When buying jade, one of the most important questions you can ask is: “What grade is this?” The jade grading system — A, B, and C — tells you everything about whether a piece is natural, treated, or essentially fake. Understanding these grades is the single most important piece of knowledge for any jade buyer.
Grade A Jade: The Only Real Jade
Grade A jade is natural, untreated jade in its purest form. It has been extracted from the earth, cleaned, and polished — nothing more. No chemicals, no fillers, no artificial color.
Grade A jade:
- Retains all of its natural energetic properties
- Maintains its beauty and integrity indefinitely
- Appreciates in value over time
- Is the only grade worth buying for healing, investment, or heirloom purposes
The color of Grade A jade is entirely natural — which means it may not be as vivid or uniform as treated jade. This natural variation is a feature, not a flaw. It’s proof of authenticity.
Grade B Jade: Treated and Compromised
Grade B jade starts as real jade, but has been subjected to chemical treatment to improve its appearance:
- The jade is soaked in acid to bleach out impurities and brown staining
- The resulting porous stone is then injected with clear resin (usually epoxy) to restore structural integrity and improve translucency
- The surface is polished to a high shine
The result looks beautiful — often more beautiful than Grade A jade of similar origin. But the treatment has serious consequences:
- The resin yellows and degrades over 5-20 years, causing the jade to look increasingly artificial
- The chemical treatment destroys jade’s natural energetic properties
- Grade B jade has minimal resale or investment value
- It cannot be re-polished or restored once it degrades
Grade C Jade: Dyed and Deceptive
Grade C jade has been bleached, resin-filled, AND artificially dyed to achieve a more desirable color. The color is entirely fake — applied after treatment to simulate the appearance of high-quality natural jade.
Grade C jade is essentially worthless from a collector’s perspective. The dye fades, the resin degrades, and the piece becomes an obvious fake within years. It has no investment value and no genuine energetic properties.
How to Tell the Grades Apart
Visual Clues
- Grade A: Natural color variation, waxy luster, organic imperfections
- Grade B: Unusually high translucency, glassy surface, color may look “washed out”
- Grade C: Unnaturally vivid, uniform color; color concentrated in surface cracks
UV Light Test
Under ultraviolet light, Grade B and C jade often shows blue-white fluorescence from the resin. Grade A jade typically shows little to no fluorescence.
Price
If the price seems too good for the quality you’re seeing, it’s almost certainly Grade B or C. Quality Grade A jade has real value — it’s not cheap.
Always Ask for Certification
The only reliable way to confirm jade grade is through laboratory certification from a recognized gemological institute. Reputable sellers provide this documentation — or can direct you to independent testing.
At Qzzen, every piece in our jade collection is certified Grade A natural jade. We provide full documentation with every purchase, backed by our 30-day return guarantee and free shipping on orders over $100. Buy with complete confidence.
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