“Is it jade or stone?” tops our enquiry list. Four non-destructive checks cover most first-pass judgments at home.
1. Structure under torch light
Side-light with a torch: tremolite (Hetian-type) shows a felted, interwoven, even structure; quartzite and marble show granular or layered textures with dull reflection.
2. Heft in the hand
Same volume: jadeite and Hetian feel dense and heavy; quartzite and glass feel light. Weighing in hand eliminates most glass at second one.
3. The tap test
Suspend the piece, tap lightly with something hard through a cloth: true jade rings long and clear; stone and cracked jade sound short and dull. This also reveals hidden cracks.
4. Scratch test — carefully
Hetian (Mohs 6–6.5) scratches ordinary glass without harm. Test only on inconspicuous spots, and remember scratching glass does not prove jade — quartzite scratches too.
Once it is jade, the next question is dating and tiering. Comparables on the Jade page; consign via Consign.
