed chalcedony is a mere $5 a carat. To my knowledge, the pieces were sold to her as Burmese Jade through a friend who lived in Thailand that also bought them as Jade from a seller there. The exact amounts they paid for them are not known to me but I sure hope that it wasn't much.Trades like these happen everyday in the gemstone market. Not just with jade. All the valuable gemstones have their own imitations. The general public is just not fully aware of what's out there. Even gemstone dealers and jewellers, people who have been in the industry for years, fall into the same traps because they are just visually indistinguishable except for the minor inconsistencies. And sometimes because they just lack the knowledge.

The key points to take in from this story is to at least have some idea of what's out there. Always ask questions and choose a reputable seller that understand the gemstone. There you go, that's an imperial lesson for us all.


About the Author
WAI YAN
Wai was born and raised in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma). Trained by the Gemmological Association of Australia, he is a qualified Gemologist and a fellow of the GAA. Throughout his life, he has been in constant contact with gemstones and jewellery through the family business and has been fascinated by the beauty and rarity of them all. He is now operating a branch of the business in Australia, supplying all kinds of gemstones especially of Burmese origin to international markets.

Further Reading

Real Jade vs Fake Jade: The Touch Experiment Identifying Jadeite Jade

Real Jade vs Fake Jade: The Touch Experiment Identifying Jadeite Jade

An experiment with the public where randomly chosen participants attempt to identify real jade from fake ones based on the common belief that real jade feels cold to the touch. Cathy from MAYS GEMS conducts the experiment using six bangles, only one of which is genuine jade. Participants were blindfolded first and asked to feel each bangle on their cheeks to determine which one is real, with varying degrees of success.
Read more
Jade Pendants 101: Meanings and Symbolism

Jade Pendants 101: Meanings and Symbolism

Uncover the rich cultural significance and diverse symbolisms behind jade pendants. This article covers all jade pendant designs from various cultures such as: Chinese, Maori and Mesoamerican and their meanings.
Read more
Fake Jade with Fake Certificate from China: A Gemologist Review

Fake Jade with Fake Certificate from China: A Gemologist Review

A gemologist debunks jade scams involving fake certificates from China.
Read more
Exploring the Meaning and Symbolism of Jade Bracelets

Exploring the Meaning and Symbolism of Jade Bracelets

This article delves into the cultural significance, symbolism, and spiritual beliefs associated with jade jewellery, focusing on jade bangle bracelets. It highlights the meaning and symbolism of jade bracelets in Chinese culture and other cultures.
Read more
a jade bangle bracelet held up against a sunny sky.

5 Hidden Benefits of Wearing a Jade Bangle Bracelet

In this article, we delve into the captivating world of jade bangle bracelets, uncovering their popularity as a jewelry choice and the array of benefits they bring to those who wear them. From their exquisite beauty and unmatched value to the profound impact on wellbeing, we explore five key benefits of donning real jade bangle bracelets. Prepare to be amazed by the remarkable advantages these stunning pieces offer, extending far beyond aesthetics.

Read more
How a Jade Bangle is Made Traditionally

How a Jade Bangle is Made Traditionally

How Jade Bangles are Made Traditionally made in Myanmar (Burma). This article explains the processes of how a jade bangle is crafted from rough boulder to a fine piece of jewellery.
Read more

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

Add Special instructions for your order
Coupon Code