Type A, B and C Jade: How Jade Is Graded and Treated

August 4, 2026

AI Summary

This guide explains the differences between Type A, B, C and B+C jadeite, focusing on the treatments used and how they may affect appearance, stability and long-term wear.

Type A jadeite remains substantially natural, while Type B is acid-bleached and polymer-impregnated, Type C is dyed, and Type B+C undergoes both processes.

Buyers should rely on clear treatment disclosures and independent gemmological reports rather than home tests alone.

Key Takeaways

• Type A, B and C describe jadeite treatments, not overall quality. Colour, translucency, texture, craftsmanship and condition still matter.
• Type A jadeite is not acid-bleached, polymer-filled or dyed. Cutting, polishing and traditional surface waxing are still permitted.
• Type B jadeite is bleached and polymer-impregnated, while Type C is dyed. Type B+C undergoes both treatments.
• Type A may show normal wear over time, while treated jade may yellow, cloud, fade or develop uneven colour.
• Home tests cannot reliably confirm treatment status. Laboratory testing and written disclosure provide stronger evidence.

When shopping for jade jewellery, you may encounter descriptions such as Type A, Type B and Type C. These labels can sound like quality grades, with Type A appearing to represent the finest jade and Type C the lowest. In reality, the letters primarily describe how jadeite has been treated after it was mined.

Understanding these classifications matters because treatment can affect a piece’s appearance, stability, care requirements and long-term value. A brightly coloured bangle may look impressive when new, but its appearance may depend on injected polymer, artificial dye or both.

This guide explains what Type A jade means, how Types B and C are treated, and how each may change after five to ten years of regular wear.

Type A, B and C Jade at a Glance

The Gemological Institute of America describes Type A jadeite as natural jadeite that may have been polished with wax, Type B as acid-bleached and polymer-impregnated jadeite, and Type C as dyed material.

Are Type A, B and C Quality Grades?

Type A, B and C are treatment classifications rather than complete measures of jade quality.

The letter “A” does not guarantee exceptional colour, translucency or craftsmanship. A Type A jadeite piece may be pale, opaque, heavily included or poorly cut. 

Yet, it still qualifies as Type A because its colour and internal structure have not been altered through bleaching, polymer impregnation or dyeing.

Similarly, Type B and C pieces remain jadeite as a mineral. However, their appearance has been modified, and those treatments should be clearly disclosed.

When assessing a jade piece, buyers must therefore consider two separate questions:

1. How has the jadeite been treated?
2. What is the quality of the individual piece?

Colour, texture, translucency, condition, artistry and documentation still matter, regardless of the treatment classification.

What Is Type A Jade?

Type A jade refers to natural jadeite that has not been chemically bleached, filled with polymer or artificially dyed. Cutting, polishing and conventional surface waxing may still be used without changing its Type A classification.

This means that the jadeite’s colour and internal structure remain substantially natural. Any variations, clouds, veins or inclusions are features of the original material rather than the result of artificial colour enhancement.

What Type A Does Not Guarantee

Although Type A confirms minimal treatment, it does not automatically guarantee:

• Vivid colour
• Strong translucency
• A fine or even texture
• Freedom from cracks or inclusions
• High-quality carving
• A secure jewellery setting
• High monetary value

Two Type A pieces can differ considerably in quality and price. One may be a highly translucent, vividly coloured bangle, while another may be opaque and unevenly coloured.

Why Buyers Choose Type A Jade

Type A is generally preferred by buyers who value natural colour, treatment transparency and long-term ownership. It is especially suitable for significant gifts, frequently worn jewellery and pieces intended to become family heirlooms.

Buyers seeking rigid, traditionally styled jewellery can compare Type A jade bangles in different colours, profiles and sizes. Those who prefer a more flexible design can explore Type A jade bracelets made with beads, gold settings or decorative elements. Every piece at The Jade Galleria is natural Type A jadeite, backed by an authenticity guarantee that offers a full refund if a laboratory ever finds otherwise.

What Is Type B Jade?

Type B jadeite undergoes a two-stage treatment intended to improve its clarity and appearance.

