101 Shades of Green?

A deep green and white Type-A jadeite hololith ring (HK9/US4.25).

Besting 50 Shades of Grey at its own game, green jadeite is said to have ‘101 shades’ (101种绿). Well, literally speaking, the number of shades of green (or any other colour for that matter) is probably unlimited, which isn't that helpful in the context of jadeite pricing, where a slight difference to the untrained eye could mean a significant difference. However, for green jadeite, there are four indicators that can help dealers and collectors alike rate green jadeite according to its value.

This post would unpack the four indicators to help you get acquainted with green jadeite and the reason behind the vast range in price, from mass-market, a-dime-a-dozen pieces to multi-million-dollar auction heirloom pieces.

TLDR: There are four indicators in influencing the price point of green jadeite: 浓、正、匀、阳, which translate to intensity, spectrum (where it lies), evenness and vibrancy. The more indicators each piece fulfils, the higher the price point.

Just a caveat: in writing this post we do not say that we should always go for green jadeite that fulfil these four indicators (that means paying a fortune for something you might not even like), nor are we saying that just because a piece is weaker in a certain indicator it is not worthy of collection. This post is simply educational: to deepen your understanding and appreciation of green jadeite, and pay a fair price for it.

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Green Jadeite Colour Rating: The Four Indicators

The four indicators are 浓、正、匀、阳, which translate to intensity, spectrum (where it lies), evenness and vibrancy.

Intensity (浓) is easy to grasp: the more intense the colour, the more valuable a piece of green jadeite is. Imperial jadeite, for instance, has a much more intense shade of green than apple green. Note that this has nothing to do with how dark or light the colour, which is the shade or hue, but rather the saturation of colour. High-value green therefore must be intense and highly saturated, and not dull, deep or faint.

Take for instance the green jadeite cabochon earrings shown below. The value of this pair of earrings is evident from the intense, rich and vivid imperial green that catches the eye instantaneously.

Photo from Christie's, a prominent auction house. https://www.christies.com/en/stories/collecting-guide-jadeite-jewellery-eee41274f7774492aa177a3bd9df9672

This principle cuts across most other gemstones. Royal blue sapphire is more highly prized vis-à-vis cornflower blue sapphire. Same goes for 'pigeon blood' ruby. It is the intensity of colour that accords each gemstone its value and has stood the test of time, with royalty and dignitaries like Emperor Qian Long, Empress Dowager Qi Xi and Song Mei-Ling charmed and seduced by the ornate and alluring beauty of imperial jadeite. Today, the top 0.01% continue to chase after such precious jadeite gems.

So it seems that the appeal of colour is universal, and even if personal tastes and preferences differ, there is broad agreement that intensity of colour is a key determiner in the value of gemstones.

Spectrum (正) refers to where a piece lies on the yellow-to-blue spectrum. Top-value pieces should be medium green and not adulterated by other colours (偏色). If adulterated by blue, the value falls as it leans towards spinach green. If adulterated by yellow, likewise the value falls as it goes towards matcha or olive green (though 黄阳绿 - vivid green with a very slight tinge of yellow - is still very pricey because of its visual appeal). If adulterated by grey or black, it goes towards forest green. Not that these colours are undesirable as each colour and shade has its share of admirers, but their value pales in comparison.

The chart below helps to visualise the colour composition of green jadeite and how the presence of other hues affects jadeite colour and price, though it should be noted that green jadeite colour variations are much more subtle than what's shown. Hence the saying, 种差一分，价差十倍，色差一分，价差百倍.

Green jadeite colour chart. Photo from Pinterest.

Another example below: a vivid green Type-A jadeite cabochon ring in 18K white gold and diamonds. Can you tell where it lies on the green spectrum?

If your guess is that it leans very slightly towards blue, you have a rather keen eye. This cabochon is great in many aspects (fine-grained, translucent, well-shaped, considerably rich in colour), but it has a slight inclination towards blue and is valued as such.

Evenness (匀) is also straightforward: a piece that has an even green throughout has higher value. Evenness can be affected by the lack of green, the presence of other colours like yellow, or the presence of ‘cotton’ (棉). 色根 (literally ‘roots of colour,’ which typically present themselves as deeper streaks of colour) would also indicate the lack of evenness. High-value green cabochons often do well in this aspect, where the intense colour is even throughout without interruption.

Lastly, vibrancy (阳) has to do with the vividness and brightness of colour. Vibrant green jadeite is very eye-catching and does not have a dull or plain appearance. Dull pieces that are too light or too deep in colour fail to have the eye-catching vibrant green so desired by collectors.

A highly vibrant green (浓阳绿) jadeite ring that looks great for all genders. Photo from Xiaohongshu.

金丝绿 (literally translated as ‘golden strands of green’ - which doesn’t make much sense but is termed as such) also performs well in this indicator as the bright and vibrant green is valued for the positive energy it brings.

Two jadeite hololith rings that feature bright streaks of green. Though it might look insignificant, the green colour is where most of the value is accorded. Photos from Xiaohongshu.

Should I Chase the Four Indicators?

Well, no. Jadeite, as one of the most accessible gemstones given its vast range in value and myriad of appearances, should be evaluated first and foremost from one's preferences. You like it - that's your stone. The four indicators are helpful in (1) deciding between two similar pieces of green jadeite and (2) determining the value of a piece. Some don't like imperial green, and that's okay. We should choose jadeite that we love and treasure, and be grounded by a good enough understanding of the technicalities to ensure we pay an honest and fair price.