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Lines in jade piece—surface crack? Internal crack? Both?

Pinkmartini87

Pinkmartini87

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Apr 10, 2017
Messages
1,314
Hi all, would love your thoughts on what these lines (circled) are, and which ones are concerning in terms of affecting stability/value?

1. This looks like a surface line? Does not appear when lit from the back in the pictures below. Per vendor can feel it with fingernail.

IMG_0529.jpeg
IMG_0531.jpeg

2. This line is darker and can be seen both when lit from the back and also easily on the surface. But cannot feel with fingernails. Color root?
IMG_0530.jpeg

Per vendor this is grade A natural undyed jade.
 
Tagging some of the jade ladies on this forum that have helped me greatly in the past re all matters jade.

@icy_jade @mellowyellowgirl @Crimson

Here’s another example. This pendant below is mine, that my grandmother gave me. It also has a line that maaaybe you can feel with fingernail (I say maybe bc if I didn’t know where it was via sight and ran my nail across the surface I wouldn’t be able to tell you where the line is), see both backlit and not backlit. It kind of looks like a whitish line on the surface that over time I think maybe some dirt got into it so it’s a little gray.

IMG_0552.jpeg

IMG_0549.jpeg

1. Is it a hairline crack? A color root? A stone line? Does it affect structural stability? Value?

2. I’m shopping for a second heart like this to give to my young daughter. I’ve looked at sites like Kathy Jade but they don’t have “finished” pieces, and I really want one that comes with the 22k bail and ready to wear. Any recs on where I can find something similar?
 
The first pendant looks like a crack. Generally if you can feel it with your nail, it’s a crack.

I can’t comment about value but when I used to buy Jade, my vendor would always say “This line can be felt with a fingernail” and withdraw the item. I could still buy it if I wanted to but I think it is telling that they would automatically eliminate it for me.

That said, I fully cracked a bangle, never got it fixed and my sister is wearing it and putting it on and taking it off happy. It had an accident and was slammed really hard, creating a line that can be felt but it has not broken so far, 4 years in.
 
mellowyellowgirl said:
The first pendant looks like a crack. Generally if you can feel it with your nail, it’s a crack.

I can’t comment about value but when I used to buy Jade, my vendor would always say “This line can be felt with a fingernail” and withdraw the item. I could still buy it if I wanted to but I think it is telling that they would automatically eliminate it for me.

That said, I fully cracked a bangle, never got it fixed and my sister is wearing it and putting it on and taking it off happy. It had an accident and was slammed really hard, creating a line that can be felt but it has not broken so far, 4 years in.
Click to expand...

Thank you @mellowyellowgirl! So from the sound of it, if I were to play it super safe, I should avoid buying any jade piece with a line that I can feel. But lines that I can’t feel ok to go ahead? I feel like I see lots of lines in jade pieces so not sure if they are to be expected (ie part of the “grain” of the stone) for most pieces that are not super high end.
 
Pinkmartini87 said:
Thank you @mellowyellowgirl! So from the sound of it, if I were to play it super safe, I should avoid buying any jade piece with a line that I can feel. But lines that I can’t feel ok to go ahead? I feel like I see lots of lines in jade pieces so not sure if they are to be expected (ie part of the “grain” of the stone) for most pieces that are not super high end.
Click to expand...

I’ve bought three bangles with lines that can’t be felt! I’ll take some photos for you tomorrow. I’ve been told that they are just the natural lines of the formation of the stone. I haven’t had any issues with them and they were the right colour and budget so I jumped in.
 
Not an expert but here's my 2c:
1. If it can be felt with fingernail it is a crack. Most would assume that it may impact durability and it would impact value, but that does not mean it definitely will crack through.
2. Only based on this photo in the first post, the line on the inside looks like color root to me, you can try turning it different angles to see if there's a crack line. If it's somewhat blurred even if there's been a crack it's likely grown together long ago and will not affect durability. Same for very small healed lined that does not go across the whole piece. Whether it will affect value depends on how much it ditracts from the asthetics. For the first heart (based on the photo) I don't think it will.
The line in the second heart looks like either a small crack or a stone line to me, and will take some points off from value, but I don't think it affect stability much.
 
Pinkmartini87 said:
Tagging some of the jade ladies on this forum that have helped me greatly in the past re all matters jade.

@icy_jade @mellowyellowgirl @Crimson

Here’s another example. This pendant below is mine, that my grandmother gave me. It also has a line that maaaybe you can feel with fingernail (I say maybe bc if I didn’t know where it was via sight and ran my nail across the surface I wouldn’t be able to tell you where the line is), see both backlit and not backlit. It kind of looks like a whitish line on the surface that over time I think maybe some dirt got into it so it’s a little gray.

IMG_0552.jpeg

IMG_0549.jpeg

1. Is it a hairline crack? A color root? A stone line? Does it affect structural stability? Value?

2. I’m shopping for a second heart like this to give to my young daughter. I’ve looked at sites like Kathy Jade but they don’t have “finished” pieces, and I really want one that comes with the 22k bail and ready to wear. Any recs on where I can find something similar?
Click to expand...

I agree with @mellowyellowgirl - The first looks like a color line. Since jadeite is an aggregate, there can be variations in color and composition even within the same piece. The second looks like a surface reaching fissure but doesn’t look as if it would threaten the durability of the stone — affer all, it is your grandmother’s!!
Such a lovely idea to get one for your daughter. I ‘ll be going to the jewellers this Saturday and shall keep a lookout for you. I believe I saw a translucent apple green one at On Cheong (one of my friends was looking). There is a pendant with three jadeite hearts and a heart ring at their online store. Both are on sale.
oncheong.com

Triple Hearts Jadeite Diamond Pendant - On Cheong Jewellery

A beautiful and meaningful gift for your love ones. Only in On Cheong Jewellery.
oncheong.com oncheong.com
oncheong.com

Familial Love Jadeite Ring - On Cheong Jewellery

Symbolize the mother's love for each of her children. A wonderful way to honor and celebrate the love of a mother. Only in On Cheong Jewellery.
oncheong.com oncheong.com
 
@Timor Thanks for taking the time to look at the photos, very helpful info for me as I continue to learn about jade.

@Crimson Much grateful to you, yes, if you see a single jade heart with a nice gold clasp, let me know!
 
The staff from On Cheong are so obliging. They sent these photos. The pieces are on a 30% discount for Christmas. Prices are in Singapore dollars. You can still make arrangements to buy from them if you’re not. I’ll have a closer look at them tomorrow for you.

0ede16b3-a463-4fff-ab8c-0c151ae9011e.jpeg2d4b38fd-f2d8-4784-af02-97516bd5dffd.jpeg5f091130-301c-4c5c-aee1-54ac115f7f05.jpeg
 
@Crimson Thanks for taking the time! Do they have ones with ornamental gold clasps (without stones in the setting) like the one I have above?
 
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