What are A-grade, B-grade and C-grade jade? How to distinguish?

I don’t know if you have ever encountered such a situation, hearing merchants misleading consumers by saying that A-grade jade is A-grade jade, B-grade jade is B-grade jade, and C-grade jade is C-grade jade. At this point you might be thinking:

"What are A-grade, B-grade, and C-grade jade?"

In fact, A-grade goods, B-grade goods, and C-grade goods are three completely different concepts.

The editor has sorted out the relevant concepts, hoping to help you understand and learn to distinguish them!

1. Distinguish between A-goods, B-goods and C-goods

First we need to distinguish the differences between the three.

From the perspective of gemology, Grade A jade is natural jade, while Grade B and Grade C jade are artificial jade.

In detail:

● Grade A: natural jade that has not been artificially treated with chemicals. Only polishing and waxing are required for optimization.

● B-grade jade is jade that has been processed through chemical pickling, bleaching, and glue injection. Carry out pickling + glue injection, etc.

C-grade jadeite: artificially dyed jadeite

2. Processing technology of A-goods, B-goods and C-goods

To identify jadeite ABC, you must first understand their processing technology. You can take a look at the following table for a brief understanding.

A-grade processing technology:

Jade that is made only through cutting, grinding and carving is called A-grade jade. That is the process of carving, polishing and waxing.

B goods processing technology:

The treatment process is carried out in two steps.

● Rinse. First, soak the jade to be treated in hydrochloric acid, nitric acid or sodium solution to decompose, dissolve and discharge the impurities (generally hydroxides and soil components) mixed in the jade. Then put it in an alkaline solution to neutralize it and then wash it with clean water.

● Impregnation. It is impregnated and perfused with high polymer compounds to fill the gaps between the crystals, consolidate its crystal structure, and make it strong and durable.

C goods processing technology

There are two treatment methods, one is dyeing, and the other is high-energy particle bombardment, the so-called laser dyeing.

3. Scientifically identify A-grade, B-grade and C-grade goods

Scientific identification of A-grade and B-grade goods:

● To recognize A-grade goods, we must first look at their density. That is to say, after getting a piece of jade, the first thing to do is to measure its density. Any value lower than 3.33 should attract attention. (The reason is simple. Although the density of jade is defined between 3.25-3.43, the texture of jade with a lower density will not be very good even if it is A-grade jade, and the possibility of jade with a density above 3.33 being B-grade jade is lower. This is because not all jade is suitable for B-grade jade.)

● Secondly, carefully observe the surface characteristics of the jade. Observe with a 40x magnifying glass using side light (oblique lighting method).

The surface of A-grade jade is as smooth as a mirror and has a strong glassy luster.

The sand holes and pits of B-grade goods mostly appear in the form of dissolution holes, which are characterized by being round, deep, black, and with blunt edges.

Scientific identification of C goods

It is relatively simple to identify C-grade jadeite, usually by shining a strong flashlight through it. The green of A-grade jade has a colored head and tail, and spots with transitions between light and dark in the form of stripes. However, under strong light transmission, the green of C-grade jade is distributed in the form of thin lines around the grains or in the cracks.

The above is the concept and identification method of A-grade, B-grade and C-grade products. I wonder if you have learned it?

fcgc66

fcpf18