How to check the flaws of jadeite? Examples show you how to check the flaws of jadeite step by step

Regarding jade flaws, friends who know about jade know that the common ones include cracks, sand holes, and dirty spots. We often say that when looking at jade, especially when buying jade, you must look carefully for flaws and consider whether you can accept them before deciding whether to buy them. But many friends often come to the backstage with pictures and ask if this jade has any flaws and where they are. Many friends know the common defects of jade, but they don’t know how to look at them or what specific things to look at. Today, let’s check the defects of jade step by step.

As mentioned at the beginning, common jade defects include cracks, sand holes, dirt spots and impurities. In order to allow friends who are new to jade to understand these things from the simple to the complex, other more subtle defects will not be mentioned here. Generally, when we get a jadeite, the first step is often to check whether there are cracks. If there are cracks, we may consider looking down, but if there are cracks, we basically ignore it.

Because jade with cracks is prone to problems, the first step is to find the cracks. Usually, you should first look at the jadeite from front to back and left to right with the naked eye. If cracks can be seen with the naked eye, as shown in the picture below, and it feels obviously loose when you fold it with your hand, it is generally recommended to look at it again. But sometimes some friends think that the crack is just a small one and if it is acceptable, they will look down to see if there are other cracks inside.

Internal cracks need to be checked under lighting, usually at a 45-degree angle. If you see any obvious light blocking, change the lighting direction. If the light changes significantly, then there is basically an internal crack. As shown in the picture below, there is such a big line inside. If it is the same as the above situation, with obvious cracks on the outside and lines on the inside, then unless we have special feelings for this jade, we can pass it up.

Here is a detail. When using a light to check for cracks, if it is a jade pendant, such as a Guanyin or landscape plaque, it is recommended that you remember to shine the light along the outline of the jade. Many jade pendants often have small cracks on the bottom edge. For example, when checking Guanyin, you will find small lines or cracks under the lotus seat of Guanyin.

Sometimes the master will do the crack avoidance, sometimes not. However, most friends who are new to jade will not pay attention to these places. Sometimes when they see them, they will think they are the patterns of lotus seats and ignore them. As shown in the picture below, there is a possible small crack in the middle of the bottom of the landscape card. This is the detail that we need to check and confirm with a light.

After a rough inspection of cracks, the next step is to check for sand holes. Many friends often think that jade is flawless after looking at the front side and do not look at the back side. Although few people would turn over the back of jade to show others when they wear it, there are often trachoma and large clumps of cotton wool hidden on the back of the jade. This is most common in branded jade. The inner ring of the bracelet or the dark-colored parts may sometimes be accompanied by trachoma. Friends, please pay attention when checking.

After looking at the sand holes and cotton wool on the surface, the next step is to look at the impurities inside. Many jades look very clean on the surface, but when you turn on the light, you will find many "surprises" inside. So what should we look at when checking for internal impurities? We need to see whether the black spots are really black spots. Some jades have black spots inside, but these black spots may be real black spots or they may be dark color flowers. If they appear green or blue under light, then they are color spots, not black spots.

If it is still a dark spot when the light is turned on, then it is a real black spot. As shown in the picture, there is a black spot on the Fubei. This is a detail that requires us to turn on the light to check whether it is a black spot or a color spot. After identifying the black spots, you also need to see how much cotton there is and whether you can accept it. (Snowflake cotton is not included here, which is another matter)

Another detail to be mentioned here is that when we use light to observe the internal structure of jadeite, it is best to use high beam light. Just like the person taking the photo in the picture above, use a high beam to see what is inside. Don't point the front of the light vertically against the surface of the jadeite, as that will make it impossible to see the impurities inside. You will only see a green tint inside the jadeite and mistakenly believe that the jadeite is clean and flawless, and is both black and green.

A friend of mine once encountered such a situation when he was buying black jadeite on a live streaming platform. The host was very serious and was shining lights vertically on the black jadeite in circles from the front. All he saw was pleasing green. He thought he had found good black jadeite and bought it impulsively. After I got it, I asked someone to take a look at it. When I shone the high light from the back, I saw a lot of debris inside. Therefore, if you have friends who like black jade, when you shine a light to look inside, you should pay attention to this detail that makes black jade different from other jades.

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