Do you know about the “gray base” of jadeite?

The most attractive thing about jade is its bright colors and transparent and pure texture. If a piece of jade gives people a gray and dull feeling, then such jade is often not loved and has low value.

Therefore, in the jade circle, one often hears a phrase that the base is "gray". So, what kind of jade can be considered to have a “gray” base color? Which types of jade are likely to have a “gray” base?

Literally speaking, "gray" means dark, not pure in color, dull and not bright enough visually. In jade, gray basically means "gray-green, gray-blue", which is the subjective perception of color by the human eye.

The "gray" color of jade will make the overall color of jade look less pure. Therefore, the gray base of jade has more or less influence on the quality of jade.

The factors that affect the color of jade are mainly the content of coloring metal ions in jade.

For example, chromium forms green, iron oxide forms yellow, and so on. The higher the content of coloring metal ions, the darker the color, and the larger the color distribution area of ​​the jade.

So, why do some jade colors look "gray"?

This is because it is not a single coloring metal ion that affects the color of jade. When multiple coloring ions appear in jade, the color will be interfered. For example, if the chromium ions contain some iron ions, the green color of the jade will become less pure. The higher the iron ion content inside the jade, the grayer the color will appear.

So why do we say that the base of jade is gray rather than the color?

Because graying refers to the state in which gray appears on the base of jade, and it is not the color definition of jade. The “gray” of jade is more of a feeling; color is not the only influencing factor.

"Gray" is related to dust and dirt. In addition to color, if the jade base is accompanied by mineral impurities, suspended matter, etc., it will also constitute gray of varying depths, creating a visual sense of turbidity. Therefore, when we usually talk about jade being "gray", it means that the base of the jade is gray.

The most common grayish jade is the oily green variety. For the Youqing type, gray is one of its characteristics. The gray tone of oily green jadeite makes it low-key, steady and unobtrusive, suitable for women with steady personalities.

However, if the color of ice or glass jade is grayish, it would be a disaster. The value of high-end jadeite with impure color will be greatly affected.

One thing that needs special attention here is that some high-end glass types have a gray band on the brightest edge when exposed to light. This kind of gray industry is called "fake gray". It is a characteristic of old jade. Don't be confused.

In general, gray gives people a dull feeling. It has nothing to do with the hue and saturation of the color, but is directly related to the brightness and darkness of the color. If the light is very strong, the grayscale will be weakened, otherwise, the grayscale will be heavy.

Therefore, when purchasing jadeite, it is best to observe it under natural light as much as possible to see the most accurate color and appearance.

However, "gray" does not necessarily mean that the jade is of low quality. For example, the base of blue water and ice oil green jadeite are gray, but their quality is still very high and the market price is not low.

Therefore, when facing the "gray" of jadeite, we cannot treat it one-sidedly. The base of jadeite is gray, which is a relatively neutral evaluation. The foundation is gray, which can be praised or criticized, and has both good and bad aspects.

However, there is a saying in the jade industry that "a one-point difference in color means a ten-fold difference in price." Among the high-value jade categories, jade with pure color is still the mainstream.

fcgc66

fcpf18