Jade Translucency Grading

There are 2 ways to judge the translucency grading of a Jade piece. One being water content (水) and second being the type (种) which is divided into eight major varieties.

When we talk about the type (种) it refers to the internal particles of the Jade crystal structure whether it is coarse or fine. While the water content (水) refers to the translucency. From the type & water content (种水) we can then judge the quality and value. There is a common misconception that the colour of jade is the only most important factor, but no these other factors are equally crucial. Without the type & water content the value of the jade is significantly lower.

A high value Jade piece worth collecting & investing in is a piece with very fine crystal structure, minimal to zero impurities plus high translucency. If on top of these factors it come in a beautiful shade of colour, then it will surely carry a hefty price tag. To further understand the different types, we have named eight of the major varieties below ranking from the top rare ones down to the more common ones.