Right: Long-wave UV light shows a strong fluorescence from the dyed areas, with little to no fluorescence from the natural green area. Photo by Robison McMurtry. The most coveted
Opal - glows green under UV.
Both natural and synthetic rubies fluoresce under UV light.
Ultraviolet Light: About 30% of diamonds will glow blue under ultraviolet lights such as black light. Fake diamonds, on the other hand, will glow other colors or not at all.
Nephrite and jadeite jade ranges in color from a somewhat greasy-appearing, white ("mutton fat jade") to dark and light shades of green gray, blue-green, lavender, yellow, orange, brown, reddish-brown, and black. An important dark green variety of nephrite is sometimes known as "spinach jade".
You can see light right through it. This piece of jade is translucent. This happens when its tight network of grains does not scatter light. Instead, light is able to pass through.
The black is among the finest in the world and is sought after by serious carvers. The high prevalence of iron ore in the ground gives the stone its dark colour. However, because black jade is nephrite jade, it's still part of the greenstone family, so it will still shine green under bright light.
Materials often mistaken for jade include chrysoprase, maw sit sit, serpentine, hydrogrossular garnet and aventurine. This is due to these gemstones boasting the same deep green colour that jade is most famous for, though each have subtle differences that allow you to identify their true nature.
Color is jadeite's most important value factor. Because consumers traditionally associate jadeite with the color green, it surprises some people to learn that it comes in other colors as well—lavender, red, orange, yellow, brown, white, black, and gray.
Low-quality jadeite with poor transparency, such as moss-in-snow, flower green, and extreme pea green jade, is commonly used for bleaching. These poor varieties of jade all reveal their original distinctive characteristics even after bleaching, and some are more visible than others.
For jadeite, the intensity of the green color, combined with a high degree of translucency are the key factors in judging value. Stones which are too dark in color or not so translucent are less highly valued.
Thankfully, the truth about natural, untreated jadeite jade is that it will in fact not change color over time. Natural jade is impervious to perfumes, oils, and most cold acids.
Jadeite jade is a type of jade that is found in Myanmar, while nephrite jade is found in across the world. Nephrite jade is tougher and more durable than jadeite, making it more suitable for carving. However, jadeite can be more highly polished and has a higher luster than nephrite.
What Does UV Light Do to Jade? Nothing. Absolutely nothing happens on a piece of untreated jade when you hit it with a UV light. In 99% of cases, there should be absolutely no reaction in a piece that hasn't received any treatment.
Jade is not only known for its spiritual virtues, but it is also appreciated for its hardness. This can be tested by scratching the surface with a knife, if the blade leaves no trace, it is jade. However, if a scratch appears, it indicates a softer stone such as serpentine or chrysolite.
Jade can sometimes be totally opaque, but the opaque stones aren't very valuable. If it looks like there are air bubbles in the stone, then it's likely not real.
Generally, blue is the color of jade that is the rarest because it comes from only a few deposits found in Guatemala, Japan and Myanmar. Green and lavender jade are more common.
Color is one of the most important factors in determining the value of jade. The most valuable colors are green, white, and lavender. The more intense the color, the more valuable the stone. Jade that has been dyed or treated is usually a uniform color with little variation.
If kept indoors, make sure the jade plant is receiving adequate sunlight. Jade plants kept indoors or in the shade maintain a deep, emerald or dark green color on their leaves. You'll know if they are not receiving adequate sunlight by the way they grow.
It is alexandrite's unique light-absorbing and light-reflecting abilities that causes the change from green to purple. Being both responsive to light changes and strongly pleochroic makes alexandrite a fabulous gemstone to wear in jewelry.
Some diamonds fluoresce when they are exposed to long-wave ultraviolet (UV) rays from sources like the sun. This can cause them to emit a bluish light or more rarely, a yellow or orangy light. Once the UV light source is removed, the diamond stops fluorescing.
Examples of gemstones that can show fluorescence are topaz, opals, rubies, diamonds, citrine, and various colored sapphires. Not every one of these gemstones will fluoresce.