The imperfections of jadeite have an important impact on its value. Cracks and stone grains are two common blemishes in jadeite. In general, stone grain has less impact on the value of jadeite, while cracks can cause a greater loss of value.
The cracks of jadeite are caused by the movement of the earth's crust, the action of external forces, and the human factors in the process of mining, transportation, and processing. These cracks have a significant impact on the value of jadeite.
The stone pattern of jadeite exists in the interior of jadeite, which is the product of being filled and healed by other minerals after a long period of geological movement after the fracture of jadeite. Although stone grain is also one of the imperfections of jadeite, it has a relatively small impact on the value of jadeite.
Stone grain has a certain impact on the aesthetics of jade, but has less impact on firmness and value. If the crack is exposed on the surface, weathered and washed by flowing water, it is not filled with minerals, and it is always open, which will have a greater impact on the value of jadeite.
So how can you tell if jadeite has stone grains or cracks?
Here are some ways to do it:
1.Lay the jadeite flat on the table and observe it through reflected and transmitted light. It is the crack that can be seen that divides the crack, while the stone pattern is relatively inconspicuous and not easy to detect. However, through light transmission, the stone grain will be clearly visible, and the crack will not change significantly.
2.There is also an important difference between a stone pattern and a crack, as a crack is an unhealed crack on the outside of the jadeite, while a stone pattern is an imprint on the inside of the jadeite that has healed. Where you are not sure if it is a stone or a crack, you can use your fingernails to scrape slowly and carefully. If you can feel the "hook" or "scratch" of the nail, or if there is a significant jump during the scraping process, it can basically be judged to be a crack.
3.If it is a stone pattern, there will be no jumping, and at most there will be a faint friction resistance. This is due to the fact that the texture of the stone grain is slightly loose and the surface is not very smooth. If you can still feel a jump in the wrinkled area when you close your eyes, it is indeed a crack. However, if you don't feel it noticeable after repeated attempts, you can rest assured that it is just a stone pattern that has little effect on firmness.
4.It can also be viewed with a ten-fold magnifying glass. Under tenx magnification, the crack appears an open-ended structure, while the stone pattern resembles a bread-like linear structure. Although they are not dense, they are closely related to each other.
In general, there are many stone grains and cracks on the jadeite jade material with poor texture;The delicate texture of jade will be relatively less cracked. If you buy jadeite with loose texture and coarse crystals, it will be cheaper, but you should accept the possible lines and cracks.
As the saying goes, "ten jade and nine have lines", "no locks do not make flowers", even the best collectible jadeite will inevitably have the existence of fine stone patterns. Therefore, it is advisable for friends not to pursue perfection too much, and to moderate it.