Glossary of Terms
Information
About Burmese Jadeite
Includes information about A, B and C quality jade
and certificates
Information About Chinese Jade
If you closely examine your jade, you may be concerned that it's not "perfect". Jade is a natural stone and has characteristics that you might think are flaws, but they are are naturally occuring characteristics that help gemologists identify genuine jadeite. There are always variations in jade. If your jade is "perfect", it might be an artificial or constructed jade, not a genuine jade. The only true flaw in jade is a crack line, see definition below.
Bing Zhong: refers to the finish of the jadeite, also called "icy translucence"
Butterfly pattern: Natural "pepper" pattern of contrast color in the jade stone, the Chinese refer to as "butterfly" Very beautiful, found in high quality, fine grained jadeite.
Chalk "blue": Blue is not a natural color of Burmese jadeite. Soft lavender hues on translucent old mine jadeite give the appearance of "chalk" and a soft blue hue
Clarification or Cleaving Veins: interior crystal irregularity of the interlocking fibrous structure, may appear as a crack that runs through the width of a jade bangle. These are not considered to be cracks or damage. Se also jelai below
Chime: jade chimes like a bell when struck with a chiming instrument. The finer the grain , the higher the chime. Old mine, lao pit, jadeite has very fine grain and a very high chime. Chime is one of the tests to determine quality of jadeite. Also see "stone lines" below.
Cui: In the jade trade, called "wings of flies".. Naturally occuring tiny structures that resemble the wings of flies. The more coarse the jade, the more "cui" will be visible..
Crack line: Caused by a direct hit, this is really a crack. It is seen on the surface of the jade, can be felt and is usually up and down the width of a jade bangle bracelet.
Glass: rare and highest quality of jadeite that looks like "glass" but you can tell it is jadeite, not fake jade or glass, by the "flowering" and other stone pattern in it.
Grains: Intergranular cracks in the fibrous structure of genuine jade or jadeite. Not considered to be cracks or damage, a natural occurance in jade.
Fei Cui: green color, the classic color of jade. Also see "cui"
Flower jade:
Flowering refers to the "stone" appearance you can see in the
jadeite. Only A quality jade has
flower pattern. But not all "A" jade has flower pattern.
Gem Quality: Many jade bracelets are made for export and are commercial grade. Ying Yu Jade is gem quality
Inclusions: the natural jade pattern you can see inside jade which may look like streaks, spots. Commercial jade is often bleached to remove inclusions that are not attractive, like black spots. Ying Yu Jade does not buy or sell bleached jade and the inclusions are considered to show that natural-ness of the jade
Jade: The term "jade" on this web site refers to Burmese jadeite and Chinese jade. Jadeite is also called "jade".
Jadeite: Jadeite is a gemological term for jade that is mined in Burma (Myanmar) and on this web site is also called "jade". There are also small deposits of jadeite in other countries, include the USA and Canada. Jadeite is the only jade that is categorized by A, B and C quality.
Jade root: Looks like tree root, a natural occuring formation in jadeite. These lines absorb color during the formation of jadeite. Sometimes look like cracks, can be seen unmagnified, and you might be able to feel it with your fingernail if it is on the surface. This characteristic gives jade beautiful coloring and is not considered to be a flaw.
Jelai: natural imperfection in jade stone, may appear as a crack and sometimes you can feel it, but it is not considered to be a crack. Chinese people do not consider this to be damage, but rather proof it is genuine jade stone. See also Clarification or Cleaving veins above.
Lao Pit Jade: Old mine jade, fine grain, from deep within older mines. Considered one of the finest jadeite. Very high "chime", colors range from subtle beautiful veins to imperial green.
Orange peel: Vintage jade, old mine jade carved by hand often has a slightly rough surface like "orange peel", purposely to add interest to the jade stone. Vintage and old jade that was carved prior to modern carving tools often has orange peel. Highly cherished by many, very natural and interesting.
Stone lines: Geological pressure during jadeite development causes the structure of the jade to be different throughout. You can see this in all jadeite under 10x magnification, and you can often see it without any magnification. It looks similar to cracks in ice and might look like a crack, but is not a crack. It is naturally formed. "Fine grained" jadeite has fewer of these stone lines, and the "chime" if finer grade jade is higher. See "chime" above.
Ying Yu: in Chinese means "hard high quality jade"
Why is there a description about the jade energy? I have been trained by a Chinese doctor to identify high quality jade using the body's acupuncture points to test it. I am also a Qi Healer and Reiki Master and practice energy healing. When I hold a piece of jade, I not only describe it's physical qualities, but I feel it's energetic qualities. I will infuse your jade with qi upon request.
At Calm Spirit/Ying Yu Jade, we hope you can place your order with confidence. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kathleen, who will respond to your email quickly.
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