Testing Equipment Guide
Choose your level: from hobbyist screening tools to professional laboratory instruments. Each tier builds on the previous, offering greater certainty for higher-stakes decisions.
Hobbyist Level
Basic screening tools for casual buyers and beginners. Low cost, accessible, but limited certainty.
What It Detects
Dye concentrations in cracks, filler residues, coating layers, surface texture anomalies
Equipment Needed
Jeweller's 10x triplet loupe
Indicative Cost
~$30-50
Reliability
Limitations
Many treated jades still look 'good' without spectroscopy. Requires experience to interpret subtle features correctly.
What It Detects
Some polymer impregnation (bluish-white glow), some coatings, certain dyes
Equipment Needed
Long-wave UV lamp (365nm)
Indicative Cost
~$30-100
Reliability
Limitations
Often faint; observer bias affects results. Not conclusive alone — some natural jade fluoresces, and some treated jade does not.
What It Detects
Possible polymer impregnation — treated pieces may sound muffled vs clear ring of natural
Equipment Needed
None (use a wooden stick or fingernail to tap)
Indicative Cost
Free
Reliability
Limitations
Only useful for large pieces (bangles). Requires experience. Highly subjective. GIA notes this is unreliable for small items.
What It Detects
Coated jadeite may feel warmer than natural due to coating properties
Equipment Needed
None (tactile assessment)
Indicative Cost
Free
Reliability
Limitations
Very subjective. Environmental temperature affects results. Only suggests coating, not conclusive.
Key Insight
Each tier builds on the previous. A hobbyist loupe and UV lamp can catch obvious treatments, but high-value decisions require laboratory confirmation. FTIR is the definitive test for polymer impregnation, and Raman is essential for distinguishing jadeite from omphacite — a separation that classic bench tests alone cannot always achieve.