Type A is one of the most important phrases you will see when choosing jadeite. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Type A does not mean that a stone has the finest colour or the highest translucency. It describes how the jadeite has, and has not, been treated.
Type A describes treatment, not beauty
Type A jadeite is natural jadeite that has not been dyed or impregnated with polymer. Cleaning, polishing, and a traditional surface wax may be part of finishing the piece, but the colour and internal structure of the stone have not been artificially changed.
That distinction matters because two pieces can look similar in a photograph while having very different treatment histories.
- Type A: natural jadeite without dye or polymer impregnation.
- Type B: jadeite that has been chemically bleached and impregnated with polymer.
- Type C: jadeite whose colour has been altered with dye.
- Type B+C: jadeite that has received both bleaching or impregnation and colour treatment.
What Type A does not tell you
Type A is not a quality grade. It does not automatically describe colour, translucency, texture, carving, size, origin, rarity, or value. A pale, opaque stone and a vivid, highly translucent stone can both be Type A.
This is why a useful listing should say more than “natural jade.” Look for clear information about dimensions, colour, texture, translucency, and any visible natural features. For bracelets and bangles, accurate sizing matters just as much as appearance.
Why natural light matters
Jadeite changes with light. Soft daylight can reveal translucency, colour zoning, clouding, and the movement of colour through a bead or carving. Strong studio lighting can make almost any polished stone look more vivid than it will in daily wear.
We photograph our pieces in natural daylight without colour filters because the useful question is not only how a stone looks at its brightest. It is how it will look on your wrist, at a window, and in ordinary life.
When to ask for a certificate
For a higher-value piece, an unusually vivid colour, or a purchase where treatment status is especially important to you, an independent gemological report can provide additional confirmation of identity and treatment.
A certificate does not decide whether you will love a stone. It helps verify what the material is. The report should be read alongside honest photographs, accurate measurements, and a clear return policy.
Five questions worth asking
- Is the piece explicitly described as natural Type A jadeite?
- Were the photographs taken in natural light without colour enhancement?
- Are the dimensions, bead size, or inner bangle diameter clearly stated?
- Is an independent report available or appropriate for this piece?
- Can you ask for an additional photo before ordering?
Choose slowly
Natural jadeite rewards attention. Look at the colour in more than one image. Notice the texture and the way light moves through the stone. Check the size. Ask questions. The right piece should feel convincing before it reaches your hand.
Explore our natural Type A jadeite collection, or ask Nicole about sizing, certificates, or finding a similar stone.