Green jadeite: imperial, yang, apple?

[dk168]

I’m wondering if the jade was treated/dyed, hence color fading with time?

Something to do with body/skin chemistry I believe. My sister's pendant increased in vividness and intensity through the years, whereas mine faded, hey ho!

DK

 

[icy_jade]

So natural A-grade jade should never do this colour change?

From what I understand, type A should not but due to being in close contact with body oil or maybe some stuff that is applied on the skin, the surface may stain. But typically no.

I supposed for some with oily skin it’s a bit like oiling of jade which some people do (soak in baby oil) - it helps to reduce uneven color as I’ve read in another forum.

 

[icy_jade]

Something to do with body/skin chemistry I believe. My sister's pendant increased in vividness and intensity through the years, whereas mine faded, hey ho!

DK

Does your sister have oily skin?

 

[dk168]

Does your sister have oily skin?

Don't have a clue, however, I have dry skin.

DK

 

[icy_jade]

it’s not an imperial jade that will go into our heirloom ring

If you happen across a jadeite piece where you love the color and the price is right, then whether it’s truly imperial jadeite or not maybe doesn’t really matter?

Like the pic above? I’ll be happy with almost any of them.

 

[Burmesedaze]

stuff my jeweler sold... (sadly not to me) so beautiful right

I feel the top not 浓enough

Bottom not glassy enough and I think the dome is slightly flat for the size.


But heck, if someone gifts them to me, I would be over the moon and onto the next planet.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Actually I went back to look at Sotheby’s and many are in WG. So definitely no need to be in YG. I think just go with whatever you will wear.

Jade is also a CS!

Top quality jadeite is mesmerizing... I remember trying on imperial jadeite at one of the fairs but was too distracted to take any pics except for this pair of earrings





Personally, I wouldn’t trust AIGS for color definitions. It’s like how there are too many royal blues, cornflowers, pigeon bloods... I bet there are many imperial jadeite too

I like this pair. Not imperial but has a good balance of everything and I prefer open greens.

 

[icy_jade]

I feel the top not 浓enough

Bottom not glassy enough and I think the dome is slightly flat for the size.


But heck, if someone gifts them to me, I would be over the moon and onto the next planet.

Lol ok lah I’ve beer budget so I’ve accepted that the auction standard type of imperial jadeite is to ogle only

 

[Burmesedaze]

Lol ok lah I’ve beer budget so I’ve accepted that the auction standard type of imperial jadeite is to ogle only

Hehe China has an insatiable appetite and spending power for them. I'm told they are swiped from the factory even before they hit the stalls, usually.

I ish poor.

Beads are like x 2 the thickness of cabs so to be able to see the string through them is already 高冰/冰玻 minimally.

I would be happy owning 1 bead haha. I didn't get to see any real imperial green in Myanmar.

But there were plenty of thin slices and cabs of that colour for sale. Usually 1mm to 2mm ish. Also not 浓，as thickness impacts that too.

In the end, I just buy what I like.

Digress, didn't see any sky blue bangles but I managed to snag this 10mm cab this week. No backing.

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

If you happen across a jadeite piece where you love the color and the price is right, then whether it’s truly imperial jadeite or not maybe doesn’t really matter?

Like the pic above? I’ll be happy with almost any of them.

I guess it’s a bit of complex question. Maybe I am a bit of a superficial and shallow person and rather have the best possible or none at all, instead of somewhere in between. As if, it has to be good enough for others who know what they are looking at (i.e. experts) as well as myself. But on the other hand, that deep green jade (acceptable description, pretty please?) is the first gemstone I spent decent amount of money on after wondering about it for couple of years, and despite it not being “imperial jade” and having imperfections I didn’t see prior to purchasing, have enough of emotional attachment to keep it for other use. But I don’t want want to turn this into weird psychoanalysis, so be will digress, meh.

Btw looks like about half of the pieces on the hand in that photo looks like imperial for my standard, especially second, fifth and last ones from the palm! Your collection?

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

I like this pair. Not imperial but has a good balance of everything and I prefer open greens.

If that’s not imperial to you, shudder to think how high your standards are; yes a bit on light side but just like there is a spectrum of accepted “pigeon blood” ruby, thought that will land in “lighter” side of imperial jade!!

I feel the top not 浓enough

Bottom not glassy enough and I think the dome is slightly flat for the size.


But heck, if someone gifts them to me, I would be over the moon and onto the next planet.

Care to tell me what “ 浓” means in English? My Chinese is not that good, can only read basics. Agree the stones on bottom photo are a bit lacking in clarity for my taste too.

