Three Green Jadeites: Flower Green, Dry Green, Oil Green
Flowery Green, Dry Green, and Oily Green all belong to the green spectrum of jadeite, yet each possesses a distinct character: Flowery Green is lively and mottled, Dry Green is deep and somber, and Oily Green is subdued and lustrous. Together, they interpret the layers and depth of jadeite's "green."
1. Flower Green: The Freckled Vitality of Scattered Green
Flower green jadeite is a mid-range or low-to-mid-range jadeite variety. Its emerald green hues are distributed irregularly in vein-like patterns, with a translucent texture and a structure composed of fibrous, fine-grained to medium-grained forms.
Its base color is mostly light green, light gray or bean green, and the green color varies in depth and density, with some pieces having poor transparency. For identification, a fluorescent lamp can be used to observe color changes: natural jadeite (Grade A) shows no change, treated jadeite (Grade B) emits a whitish fluorescence, and dyed jadeite (Grade C) has color concentrated along fissures.
The key difference between flower green jadeite and white-base green jadeite lies in their color distribution: the former features scattered, disordered color in spots or patches, while the latter has distinct flaky green set against a white background with clear boundaries.
When purchasing flower green jadeite, attention should be paid to color purity, transparency, the sound produced when tapped, and impurity content. For maintenance, avoid impact, contact with oil stains, and high-temperature environments. Evaluation standards emphasize that the color must meet four criteria: pure hue, rich intensity, bright luminance, and even distribution, with a green color intensity of 70%-80% being optimal.Flower green jadeite bangles boast high collectible value due to their unique textures, fine jadeite quality, and fresh emerald hues.
2. Dry Green : The Stone-Like Intensity of Solid Color
Dry green jadeite typically features a full, unevenly distributed green color, often accompanied by black spots, lines, or patches. It has relatively large crystal grains and extremely poor light transmittance, and is generally classified as low-to-mid-range jadeite. Despite this, its vivid green hue makes it popular, and it is often crafted into thin jewelry pieces.
Thanks to its intense green color, dry green jadeite still appeals to many enthusiasts. However, due to its very low jadeite (jadeite jade) content, its overall price remains affordable, ranging from tens of yuan to tens of thousands of yuan. Among such jadeite, ornaments with exquisite craftsmanship and slight transparency are considered the higher-quality examples of this category.
Dry green jadeite boasts a rich, pleasing green color with a pure and unadulterated hue. While its crystal grains are well-formed, they tend to be large enough that granular or columnar crystals can be easily identified with the naked eye. The most prominent flaw of dry green jadeite is its poor transparency: sunlight cannot penetrate it, and light can only reach approximately 1mm beneath its surface. It has a coarse texture and a dry base, and tapping the raw stone produces a dull, rough sound.
The primary mineral component of dry green jadeite is sodium chromium pyroxene. In the late 1990s, "tie long sheng" (iron dragon life) jadeite gained recognition. Since its main mineral component is also sodium chromium pyroxene and its microstructure matches that of other dry green jadeite varieties, from a gemological perspective, tie long sheng is actually classified as dry green jadeite.
3. Oil Green：The Ink-Wash Subtlety of Glossy Gray
Oil green jadeite tends to lean toward dark color tones, among which the gray hue appears dull and has a murky, off-putting quality. This color seems to have little direct connection to green; instead, it leans more toward gray or grayish-black tones, and some oil green jadeite has blue undertones mixed in with the gray.
Oil green jadeite can be classified into three grades: high, medium, and low. High-grade oil green jadeite is quite rare. It features extremely uniform color, excellent transparency, and a certain degree of fluorescence response. Although its color belongs to the gray tone range, it does not give a murky or dull impression; instead, it exudes a sense of vigor and purity amid the gray. Such high-grade oil green jadeite commands a moderate to high price, ranging from several thousand yuan to tens of thousands of yuan.
Oil green jadeite is divided into two types. One type has a dark blue tone with excellent translucency, appearing blue-gray (without any green undertones) under light. The other type has a blue-green tone and shows a green hue under light with good translucency. Top-quality oil green jadeite has a slightly coarser internal structure than old pit glass-type jadeite. Its luster and transparency are also slightly lower than those of old pit glass-type jadeite, but are similar to or on par with ice-type jadeite.
It is characterized by being as translucent as water yet having a soft luster. A close look at its internal structure reveals faint wavy textures, or a small number of hidden cracks and stone veins, and occasionally, minimal impurities or cotton-like inclusions. There are two subcategories of oil green jadeite based on color origin: primary oil green and secondary oil green. Primary oil green jadeite is composed of iron-bearing pyroxene minerals such as omphacite. Colored by Fe²⁺ ions, its green tends to be grayish and dull, thus exhibiting the typical oil green hue.
Secondary oil green jadeite forms when chlorite clay minerals permeate and impregnate the gaps and microfissures between jadeite minerals in the stone. Secondary oil green jadeite is generally classified as low-to-mid-range, while primary oil green jadeite falls into the mid-to-high range and has higher value. Generally speaking, oil green jadeite with a blue undertone is called blue oil green; that with a green undertone is green oil green; that with a mature texture and high density is old oil green; and that with an excessive grayish tinge is gray oil green.
At TATHATĀ, we curate Grade-A natural Burmese jadeite for the modern collector who honors tradition while embracing contemporary luxury. Explore our collection and discover how jadeite complements your personal aesthetic, wherever you draw your inspiration.
Related Reading:
1.Jadeite：Why Is Green the Most Revered Color?
2.From the King of Jadeite to the King of Green Gems: Exploring Top-Tier Green Hues
1 comment
This article explains the differences between Floral Green, Dry Green, and Oily Green jadeite with such clarity! I used to have trouble distinguishing between these three types of green jadeite, but after reading this, everything clicked. I sincerely recommend it to friends who share the same confusion!