What Colors Does Jadeite Come In? A Beginner's Guide to Jadeite Color
What colors does jadeite come in?
Jadeite is not only green. Common colors include green, lavender, red, yellow, and clear, colorless jadeite. Understanding color is the first step in choosing a piece.
The Chinese name for jadeite, 翡翠 (feicui), is itself tied to color: traditionally, 翡 (fei) refers to red and yellow, and 翠 (cui) refers to green.
What are the common colors of jadeite?
| Color | Character |
|---|---|
| Green | The classic jadeite color, from light green to deep green |
| Lavender | Soft and gentle, with a delicate feel |
| Red and yellow (fei) | Warm tones; red is called red fei, yellow is called yellow fei |
| Colorless / white | Clean and translucent; looks especially clear when the texture is fine |
| Blue tones | A cool, clear character |
How should beginners judge jadeite color?
Beginners can start with three key ideas: pure (正), bright (陽) and even (勻).
- Pure: a clean color, not grayish and not blackish.
- Bright: lively and luminous, not flat or dull.
- Even: color that is distributed naturally and looks harmonious overall.
Traditional evaluation also looks at intensity (濃), or how deep the color is. In general, vivid, highly saturated jadeite is more valued in the market, but deeper is not always better: color that is too deep, or that looks gray or black, appears dull. Softer, paler colors also have their admirers, so in the end it comes down to personal taste, skin tone and styling.
Why look at color in natural light?
Different light sources make jadeite look different. The color temperature of lighting, photo filters and editing can all make a piece look more yellow, greener or darker. Color seen in natural light is the closest to the true appearance of the jadeite. When shopping online, ask the seller for photos taken in natural light.
There is no single right answer for color
You don't need to chase solid green. Soft lavender, clear colorless pieces and warm red and yellow each have their own beauty. The best choice is the piece that looks best on you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is jadeite only green?
No. Besides classic green, jadeite also comes in lavender, red, yellow, colorless (white) and blue tones, each with its own character.
Is deeper jadeite color always better?
Not necessarily. Vivid, highly saturated color is generally more valued in the market, but color that is too deep, grayish or blackish looks dull. What matters more is whether the color is pure, bright and even, combined with your own taste, skin tone and styling.
Our promise: every piece at sun_shine.jade is natural Type A jadeite, and a Taiwan certificate can be arranged, so you can wear it with peace of mind.