 

[Burmesedaze]

If that’s not imperial to you, shudder to think how high your standards are; yes a bit on light side but just like there is a spectrum of accepted “pigeon blood” ruby, thought that will land in “lighter” side of imperial jade!!



Care to tell me what “ 浓” means in English? My Chinese is not that good, can only read basics. Agree the stones on bottom photo are a bit lacking in clarity for my taste too.

It's not about high standards, just the attempted precision at addressing what constitutes imperial green.

浓= richness, saturation.

I like the pair of earrings from the exhibition that icy jade posted because they have good chromium content, translucency, proportions (relative to size, as many greens tend to be flatter) and they have some glow.

But many don't go for glow, just colour. I have HK/Taiwanese friends who go for the glow but not colour, to compromise on what they can buy vs budget.

Well, I got this new cab fairly recently. It is not imperial but has a good saturation and decent translucency with fine grain crystal aggregate, though not glassy. Just to demo I go for what's within my budget. Nowhere near AU$3000, fairly well under. No backing. Mix of indoor daylight and my white LED study table lamp (when I'm supposed to be working from home
I've gone for lighter greens as they were more affordable when I collected them years ago and larger in size. This is just over 10mm and smaller than my other cabs.

 

[icy_jade]

Btw looks like about half of the pieces on the hand in that photo looks like imperial for my standard, especially second, fifth and last ones from the palm! Your collection?

I wish they are mine but no... cannot afford... mine are tiny bits only...

 

[icy_jade]

But many don't go for glow, just colour. I have HK/Taiwanese friends who go for the glow but not colour, to compromise on what they can buy vs budget.

I love glowy jade too... but end of the day I buy what I like and can afford. Like the ring I got recently isn’t what I was looking for (no glow, not imperialish color, not translucent enough) but end of the day I fell for it so it went home with me.

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

It's not about high standards, just the attempted precision at addressing what constitutes imperial green.

浓= richness, saturation.

I like the pair of earrings from the exhibition that icy jade posted because they have good chromium content, translucency, proportions (relative to size, as many greens tend to be flatter) and they have some glow.

But many don't go for glow, just colour. I have HK/Taiwanese friends who go for the glow but not colour, to compromise on what they can buy vs budget.

Well, I got this new cab fairly recently. It is not imperial but has a good saturation and decent translucency with fine grain crystal aggregate, though not glassy. Just to demo I go for what's within my budget. Nowhere near AU$3000, fairly well under. No backing. Mix of indoor daylight and my white LED study table lamp (when I'm supposed to be working from home
I've gone for lighter greens as they were more affordable when I collected them years ago and larger in size. This is just over 10mm and smaller than my other cabs.

Thank you. This activity with jewellery is full of compromises! I have a couple of stones I am eyeing and will probably make a move in next few weeks, hopefully won’t have to compromise too much!!

Your stone looks not that much different in quality from mine (even after accounting for my poor photography), only a shade darker than mine, which i think may be somewhat more translucent at least. Don’t sow doubt in my minds about whether I overpaid on mine, I have already come to terms with keeping it, and besides I can’t return it now even if I change my mind!

 

[Burmesedaze]

I love glowy jade too... but end of the day I buy what I like and can afford. Like the ring I got recently isn’t what I was looking for (no glow, not imperialish color, not translucent enough) but end of the day I fell for it so it went home with me.

That one I just saw in your thread, it has that chromium glow! Also not that easy to find.

I got a high 9mm dome 蓝光 cab recently. Would have been 蓝钢 if less thick. Also got 2 pairs smaller ones from the same material that is 冰玻底. Not sky blue. Setting into a halo ring. Will post on my thread when done. The halo is quite different and I've incorporated several small blue sapphire melee bits.

I fell back onto the icy jade bandwagon again.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Thank you. This activity with jewellery is full of compromises! I have a couple of stones I am eyeing and will probably make a move in next few weeks, hopefully won’t have to compromise too much!!

Your stone looks not that much different in quality from mine (even after accounting for my poor photography), only a shade darker than mine, which i think may be somewhat more translucent at least. Don’t sow doubt in my minds about whether I overpaid on mine, I have already come to terms with keeping it, and besides I can’t return it now even if I change my mind!

Just enjoy it

Suggest setting with white gold closed back which may impart better light return. But it's also a personal preference when it comes to jewellery.

