Is there really "water" in jade?

When buying jadeite, do you often hear jargon such as "good water head", "full water head" and "dry water"? What exactly is the "water" here? Does it mean how much water is in jade? What impact will the quality of “water” have on jade?

What is the relationship between jade’s “transparency” and jade’s “water”?

I explained to everyone what the "type" of jade is, and mentioned the concept of "transparency". "Transparency" is an important basis for measuring the quality of a piece of jade. Not only that, it is also one of the important characteristics of jade. So, as also an important characteristic, what is the relationship between jade's "transparency" and jade's "water"?

The transparency of jade = the water head of jade

Before clarifying the relationship between "transparency" and the "water" of jade, we must first understand what "transparency" is?

The transparency of jade refers to its light transmittance, that is, the depth to which light passes through jade. When light shines on the surface of jade, part of it is reflected back through the surface of jade, and the other part passes through the jade into the interior of the jade. Due to the different sizes, coarsenesses, and bonding methods of the mineral particles that make up jade, the depth of light penetration varies between different jades.

If jadeite lets in a lot of light and has good light transmittance, it will look more crystal clear and have a “watery” feeling; if most light cannot pass through jadeite and has poor light transmittance, the color of the jadeite will look “rigid” and have an overall dry feeling. Therefore, people in the industry call the light transmittance the "water head" of jade, that is, the "water" of jade. Good light transmittance of jade means that the jade has sufficient water content and good water content; poor light transmittance of jade means that the jade is dry and has insufficient water content.

The transparency of jadeite is not equal to the water head of jadeite

At this point, everyone should understand that the "water" of jade refers to the "transparency" of jade. Many friends may have questions: Doesn’t the water head of jade refer to the “transparency” of jade? Yes, compared to "transparency", everyone should be more familiar with "transparency". From the literal meaning, transparency seems to be more in line with the meaning of jade "water".

But strictly speaking, the statement that "the water head of jade is its transparency" is not accurate. Transparency refers to the degree to which an object allows visible light to pass through. Different objects exhibit different levels of transparency because they reflect and absorb light to different degrees. The stronger the absorption of light, the stronger the reflection, the lower the transparency or even opaque. As a polycrystalline aggregate, jadeite cannot be completely transparent like single crystals such as crystal. Therefore, transparency can only be used to help us judge the quality of jadeite's light transmittance and cannot be completely equated with jadeite's "water head".

What are the factors that affect the light transmittance (water head) of jadeite?

1. The color of jade

The depth of jade's color will affect its light transmittance. The darker the color, the worse the light transmittance, that is, the worse the water head of jade.

2. Thickness of Jade

The thinner the jade is, the better its light transmittance. There have been cases in the market where merchants deliberately thinned the back of jade to make the jade look more watery.

3. Associated minerals of jadeite

When there are more associated minerals such as cotton and floating flowers inside the jade, light is easily reflected when it shines on the jade and cannot pass through, which reduces the light transmittance of the jade and makes the jade look watery but lacks water head.

4. The quality of jadeite

The light transmittance of jade is closely related to its quality, and both are important bases for measuring the value of jade. The good quality of jade means that the mineral particles that make up the jade are small and tightly combined. When light shines into jade, countless refractions will occur on the surface of the mineral particles, which increases the light transmittance of jade and makes the jade look crystal clear and lively.

The influence of light transmittance on the value of jadeite

1. For jadeite that has its own color, the higher its light transmittance (the better its water head), the higher its value.

2. If a piece of jade has good color but poor light transmittance (dry water), its value will not be very high; but if its light transmittance is very good (good water), its value can be much higher.

3. If the color of a piece of jade is not good, no matter how good its light transmittance is (good water head), its value will not be as good as jade with good color and light transmittance.

4. The effect of light transmittance on the value of jadeite will vary depending on the shape of its carving. For small jewelry such as ring faces and earrings, the impact of light transmittance (water head) on their value is not as obvious as that of color; while for large jade jewelry, such as pendants and bracelets, light transmittance (water head) has a greater impact on their value.

The water in jade is mysterious and amazing. After lifting the hazy veil, you will find that the jade aura you have been searching for is water. Water is also a distinct and unique feature that distinguishes jadeite from other jades. No one can match it. Her smoothness and beauty are irresistible and unforgettable. This is the charm of jade.

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