Sharing Jade tips!
For many millenia in Asia, the “Sound of Jade” has been part of the diagnostic test toolkit to evaluate Jade’s structural integrity and purity. Even today, one will see this test being done by experienced Jade buyers and Jade aficionados on both rough and finished product offered for sale.
Our continued work and investigations confirm that the purest jades with the most structural integrity do honor that timeless tradition, with a clear, resonant high pitched sound when struck with another piece of jade, or in the case of large, unworked material, steel tools such as a punch or hammer.
The highest pitch and longest sustained resonance correspond to material with the finest grain, highest purity, and best integrity. Why? Any fractures or cracks block sound waves from properly propagating through the material (even when treated with resin or other fracture fill material types), and coarser grained material often allows for more interstitial space between the grains, also blocking sound propagation.
As with all tests, care must be taken in context, as the shape of the rough, or finished product, also has an effect on how sound waves are propagated through the material, and are either absorbed or can radiate outwards.
Anyone in the field can tell you about the first rule of thumb….when hitting raw stone, a high pitch “Ting” sound brings joy and hope, while a dull “thud” sound means…try again!
Happy Jade day to all!
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Founder/Brand Architect @ Luxe Licensing LLC | Online Marketing Expert
9moExcellent points.... some addressed by Avi when he appeared on the Diamond Dilemma: tinyurl.com/DiamondDilemma2