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

I was tasked to find a pair of good green jade earrings for someone's wife's 81st birthday The husband is the same age and I've known him through work for years and we are now friends. He's one of the best and most real gentleman I've ever encountered. They just don't make them the way they did anymore. His foreign and local staff, several of whom I know, all love him.

He gave me a S$20k budget. Though he's happy to stretch more if necessary because he always says no point keeping at his age.

I couldn't find anything that I could bring myself to accept, within the time frame of the hunt, except this pair which I sourced as unset. Just over 8mm. But this is old mine and full green with good translucency. Top left unset photo is without backing. Also, I thought for that generation, too light a green they wouldn't like.

Set it with closed back and upgraded VVS diamonds. Still under S$10K.

Anything better, bigger, higher, gets snapped up from the physical stalls as soon as they hit, or from the factory, as there is really a scarcity in supply thanks to the situation in Myanmar. So even if you have a certain amount of money to spend, you may not find close to what you like at that pricepoint!

That looks like very good as quality goes, I understand not very big but would be happy with something similar in my hunt.

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

Okay thought I might try taking photos of my jadeite again in natural daylight, somewhat better!

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

That one I just saw in your thread, it has that chromium glow! Also not that easy to find.

I got a high 9mm dome 蓝光 cab recently. Would have been 蓝钢 if less thick. Also got 2 pairs smaller ones from the same material that is 冰玻底. Not sky blue. Setting into a halo ring. Will post on my thread when done. The halo is quite different and I've incorporated several small blue sapphire melee bits.

Is there a rough list of Chinese words for jade quality grading, from ideal to mediocre? I gather 蓝钢 is superior to 蓝光...

Just enjoy it

Suggest setting with white gold closed back which may impart better light return. But it's also a personal preference when it comes to jewellery.

Of course I will enjoy it, this stone comes alive better in daylight I think!

So closed back to allow better light return I understand, are you saying white gold to compensate for dark hue of the stone, conversely yellow gold for lighter toned green? I also seem to hear more people preferring white gold over platinum, wonder any advantage for WG over platinum other than cost considerations.

I was tasked to find a pair of good green jade earrings for someone's wife's 81st birthday

He gave me a S$20k budget. Though he's happy to stretch more if necessary because he always says no point keeping at his age.

I couldn't find anything that I could bring myself to accept, within the time frame of the hunt, except this pair which I sourced as unset. Just over 8mm. But this is old mine and full green with good translucency. Top left unset photo is without backing. Also, I thought for that generation, too light a green they wouldn't like.

Set it with closed back and upgraded VVS diamonds. Still under S$10K.

So S$ is worth roughly same as A$ at present, with diamond and metal, I guess each stone cost roughly A$3-4K...and excellent quality! I wonder if you would call it “imperial” yourself but I would...market is much better in SE Asia than here in Australia!

 

[icy_jade]

except this pair which I sourced as unset. Just over 8mm. But this is old mine and full green with good translucency.

Pretty!

Okay thought I might try taking photos of my jadeite again in natural daylight, somewhat better!

It looks a lot a lot better

My cabs change with lighting too... I’ve another 2 loose green cabs, the darker green cab is described as 卒绿 and is 1.2x0.9x0.5cm. The paler cab is 绿莹光 and can’t find the measurements. The pale cab has a slight glow and is the more expensive of the two loose cabs.



Indoors indirect natural lught



Natural light at balcony

After buying various jadeite colors, I think I just have a soft spot for jadeite that glows. So watery jade it is...



imperial jadeite is 1 on this chart
The type that glows is 3

卒绿 is 2

Yang green is 4, apple green is 5, bluish green is 6, grey green is 7 and oil green is 8

the horizontal scale is yellowish to bluish
The vertical scale is intense water on top and intense color at the bottom

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

Pretty!


It looks a lot a lot better

My cabs change with lighting too... I’ve another 2 loose green cabs, the darker green cab is described as 卒绿 and is 1.2x0.9x0.5cm. The paler cab is 绿莹光 and can’t find the measurements. The pale cab has a slight glow and is the more expensive of the two loose cabs.



Indoors indirect natural lught



Natural light at balcony

After buying various jadeite colors, I think I just have a soft spot for jadeite that glows. So watery jade it is...



imperial jadeite is 1 on this chart
The type that glows is 3

卒绿 is 2

Yang green is 4, apple green is 5, bluish green is 6, grey green is 7 and oil green is 8

the horizontal scale is yellowish to bluish
The vertical scale is intense water on top and intense color at the bottom

I like 2 and 3 the best. Yang green when you look at your chart looks more yellowish; I suppose mine is darker version of 6 (top right quadrant). Your paler one seems to be about 7? but on glows side (bottom right quadrant). Am I reasonably close?