Acid Bleaching

The jadeite is exposed to acid or other chemicals to remove brown, grey or dark material from fractures and spaces between its grains. This can make stained or lower-quality jadeite appear cleaner and brighter.

Polymer or Resin Impregnation

Acid bleaching leaves the material porous and weakens its internal structure, making it more susceptible to breakage along fractures. A colourless or nearly colourless polymer is then introduced to fill those spaces, improve transparency and hold the treated jadeite together, although the piece remains structurally compromised compared with untreated material.

GIA research describes Type B treatment as a two-step process in which unwanted brown or grey colour components are chemically removed before the jadeite is impregnated with polymer.

The finished piece may initially appear more translucent and visually refined. However, its improved appearance partly depends on material that was introduced during treatment.

What Is Type C Jade?

Type C jadeite has been artificially dyed to change, strengthen or even out its colour.

Dye may be used to:

• Intensify pale green jadeite
• Add lavender, yellow, red or other shades
• Create more consistent colour
• Make less desirable material resemble naturally saturated jadeite

The underlying material may still be genuine jadeite, but its colour is not entirely natural. This distinction is important because colour is one of the main factors buyers use when judging jade.

An unusually bright or evenly distributed colour does not prove that jadeite has been dyed. Equally, natural-looking colour does not prove that it is untreated.

What Is Type B+C Jade?

Some jadeite receives both treatments. It is acid-bleached, impregnated with polymer and artificially dyed.

Type B+C material may look particularly clean, translucent and strongly coloured when first purchased. However, it carries the potential stability concerns associated with both polymer impregnation and dyeing.

Buyers should therefore ask specifically whether a piece is Type B+C rather than assuming that it falls neatly into only one treatment category.

How Does Each Type Age Over Five to Ten Years?

There is no fixed timeline for how jade jewellery will change. Wear frequency, treatment quality, heat, sunlight, cosmetics, perspiration, cleaning products and storage conditions can all affect its appearance.

The following changes are possible rather than guaranteed.

How Type A Jade May Age

Type A jadeite does not depend on injected polymer or artificial dye for its appearance. It may nevertheless show ordinary signs of use over several years, including:

• Fine surface scratches
• A duller polish
• Residue from soap, skincare products or cosmetics
• Damage caused by knocks or drops
• Wear around metal settings and clasps

These are normal jewellery-care concerns rather than evidence of treatment deterioration. Jadeite is exceptionally tough, although it can still be scratched or damaged through improper handling.

How Type B Jade May Age

The long-term appearance of Type B jade depends partly on the polymer used and the quality of the treatment.

After years of wear, some pieces may develop:

• Yellowing
• Cloudiness
• Reduced transparency
• Surface deterioration
• Visible changes around fractures
• Greater sensitivity to heat and chemicals

Not every Type B piece will show obvious deterioration within five or ten years. However, its appearance relies partly on introduced material that may respond differently to ageing and environmental exposure than natural jadeite.

How Type C Jade May Age

Artificial colour may become less stable with repeated exposure to light, heat, perspiration and chemicals.

Possible changes include:

• Fading
• Loss of vibrancy
• Uneven colour
• Dye concentration around fissures
• Colour migration or discolouration

The extent of these changes varies according to the dye, treatment method and wearing conditions.

How Type B+C Jade May Age

Type B+C material may experience changes in both the polymer and the artificial colour. A piece may become cloudier as the filling material ages while also losing colour intensity or developing uneven patches.

Jewellery that is worn frequently and exposed to perfume, moisturiser, cleaning agents or direct sunlight may face greater risks than a piece stored carefully and worn only occasionally.

Which Type Is Best for Daily Wear?

Type A is usually the preferred choice for regular wear because its appearance does not depend on artificial dye or injected polymer. However, it still requires sensible care.

Remove jade jewellery before:

• Exercising or performing manual work
• Swimming in chlorinated water
• Applying perfume or strong skincare products
• Using household cleaning chemicals
• Entering saunas or other high-heat environments

Treated jade can still be purchased and enjoyed when its status is disclosed and reflected in the price. It may suit occasional or fashion-led wear when long-term value is not the buyer’s main priority.

