What is jade “water adjustment”?

The "water" of jade is a comprehensive state formed by the propagation of light inside the jade and multiple disordered cross-reflections and refractions of crystal grains. It is like lingering fog and is a combination of transparency, type and bottom.

During the jade creation process, in order to enhance the texture and layering of the work, it must undergo a series of designs and polishing to make it more transparent and lustrous. This process is called jade "water adjustment" in the industry.

"Water" is closely related to transparency. The jade industry divides jade transparency into five levels: transparent, sub-transparent, semi-transparent, slightly transparent, and opaque. Although transparency is not the only factor that determines "water", opaque works will not have "water". The more transparent the piece is, the more light can enter the interior of the jade. Through grinding and polishing, the surface of jade can be made as smooth as a mirror, which makes it easier for light to penetrate the surface and enter its interior.

2. Methods of adjusting water in jadeite

Using carving techniques is the main method to adjust the water of jadeite. For example, when carving, it is made thin, and the uncarved back is processed into a concave arc surface to expand the light-receiving area, absorb more light, and improve its light transmittance and transparency, so that the jade can easily "come out of water". The back of Guanyin's head, the Buddha's belly and the back of the head are often thinned to adjust the water using this method.

In cases where the green color is too dark or the color blocks are too thick, affecting the transparency, the boundary between green and colorless is outlined and peeled off during the carving process, and the thickness of green in non-important parts is appropriately reduced to make the light transmittance better and the transparency clear, achieving a "watery" effect and bringing out the icy and fresh green. There are limitations to making jade carvings thin. Jade that is too thin may have a visual effect of strong light transmittance and high transparency, but it is often still waterless. This is because light requires a certain depth and interaction with the type and base to produce "water".

The use of the jade "water adjustment" technique makes the originally imperfect jade more perfect and visually enhances the jade's sense of transparency.

The quality of the "water adjustment" process is the key to determining whether the jade is solemn and beautiful in shape. If it can be used freely, the jade raw material will have unexpected artistic appreciation value. Only by adapting to the times, local conditions and materials can we ultimately achieve the perfect combination of "natural work" and "artificial work".

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