As for my next jade quest, I reckon I will reserve and send for grading report after I select a piece from the shortlist I’ve been looking through a vendor in May and walk to B&M jade semi-specialist jeweller in Sydney CBD to see if they can offer anything that may be better within my budget (with certificate or can be organised). That way if AIGS report comes back poorly I have a back-up plan, shame Singapore or HK labs don’t grade colour and clarity qualitatively...

 

[icy_jade]

Your paler one seems to be about 7? but on glows side (bottom right quadrant).

Mine is upper right quadrant I guess, since it’s super watery. Anyway I’ve decided that it doesn’t matter the color so long as I like the stone. I mean clearly I would love to have a 3 or 1 but then based on my recent purchase it doesn’t have to be a 1 or 3 for me to want to buy the stone.

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

Mine is upper right quadrant I guess, since it’s super watery. Anyway I’ve decided that it doesn’t matter the color so long as I like the stone. I mean clearly I would love to have a 3 or 1 but then based on my recent purchase it doesn’t have to be a 1 or 3 for me to want to buy the stone.

Oops you are correct, I got the axis mixed around.

 

[icy_jade]

Another article with more charts and examples

翡翠爱好者的小红书

在市场上绿色的翡翠最受欢迎，绿色翡翠颜色变化对价格的影响也最显著。爱翡翠网通过梳理、归纳目前翡翠商业上流行的各种绿色翡翠的颜色分类，提出了绿色翡翠7+6颜色分类体系。以翡翠颜色彩度浓淡七级划分和翡翠颜色色调六个分区为基础，构建出最完整、清晰明了的绿色翡翠颜色分类，每个分类都附有样品。

blog.ai-feicui.cn

 

[icy_jade]

And one more that explains the jadeite type/quality

翡翠12个品种是什么?图文详解翡翠知识快速入门 -6parkbbs.com

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

Another article with more charts and examples

翡翠爱好者的小红书

在市场上绿色的翡翠最受欢迎，绿色翡翠颜色变化对价格的影响也最显著。爱翡翠网通过梳理、归纳目前翡翠商业上流行的各种绿色翡翠的颜色分类，提出了绿色翡翠7+6颜色分类体系。以翡翠颜色彩度浓淡七级划分和翡翠颜色色调六个分区为基础，构建出最完整、清晰明了的绿色翡翠颜色分类，每个分类都附有样品。

blog.ai-feicui.cn

First two, “grandmother” or “emperor” please, and my quest is done!

I looked at jade certificates from HKJSL and Singapore’s Nanyang labs. While HK uses some descriptives for colour (e.g. intense green, bright green, light green), all the Nanyang reports I found seems to describe green jadeite cabochons’ colour as simply “green”. I know GIT in Thailand didn’t use descriptives for jade colour (as opposed to trade names like pigeon or rabbit blood used for their ruby reports) as of few years ago, I do not know if they changed policies since.
Anyone with dealings with HKJSL came across any “good colour descriptive” other than “intense green” (such as vivid or deep; doubt they use trade terms such as imperial or apple green), or those who got reports from Nanyang or GIT found any colour descriptives other than that plain “green”?

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

And one more that explains the jadeite type/quality

翡翠12个品种是什么?图文详解翡翠知识快速入门 -6parkbbs.com

My Chinese is not good enough, especially simplified Scripts..,

 

[icy_jade]

Is this imperial jadeite? @Burmesedaze

Imperial Green Jade Earrings | Imperial Jade Earrings | ClassicJade

Grade A imperial green jade earrings. This pair of earrings is of top quality with excellent lustre and translucency. Its colour is most valued in jadeite.

www.classicjade.com.sg

My Chinese is not good enough, especially simplified Scripts..,

Are you using Chrome browser? The auto translate feature is quite nifty

 

[Sydneyphoenix]

Is this imperial jadeite? @Burmesedaze

Imperial Green Jade Earrings | Imperial Jade Earrings | ClassicJade

Grade A imperial green jade earrings. This pair of earrings is of top quality with excellent lustre and translucency. Its colour is most valued in jadeite.

www.classicjade.com.sg

Are you using Chrome browser? The auto translate feature is quite nifty

So pretty, but looks like will be expensive, possibly >$15000 given that’s the highest stated price that doesn’t ask you to enquire...

Some bits are confusing but got think got gist of it with translation!