Purchasing jade jewellery is becoming increasingly popular among souvenir hunters. While it used to be easy to buy a piece of jade jewellery in places like Taiwan and Hong Kong for low prices, times have changed. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get a good deal on jade.
Though Taiwan and Hong Kong remain at the centre of the international jade trade, the market is progressively being flooded with fake and lower quality jade which are being passed as authentic. Very few genuine dealers are available. Since it’s an important gemstone in Chinese superstition, the market price in both locations is the most competitive there. If you have your heart set on purchasing jade jewellery, Taiwan and Hong Kong are still the best places to investigate. But, if you are planning to purchase from any other location, here are some tips on how to buy the best jade jewellery.
Conduct Thorough Research
Just like when you set out to buy anything, especially when it’s a big investment, you should make sure that you know exactly what you are looking for. There is a wide variety of jade available from opaque and yellowish stones to the green varieties which people associate with jade stone. The different types have different price tags, white and deep green being the most highly priced as they are both rare. This is why you should check the prices with different dealers of the type of jade you are interested in. This will help you get a fair idea of the market value to help you make an informed decision. It will also allow you to negotiate better with your dealer and ensure you get the best price possible for the jade.
Weigh it
To do this, you will need to have experience handling an authentic piece of jade. This is an easy way of telling the difference between the two. Remember that imitation jade is lighter than the real thing.
Be Careful of the Pricing
This is perhaps the simplest tip to follow. If you have a seller that is offering a surprisingly low price on jade (lower than the basic market price), and still claiming that it’s pure, you should walk away immediately. There are many sellers who are ready to take advantage of the lack of knowledge on the buyer’s part. Keep in mind that these most likely, are scams and you should be careful of them.
Check the Gemstone
You don’t need to become an expert, but if you are thinking of making any kind of an investment in jade, you should get the piece checked by experts first. There are also certain factors that you can be aware of to help you differentiate a real jade stone from a fake one.
Jade should be cool and smooth to touch. It is also a tough stone so there shouldn’t be any scratches on its surface. Check and see if its possible to scratch the surface with your fingernail because it will be easy to do so on a fake jade. Also, there is a high chance that the seller will not allow you to perform the fingernail test if the stone is an imitation.
Above everything else, make sure you are engaging with a reputable dealer that will take the time to explain the pricing and quality being offered to you. Any established proprietor will not be willing to risk their reputation by selling imitation gems. Their experience generally enables them to offer well-thought-out and accurate prices on their pieces.