Jade Glossary: 30 Jade Terms Every Buyer Should Know

Jade has its own vocabulary, and a lot of it gets used loosely online. Here are 30 terms — material, quality, shapes and motifs — explained in plain English so you can shop with confidence. New to jade? Start with jadeite vs nephrite and how to spot fake jade.

Jade

An umbrella name for two different gem minerals: nephrite and jadeite. Both are 'true' jade.

Nephrite

A calcium-magnesium silicate jade with an interlocking fibrous structure, making it exceptionally tough. Hetian jade is nephrite.

Jadeite

A sodium-aluminium silicate jade, generally rarer and pricier than nephrite, famous for vivid 'imperial' green.

Hetian jade

Premium nephrite historically from the Hetian (Khotan) region of Xinjiang; today also used as a quality term for fine nephrite.

Mutton-fat jade

The most prized white nephrite — warm white with a soft, oily lustre and ultra-fine texture.

Type A jade

Natural, untreated jade. Only Type A holds its value. This is all we sell.

Type B jade

Jade that has been acid-bleached and resin-impregnated to improve clarity/colour. Looks good initially but degrades.

Type C jade

Dyed jade. The colour is artificial and can fade. Avoid for fine jewellery.

Water (水头)

The sense of inner glow and transparency in jade. 'Good water' means it looks luminous, not flat.

Icy / ice (冰种)

A jadeite clarity grade that looks like clear ice — highly translucent.

Glassy (玻璃种)

The top jadeite clarity grade, almost as clear as glass.

Base / ground (底)

The background quality of jade — its texture, evenness and translucency apart from colour.

Cotton (棉)

Whitish, cloud-like inclusions inside jade. A little is normal; heavy cotton lowers value.

Floating flowers (飘花)

Wisps or patches of colour 'floating' through translucent jadeite — often prized when attractive.

Imperial green

The most valuable jadeite colour: an intense, pure, evenly saturated green.

Lavender jade

Naturally purple/violet jade, gentle and increasingly fashionable.

Bangle (镯)

A solid, closed circular bracelet. Requires a large flawless piece, so fine bangles are valuable.

Principle bangle (正圈)

A flat-profile bangle, the classic style; sized closely to the wrist.

Comfort / round bangle (圆条)

A rounded-profile bangle, often more comfortable for daily wear.

Cabochon (蛋面)

A smooth, domed, unfaceted jade stone, popular in rings and pendants.

Pixiu (貔貅)

A mythical winged creature believed to attract and keep wealth; a very popular carving motif.

Hulu / gourd (葫芦)

The bottle-gourd motif, symbolising health, blessings and warding off bad luck.

Ruyi (如意)

An S-shaped motif meaning 'as you wish' — a wish for good fortune.

Ping'an buckle (平安扣)

A flat ring/disc pendant symbolising peace and safety.

Leaf (叶子)

A leaf motif (金枝玉叶) symbolising prosperity and a noble life.

Certificate

A lab report confirming the jade is natural (Type A) and identifying the material. Non-negotiable for fine jade.

Inner diameter (圈口)

The internal measurement of a bangle in millimetres, used for sizing.

Lustre

How jade reflects light. Nephrite is prized for an oily/waxy lustre; jadeite for a brighter, glassy one.

Inclusions

Natural internal features (cotton, lines, spots). Part of jade's identity, but heavy inclusions reduce value.

Seed / pebble material (籽料)

River-tumbled nephrite pebbles, often the finest nephrite, with a smooth weathered skin.