Jade: look-alikes and how to tell
Short answer
Jade is commonly confused with serpentine ("new jade"), aventurine, chrysoprase, dyed quartz, treated jadeite (B and C types), glass.
Nephrite, jadeite or serpentine, and whether jadeite is impregnated or dyed.
Look-alikes
- serpentine ("new jade")
- aventurine, chrysoprase, dyed quartz
- treated jadeite (B and C types)
- glass
What to look at
Bubbles mean glass; mica glints mean aventurine; dye in a network along cracks means a dyed stone.
What settles it
- Gemmologist: specific gravity, refractive index and spectrum (treatments).
Frequently asked
What can jade be mistaken for?
serpentine ("new jade"); aventurine, chrysoprase, dyed quartz; treated jadeite (B and C types); glass.
How can I tell jade from its look-alikes?
Gemmologist: specific gravity, refractive index and spectrum (treatments).