The concern is not simply that Types B and C exist. The problem arises when treated jade is presented or priced as untreated Type A jadeite.

Can Type A Jade Be Identified at Home?

Home checks cannot reliably confirm treatment status.

Colour inspection may reveal dye concentrated around cracks, while magnification may show unusual surface features. However, sophisticated treatments can be difficult to detect without specialist equipment.

Other popular checks also have clear limitations:

• A ringing sound does not prove that jade is Type A.
• Feeling cool to the touch does not reveal bleaching or polymer impregnation.
• Weight cannot confirm whether a piece has been dyed.
• Ultraviolet fluorescence may indicate some polymers or dyes, but not all treated jade reacts.

The Jade Galleria's guide on how to tell if a jade bracelet is real similarly notes that temperature, weight, sound and visual inspection can raise or lower confidence but cannot prove that jade is untreated.

How Is Jade Treatment Confirmed?

A gemmological laboratory may use microscopic examination, spectroscopy and other analytical methods to identify polymer impregnation or artificial colour.

Infrared spectroscopy is particularly useful for detecting polymers in treated jadeite.

A suitable laboratory report should confirm:

• Whether the material is jadeite
• Whether polymer impregnation was detected
• Whether the colour is natural
• Whether dye or other treatments are present

A seller's written authenticity guarantee can provide additional reassurance, but independent testing remains the strongest form of verification. Industry bodies treat disclosure of dyeing and polymer impregnation as mandatory rather than optional. 

What Should You Ask Before Buying Jade?

Before purchasing a bangle, bracelet or other jade piece, ask:

1. Is the material confirmed as jadeite?

2. Is it Type A, B, C or B+C?

3. Has its colour been artificially enhanced?

4. Has it been bleached or polymer-impregnated?

5. Is a recognised laboratory report available?

6. Does the invoice state its treatment status?

7. What authenticity guarantee is provided?

8. What return or exchange terms apply?

Clear answers are more useful than vague claims such as “genuine jade” or “natural stone”.

Choose Jade With Its Treatment Clearly Understood

Type A, B and C do not simply rank jade from good to bad. They describe whether jadeite has been left substantially natural, bleached and polymer-filled, artificially dyed, or subjected to a combination of treatments.

Type A is generally the preferred choice for buyers who value natural colour, treatment transparency and long-term ownership. Types B and C can still be visually attractive, but their treatments should be clearly disclosed and considered when assessing care requirements, stability and price.

Browse The Jade Galleria's Type A jade bangles and Type A jade bracelets, every one backed by an authenticity guarantee with a full refund if a laboratory ever finds otherwise, or contact the team for guidance on treatment documentation and selecting a suitable piece. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Type A jade the highest-quality jade?

Not necessarily. Type A indicates that jadeite has not been acid-bleached, polymer-impregnated or dyed, but it does not describe its colour, translucency, texture or craftsmanship. A Type A piece can range from modest commercial quality to exceptional fine jadeite.

Is Type B jade fake?

Type B material is still jadeite, but it has been chemically bleached and impregnated with polymer. It should be disclosed as treated jade and should not be represented or valued in the same way as untreated Type A jadeite.

Is Type C jade genuine jade?

The underlying material may be genuine jadeite, but its colour has been artificially altered or enhanced. Buyers should distinguish between the identity of the gemstone and whether its appearance is natural.

Does Type A jade change colour over time?

Type A jade does not contain artificial dye that is expected to fade. However, residue, surface wear, changes in lighting and damage to the polish may make the piece appear different after years of use.

Will Type B jade always turn yellow?

No. There is no guaranteed outcome or fixed timeline for every Type B piece. Some polymers may yellow, cloud or degrade over time, while others may show little obvious change under careful wearing and storage conditions.

Can a seller prove that jade is Type A?

A seller may provide treatment disclosures, documentation and an authenticity guarantee. For stronger verification, buyers should look for an independent gemmological laboratory report confirming the material and whether treatments were detected.