I. Why Is Jadeite So Colorful?—The Origins of Its Colors

Jadeite colors are primarily divided into two major categories: primary colors and secondary colors. Understanding the causes of these two types of colors is the foundation for assessing the value of jadeite.

Primary colors are determined by the internal mineral composition of jadeite during its diagenetic process and include green, white, purple, black, and others. The mechanism behind these colors essentially involves trace elements entering the jadeite crystal lattice through isomorphous substitution, causing the originally colorless jadeite to exhibit “foreign colors.” Specifically:

• Emerald green: Associated with Cr³⁺ (trivalent chromium ions). When chromium ions enter the jadeite crystal lattice, they produce characteristic absorption in the visible light spectrum, giving jadeite its vivid green color. The higher the chromium content, the deeper the green; however, excessively high chromium content can cause the green to appear dull or even approach black.Cr³⁺ primarily originates from chromite in jadeite deposits.
• Light green: This is the result of the combined contribution of Fe³⁺ (trivalent iron ions) and Cr³⁺ (trivalent chromium ions).
• Pink, near-white, and greenish-gray: These colors are associated with Fe³⁺.
• Purple: The cause is relatively complex and not yet fully understood by the academic community.Research indicates that purple jadeite has a high Fe (iron) content and an extremely low Mn (manganese) content; when heated to 650°C in an oxidizing atmosphere, the purple color fades, which is believed to be related to the oxidation of Fe²⁺ (divalent iron ions) to Fe³⁺ (trivalent iron ions).Purple is one of the earliest colors to form during the diagenetic process of jadeite.
• Black (Ink Jade): Primarily contains blue-black alkaline amphibole minerals (diopside) and is the product of metamorphic recrystallization of ultramafic rock inclusions.

Secondary colors, on the other hand, are formed after jadeite has been formed, through the infiltration of external substances during weathering at the Earth\'s surface; these are primarily red and yellow.The formation process is roughly as follows: weathering and alteration of the ore deposit produce iron-containing aqueous solutions; Fe(OH)₃ colloids seep into the fissures, cleavage planes, or interstices between mineral grains of the jadeite, where they dehydrate and crystallize to form limonite.The primary color-bearing mineral is goethite (FeOOH·nH₂O), though hematite is also an important color-bearing mineral in red jadeite. The difference between red and yellow hues is related to the content of crystalline water and adsorbed water in the goethite.

It is worth noting that the distribution of secondary color in jadeite rough exhibits a distinct layered pattern: from the outside in, it progresses sequentially from the surface layer → yellow → red → primary color. This explains why the so-called “red jade” and “yellow jade” are most commonly found near the jadeite\'s surface.

II. The Relationship Between “Zongshui” and Color—Mutually Constraining Yet Complementary

There is a saying in the industry: “Texture and transparency are the bones and muscles of jadeite, while color is its skin and flesh.” To truly understand the value of jadeite, one must view color within the framework of texture and transparency.

“Zong” refers to the fineness of jadeite\'s internal structure and the arrangement of its mineral grains. “Shui” refers to jadeite\'s transparency, also known as “water head.” Jadeite with good zong and shui has a fine texture, high transparency, and a warm, lustrous sheen.From lowest to highest quality, jadeite can be roughly classified as: Bean-like Quality → Glutinous Rice Quality → Ice Quality → Glass Quality.

There is a subtle interdependence between color and “Zong Shui”:

First, the “Zong Shui” affects how the color is rendered. The same shade of green will appear vibrant, lively, and radiant on Glass-Grade jadeite, whereas on Bean-Grade jadeite, it will appear dull, lifeless, and lacking in vitality.This is because the way jadeite\'s structure reflects light in specific wavelengths affects its transparency; colorless, transparent jadeite appears more vibrant and luminous than jadeite with intense or deep colors.

Second, color also “consumes” transparency. The more intense the color, the more it blocks light, and the lower the transparency tends to be. This is why fully green jadeite rarely achieves high transparency—color and transparency are, to a certain extent, in a “give-and-take” relationship.

Third, the quality of the jade determines the “foundation” of the color. In folk terms, the quality is described as the jade\'s “bones,”while the background is called the “jade flesh.”The “ground” serves as the backdrop for the color; a clean and translucent ground makes the color appear purer and more refined. A piece of jadeite with poor quality and water, no matter how green it is, lacks “vitality”; whereas a piece with excellent quality and water, even with a pale and elegant color, can still exude a warm, jade-like beauty.

