Is jade better the older it is? The answer may surprise you!

In recent years, more and more friends have been keen on purchasing, wearing and collecting jade. Loving jade does not mean understanding it. Most novice friends have only a superficial understanding of jade and are even prone to misunderstandings about it. For example, some friends who are just getting started tend to think that the older the jade is, the better and more collectible it is . But is this really the case? Is it true that older jade is better?

What is Old Jade?

As the name suggests, old jade is jade from a very long time. In the industry, it specifically refers to jade products that have a certain sense of age (at least several decades) and are made by old jade craftsmen using traditional tools. It mainly refers to jadeite made using old techniques from the early Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period, which is called old jadeite.

Is jade more expensive as it gets older?

Many people think that jade is like antiques, the older the better and the more valuable it is , but in fact there is no such saying for jade. Jade was introduced into China during the Qing Dynasty. At that time, jade was relatively backward in terms of development, manufacturing, identification and collection.

Therefore, the quality of jadeite that is older is relatively poor and is not as valuable as the jadeite mined and produced in modern times. This is why we find that the water content of jadeite we see in the Forbidden City is average .

It is true that there are some old jades on the market that are historical culture, heirlooms, etc. We must admit that they carry historical significance and have certain cultural value. However, the current measure of jade's value is more reflected in its "type, water, color, workmanship" and other factors. This is why the saying that "the older the jade, the more valuable it is" is not recognized in the market.