Quality

Jadeite is quite a precious gemstone. Therefore, it is important to know what to look for while making a purchase. Origin, colour transparency, clarity, texture, and shape are considered as the most important factors one must adhere to find the best quality Jadeite gemstone for their collection.

•         Origin

Jadeite rough stone comes from numerous mining locations including California, US, Myanmar, New Zealand, Japan, Russia, British Colombia, Canada, Italy, Turkestan, Italy etc. But the best quality Jadeite comes from the Mandalay region of Burma (Myanmar), Guatemala, Japan and the western parts of US.

•         Type

Natural Jadeite colour ranges from colourless white to pale green and deep apple green. It can also be found in a multitude of colours ranging from pink, lavender (purple), black, white to orange, violet, brown and yellow etc. The Emerald Green Jadeite (popularly known as Imperial Jadeite Jade) is considered quite valuable. It is closely followed by the Purple or Lavender Jadeite and White Jadeite. Black Jadeite Jade (Chloromelanite Jadeite – dark green to black in colour) Pink and Red Jadeite are the other popular choices.

•         Colour Quality

Checking the consistency and intensity in colour is equally important. Ideally, Jadeite with saturated colour, good translucency and less visible spots or veins on the surface is considered more desirable. Slight lower grade Jadeite stones are expected to have some dark irregular marks called specks and colour patches that lower the gem’s value.

•         Clarity

While evaluating a Jadeite, the quality is decided by checking the level of transparency, texture and inclusions. Natural Jadeite Jade stones with good transparency, smooth texture and minimum mineral inclusions belong to the top grade. The presence of visible imperfections, pits, black spots and tiny fractures on the surface not just reduce the quality but also affect the durability of the gemstone.

•         Cut

Fine quality raw Jadeite is usually cut and polished as cabochons. Generally, the Jadeite Jade rough used for making cabochons are of higher quality than the mineral used for carving. In the market, one can find Jadeite cabochons in oval, round, pear and mixed shapes. A good quality Jadeite stone can be found in any pleasing shape with fine polish and symmetry.

Price

Jadeite stone price is determined by the degree of transparency, purity of colour, texture, shape and size. The rarity and demand of the certain colour or size also bring a difference in the Jadeite value per carat in the international gemstone industry. Generally, Burmese Imperial Jadeite prices remain the highest because of its Emerald-like green hue, clarity and excellent durability.

Note – Jadeite stone price in India starts from Rs 1,000 per carat ($ 15) ) and can reach up to Rs 5,000 per carat ($ 75) and even above depending upon the quality grade and size. The prices in other countries such as China, UK, US or UAE may vary hugely due to the difference in the supply-demand cycle.

•         Origin

Due to its excellent durability and gentle green colour, Jadeite Jade from Burma is regarded as the most well-priced gem variety. Burmese Jadeite or Myanmar Jadeite value is often higher than the value of California Jadeite and Russian Jadeite.

•         Colour

Colour, by far, is the most important factor to assess a Jadeite stone price. Typically, the vibrant green imperial Jadeite Jade value remains the highest in the market because of its huge popularity and increasing demand. Gems with brown impurities are relatively less expensive.

•         Clarity

The best Jadeites are semi-transparent, smooth and possess an alluring glow. Such rare Jadeite pieces often draw a higher premium. In contrast, Jadeite cost drops significantly for dull and opaque gems with poor texture and cloudy patches on the surface.

•         Cut Jadeite cabochons are often used in rings and other forms of jewellery. Its beauty and prices depend also on the cutting style. Jadeites in perfect symmetry appear more beautiful and are therefore pricier than the gems in mixed shaped. When purchasing beads, the consistency in colour tone and size make a significant impact on prices. Jadeite cravings are mostly designed using lower grade material and are relatively cheaper.
•         Carat weight

In top grade Jadeites, even a slight difference in size can create a huge variation in the value. Big size Jadeite Jade rough with consistent colour is rare to find in nature. Therefore, Jadeite Jade price per carat increases exponentially for gems above few carats if the quality is not compromised.