The 4 Pillars of Jadeite Value: Type, Water, Color, and Craft

Unlike diamonds, which are priced through a standardized 4C system (Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat), jadeite is valued through a more intuitive and artistic lens. In traditional Chinese gemology, experts assess jadeite based on four core elements: 种 (Type), 水 (Water), 色 (Color), and 工 (Craft). Together, they create a multilayered standard where texture, light, and spirit intertwine.

Let’s unpack these four pillars:

✦ 1. 种 Type – The Inner Structure

Often translated as “Type,” this refers to the crystalline structure of jadeite. A fine jadeite stone has tight, compact crystals that give it a soft, glowing luster—almost like light is radiating from within.

• Coarse-grained type feels opaque and dull.
• Fine-grained type shows translucence and inner glow—especially prized in icy or glassy jadeite.In short: Type determines how clean, smooth, and vibrant the jade looks under natural light.

✦ 2. 水 Water – The Feeling of Fluidity

“Water” doesn’t mean moisture—it refers to the watery translucence that gives jadeite its fluid, living energy. A high-water piece feels moist, glowing, and alive, as if you’re looking into a drop of mountain spring water.

• The better the “water,” the more light seems to dance inside the stone.
• Some collectors describe high-water jade as “breathing.”

This trait is subtle, and nearly impossible to capture in photos—which is why jadeite is best appreciated in person.

✦ 3. 色 Color – Beyond Just Green

Color is often what draws people to jadeite—but it’s much more complex than simply “green.”

• Imperial Green: The most sought-after, rich emerald tone, deeply saturated but translucent.
• Yang Green: Bright and vivid, a joyful tone with strong life energy.
• Lavender, Red, Yellow, Icy White, “Floating Flower” (飘花): Each color has its cultural symbolism and market preferences.
• Spring Colors: Multi-tone stones combining green, lavender, and white—rare and poetic.

In jadeite, intensity, purity, and evenness of color matter more than sheer brightness.

✦ 4. 工 Craft – The Human Touch

“Craft” speaks to the carving, polishing, and finishing of a jadeite piece.

• Is the piece hand-carved with symbolic meaning?
• Are the lines flowing and precise, or stiff and mechanical?
• How well does the shape honor the natural features of the stone?

A highly skilled artisan works with the stone, not against it, preserving its best features while giving it emotional resonance. In high-end jade, craft is as important as the material itself.

✦ Jadeite: A Living Gem

What makes jadeite truly different from diamonds or sapphires is its soulful quality. The best pieces seem to glow from within, with a softness and energy that transcend technical grading.

Understanding these four pillars—Type, Water, Color, and Craft—is the first step to appreciating jadeite not just as a gem, but as a cultural and spiritual symbol.

In the next chapter, we’ll take you deep into the world behind the stone: from how jadeite is mined and auctioned, to how it’s cut, carved, and brought to life.