III. Market Value of Jadeite with Different Colors

To assess the value of jadeite\'s color, the industry uses four key terms: “rich, bright, true, and even”:

• Intense: The color has moderate saturation—neither too pale nor too intense
• Bright: The color is vivid and luminous, not dull or grayish
• Pure: The hue is true and free of color casts
• Even: The color is evenly distributed

Within this framework, the market value of different colors varies greatly.

Green—the “Supreme Color” of Jadeite

Green holds the highest value among all colors. The value of green jadeite, from highest to lowest, is roughly as follows: Imperial Green > Zhengyang Green > La Yang Green > Apple Green > Qing Shui Green > Bean Green.

Top-grade Imperial Green requires a pure, saturated green without any grayish-blue undertones, and its texture and transparency typically reach Glass-like or High Ice-like grades. On the market, the transaction price for a Glass-like Zhengyang Green bracelet has already surpassed the 100 million yuan mark. Ice-like Imperial Green and Zhengyang Green can fetch prices of several million yuan or more;Ice-grade Yang Green, Emerald Green, and flower-patterned jadeite range in price from tens of ten thousand to hundreds of ten thousand yuan; Fine Glutinous Rice-grade Yang Green and Emerald Green jadeite start at tens of ten thousand yuan and go up from there; whereas Glutinous Rice-grade jadeite with dull colors and sparse color distribution is priced at only a few thousand yuan.

Purple — “Red jade, green jade, and purple jade are the most valuable”

Purple jadeite is second only to green in value. Depending on the depth of its hue, purple is classified into Imperial Purple, Red-Purple, Blue-Purple, Violet, and Pink-Purple. Imperial Purple is the rarest and most precious; high-quality purple jadeite can rival green jadeite in value. The richer and more vibrant the purple, the higher its value.Purple jadeite typically has a coarser texture; violet jadeite with both excellent texture and color is extremely rare and commands a high price.

Red and Yellow—Representatives of Secondary Colors

Red jadeite is more valuable than yellow jadeite, which in turn is more valuable than brown-yellow jadeite. Natural red jadeite tends to have a darker hue, ranging from brownish-yellow to brownish-red, with a sense of depth and layering in its color.High-quality red jadeite requires a vivid and translucent red color. High-quality natural yellow jadeite, also known as “golden jadeite,”appears orange-yellow or honey-colored, with a crystal-clear translucency, and is classified as mid-to-high-end jadeite.

Other Colors

White jadeite, if its quality reaches the “glass-like” or “ice-like” grade, retains high value despite its lack of color. Gray is considered a “dirty color”in jadeite and significantly reduces its value.

Multicolored jadeite (such as “Spring with Colors,” “Yellow and Green,” and “Fortune, Rank, Longevity, Happiness, and Wealth”) holds special collectible value due to its unique color combinations.

IV. Artificial Color Treatment of Jadeite—Beware of the “Beautification” Trap

The following are the main types of artificially treated jadeite commonly found on the market:

B-grade: Jadeite soaked in strong acid to remove impurities, then filled with resin. After acid treatment, the internal structure of the jadeite is destroyed, the morphology of mineral crystals is altered, and a network of cracks may form.

Grade C: Jadeite that has undergone dyeing. The color is not natural, often distributed along fissures, and lacks “color roots.”

B+C-grade: Jadeite that has undergone both acid treatment and resin injection as well as dyeing.

“Fired Red”: Yellow jadeite is heat-treated to turn it red. Natural red jadeite has a darker, layered hue; “fired red,” on the other hand, has a flat, surface-level color that is uniformly bright red.

A Few Reminders for Consumers:

1. Do not examine color under artificial light—always assess jadeite\'s color in natural light, as artificial light distorts the color.
2. Be wary of “good-colored” jadeite priced too low—jadeite with vivid color and excellent quality but sold at a bargain price is likely problematic.
3. Learn basic identification methods: C-grade jadeite\'s color is distributed along fissures and lacks depth; B-grade jadeite may fluoresce under ultraviolet light; soak it in boiling water for a few minutes—if the water changes color or the color fades, it can generally be determined to have been dyed.
4. Look for Authoritative Certificates — The most reliable method is to ask the seller to provide a certificate from an authoritative appraisal institution. Professional methods such as infrared spectroscopy can accurately distinguish between Type B and Type C jadeite.

The color of jadeite is a gift from nature, shaped by geological processes over hundreds of millions of years; behind every color lies a unique story of its origin. Understanding these stories not only helps us appreciate the beauty of jadeite but also allows us to make informed decisions when purchasing, helping us avoid unnecessary detours.