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Ways of Detecting Fake Jade Chinese Dragon Carvings

Many older dragon carvings and pieces of Asian art claim to be made of jade. Determining real Jade can be extremely difficult. The term jade is used to describe two different types of stone, nephrite and jadeite. Both stones are very hard and almost quartz like. Jade is often altered and dyed adding to the dilemma. So what methods can you use to determine fake jade from acrylics, plastics and other stones?

The Scratch Test
This was once the standard for testing jade. The theory goes that real jade will not scratch however this is not always true and some jades can scratch though rare. Always perform this test on the bottom of a object. Do not use a razor sharp edge but a point that is a little more rounded. Run the point across the surface and check and see if there is a scratch. Sometimes instead of a scratch traces of metal will be left from the objects failure to penetrate the jade.

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The Cheek Test
This is a quick test you can perform when considering buying jade. Real jade is somewhat cool to the touch. Place the jade item against your cheek and it should feel cool to the touch. This might save you from buying a jade item that turns out to be plastic.

Using Gravity Measurement to Test Jade
This test basically determines how much the stone weighs in air compared to in water. To do this test you will need a springs scale and a glass or small bucket to place the jade items in. The bucket must be big enough to cover the item. Record the weight in air and when submersed in water than calculate the gravity. Your looking for a number between 2.98 and 3.33

To calculate the volume of the jade item:

Volume of jade item = Its weight in Air - its weight in water

To calculate the density of the jade item:

Density of jade item = Weight of item in Air/Volume of Item

Example: The weight of a piece in Air = 600 grams

Its weight in water = 415 grams Its volume = 600 - 415 = 165

Its density = 600/185 = 3.24

Again you are looking for a number between 2.98 to 3.33 so in this example we have jade!

Hot Pin Test
You can also use the hot pin test that we described for ivory as real jade will not be penetrated by a hot pin for details see How To Detect Fake Ivory

Original items made from jade will have defects. Pits and other marks are common and colors often vary through out the piece this is a sign of authenticity. Works that are very detailed are probably done recently. We recommend that you buy from North American dealers who guarantee authenticity and have a return policy. Many modern fakes come direct from China. That doesn’t mean that you can’t get a genuine piece from China but if you are buying from there bid on the piece more from a decorative aspect and check the sellers feedback.

Jade Chinese Dragon Sculptures, Fake or Real?

Chinese dragon sculptures are often done in jade but how do you know if it is real jade? One way is knowing the history of a piece, but with pieces that are less historic, and with jewelry, there are other problems you’ll want to be on the lookout for as well. First is whether your jade is actually jade, and second is whether it’s been treated to change its color or consistency.

 

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George Harlow, the curator of gems and minerals at the American Museum of Natural History, said that it’s easy for him to figure out whether or not a stone is jade just by its heft. (Real jade is heavier than jade imitations like quartz, glass and soapstone.) Another, albeit more invasive, test involves scratching a blade across the surface of the stone with as much force as you can; if it scratches, it’s not jade. But good luck convincing a dealer to let you try that one on a potential purchase.

As for alterations, art appraiser and dealer David Killen told us, “There’s just so much chicanery with jade, between the dyes and the impregnations, the radiation, the boiling. There are so many games to alter jade, to enhance the color, to rid it of its impurities, that you have to assume the overwhelming probability that a piece of jade has undergone some kind of process.”

Bottom line: if a jade carving costs less than $200, it’s probably not jade.