Hey sisters, how are you all doing! I'm your old friend, and also an appraiser who has been working in the jadeite industry for over ten years. Today, I want to talk about a 'heart-wrenching' topic: regarding jadeite appraisal, have you also fallen into these traps? 🤔

I've found that many jadeite enthusiasts, especially beginners, often have some 'taken-for-granted' perceptions about jadeite appraisal, and even some experienced players can't avoid falling into misconceptions. Today, I'm going to break down for you those 'truths' you thought were real, which might actually be the culprits causing you to make mistakes! 💊

Misconception One: Only looking at certificates and blindly trusting the words 'National Inspection'

"If it has a certificate, it must be real!"—This sounds fine, but sisters, certificates also vary in quality! 📜

My Experience Sharing: I once met a jadeite friend who spent a lot of money on an 'ice-type floating flower' bracelet, with the words 'National Inspection' prominently printed on the certificate. When she brought it to me, it turned out to be B+C grade! 😱 Upon closer inspection of the certificate, I found that although it was a 'National Inspection' agency, it was actually a local, underqualified small testing station. Moreover, the descriptions on the certificate played word games, for example, writing 'Jadeite (treated)' in very small print, or simply not mentioning the treatment method, only writing 'Jadeite'.

Professional Interpretation: Truly authoritative appraisal agencies, such as the National Gemstone Testing Center (NGTC) and the Gemstone Testing Center of China University of Geosciences, have very strict and standardized certificate formats and descriptions. Furthermore, even with certificates from authoritative agencies, you must carefully verify that the photos, weight, size, and other information on the certificate match the actual item, and most importantly—the appraisal conclusion. If it says 'Jadeite (treated)' or 'Jadeite (B+C)', then it is not natural A-grade jadeite! Don't be fooled by the large words 'Natural Jadeite'; you must look at the content in the parentheses! 👀

Misconception Two: Superstitious belief in 'the more transparent, the better', pursuing extreme transparency

"This jade is so transparent, it must be good jade!"—This is the most common compliment I hear, and also one of the biggest misconceptions! 💧

My Experience Sharing: Last year, a young girl brought me an 'ice-transparent' jade pendant and asked if it was Imperial Green. I looked at it, and the transparency was almost glass-like. When I touched it, it was icy cold, and the tapping sound was crisp. I told her it wasn't jadeite, but a glass imitation. She was shocked because the seller had told her 'the more transparent, the more expensive'.

Professional Interpretation: The 'transparency' of jadeite is called 'water head' or 'texture', and it is indeed an important indicator for evaluating jadeite. However, 'transparency' does not mean extreme transparency. Natural A-grade jadeite, even glass-type, will have unique structures and luster, known in the trade as 'fluorescence' or 'gelatinous effect'. Excessive transparency, without internal structural feeling, dull luster, and sharp tapping sound, are likely imitations such as glass or quartzite. Especially those with vibrant colors and extreme transparency, be more vigilant! ⚠️ True jadeite, even high-ice type, will have a warm and restrained luster, not a 'thief's gleam'.

Misconception Three: Only looking at color, ignoring texture and flaws

"Wow! This jade is so green!"—Color is important, but it's not the only thing! 💚

My Experience Sharing: I have a friend who fell in love with a full-green jadeite bracelet, the color was very rich. She excitedly called me and asked if it was worth it. I asked her to send photos and videos, and when I saw it, the color was green, but the texture was very poor, with a coarse grainy feel and several obvious cracks. I told her that such jadeite, no matter how good the color, would have its value greatly reduced. She ultimately followed my advice and gave up on that bracelet, and later found a piece with good texture, even color but not as 'full green', at a more reasonable price, and it looked much better when worn.

Professional Interpretation: The value assessment of jadeite is comprehensive; color, texture, base, craftsmanship, and flaws are all indispensable. No matter how good the color, if the texture is poor (which is what 'dog shit ground produces high green' means), or if there are many cracks and black spots, its value will be severely affected. Conversely, a piece of jadeite with good texture, clean base, and no flaws, even if the color is not the most intense, will have high value and collection potential. Remember, 'experts look at texture, laymen look at color'; there's a reason for this saying.

Misconception Four: Blindly pursuing 'old mine material', believing old mine is always good

"This is old mine material, so it's expensive!"—The words 'old mine' are often used by sellers as a reason for high prices. 👴

My Experience Sharing: Once in the market, I heard a seller promoting a piece of jadeite with very poor texture and grayish color to a customer, constantly emphasizing that it was 'old mine material'. The customer was completely bewildered. I couldn't help but step forward to remind them that old mine material is indeed synonymous with good material, but not everything from old mines is a masterpiece. Just like people, among the older generation, there are elites, but also ordinary people!

Professional Interpretation: 'Old mine' refers to mining areas with a long history of exploitation that produce high-quality jadeite. Traditionally, old mine jadeite is highly regarded for its fine texture, good translucency, and fluorescence. However, with deeper mining, even old mines can produce material of average quality, or even inferior material. And some 'new mines' can also produce high-quality jadeite. Therefore, to determine the value of a piece of jadeite, one must ultimately return to its actual quality: texture, color, base, flaws, etc., rather than simply looking at whether it is 'old mine material'.

Summary:

Sisters, jadeite appraisal is a science, and even more so, an experience. There are no shortcuts, only continuous learning, observing and touching more, and consulting professionals. I hope today's sharing can help you avoid some common pitfalls, so you can save on tuition fees on your jade journey and buy truly desirable good jade! 💖

Remember, when buying jade, buy what you like, and more importantly, buy what's right! If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anytime! Next time, I'll share more appraisal tips with you! 👋

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