Hue, tone and saturation

Green is culturally prominent, but jadeite spans a broad palette. A useful description separates hue from how light or dark the material appears and from how vivid or grayish the color feels. Trade names are descriptive shorthand, not laboratory grades.

Maya jadeite pendant with seated lord, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Open Access object image, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; public domain.

Distribution has a rhythm

Color may be even, mottled, spotted or veined. GIA notes that pleasing mottling can be appreciated alongside even coloration. Look for transitions: abrupt borders, drifting clouds, fine veins and areas where thickness deepens tone. None of these alone proves treatment.

Carved Maya jadeite head pendant, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Open Access object image, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; public domain.

Lighting discipline

Compare appearance in neutral daylight-like illumination and a second consistent indoor source. Avoid colored walls and phone filters. Record the source, distance and background if photographs will be compared later.

Olmec jadeite pendant, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Open Access object image, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; public domain.

Research basis

Independently written from public information supplied by GIA, Smithsonian and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. GIA · Smithsonian · The Met