The following list can be considered a “compilation of grayish-toned jadeite that beginners are most likely to encounter.” For each category, I will explain why it tends to appear grayish and its typical characteristics in the market. Having this list will make your selection process much easier.
1. Bean-like Jadeite (especially coarse or dry bean-like)
Bean-like jadeite is a major hotspot for grayish undertones.
Why it tends to look gray:
Large grains, coarse structure, and poor translucency prevent light penetration, resulting in a naturally dull and grayish appearance.
Common characteristics:
· Colors appear “blended into a muddy mass”
· Green hues lack vibrancy and depth
· The base seems covered by a layer of gray film
2. Oily-Green Jadeite (especially low-translucency varieties)
Oil-green jade inherently carries a “dark undertone.” When water content is insufficient, it easily turns into a “blackish-grayish green.”
Why it tends to appear grayish:
High iron content + insufficient water content → Dull, lifeless coloration that looks aged, muted, and grayish.
Typical manifestations:
· Appears dark under light
· Lacks luster
· Green tones are suppressed, turning into a “grayish-green” hue
The cheaper the oil-green jade, the more pronounced the grayish base becomes.
3. Ordinary Violet (Pale Violet, Pinkish Violet, Dry Violet)
Violet jadeite fears grayness most; nine out of ten low-end violet pieces exhibit this flaw.
Why it turns gray:
Violet’s inherent color intensity is weak. If the structure lacks fineness or contains excessive impurities, it commonly becomes:
“Grayish violet, pinkish-gray violet, pale grayish violet.”
Typical characteristics:
· Gray tones overpower the violet hue
· Color appears superficial and insubstantial
· Violet lacks “richness, purity, and vibrancy”
To avoid grayish violet jadeite, seek “spring-like,” “spring-rich,” or “peach-blossom violet” grades.
4. White-based green jadeite (especially with impure or dark undertones)
White-based green jadeite often exhibits grayish undertones due to the “white base” itself lacking true whiteness.
Why it easily appears gray:
Impure white base → turns dull white or grayish white, making the overall appearance dirty.
Common manifestations:
· Surface appears bright, but the base is actually “dull”
· Floating patterns are also dragged down in color, obscuring layers
· Light reflection lacks vibrancy
5. Ordinary ice jade (blue-gray ice, cotton-heavy ice)
Ice jade can also have a gray base, which surprises many.
Why it tends to appear gray:
Ice jade has high transparency, but if:
· It contains excessive cotton fog
· It leans toward blue-gray tones
· Its structure has dense micro-cracks
it creates a “gray ice” visual effect.
Common manifestations:
· Transparent but with impure color
· Emits a cold, grayish hue
· Appears foggy under light
This material is extremely common in bracelets, especially inexpensive “ice-floating-flower” types.
6. Dry Green Ice (Dry Green, Gray-Green)
The fatal flaw of dry green ice is its “lack of transparency + tendency to appear grayish.”
Why it appears grayish:
Coarse structure and lack of water content → Green hues are suppressed into “gray-green” or “dull green.”
Typical characteristics:
· Clumpy color without brightness
· Lack of oiliness or luster
· Appears lifeless under light
7. Glutinous Ice Type with Good Water but Dirty Color
Appears translucent at first glance, yet the color is “dark, dirty, and grayish”—a visual deception.
Why does it appear watery yet still turn grayish?
Three core reasons:
· Dirty color (impure color roots, grayish/murky undertones)
· Dirty base (impurities, light cotton, slight haze in the base color)
·Coarse crystal structure
Typical characteristics:
·Transparent but with unclean, grayish-dirty color
·Bright water quality yet lacking luster—transparent but without a “creamy” feel
·Base color veiled by a “dirty haze” that grows grayer upon closer inspection
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