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Jade is sometimes shaped into beads, which can be then made into jewelry.  Every possible grade of jade can be found in beads, so it is important to know what you're looking for when shopping

Poor Color: These jade beads are a dark, dull irregular green	Light Color: These beads have a very nice (though a bit too light color).  They were dyed with polymers to achieve this color and uniformity.	Medium Value: These beads are a very nice green color and decently translucent.  They lack the uniformity and the glow of higher grades.  A strand like this can be found in the $100 -$400 range.	Most Valuable:  This strand of high grade natural jadeite sold at a christies auction for over $1 million.  Each bead is perfectly shaped and polished and the jade is an intense translucent vibrant, unifrom green

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, in the lower end jewelry markets, beads are sometimes sold as "jade" that are no, in fact jade.

"Lemon Jade" Beads: These beads are sold online as "lemon jade" but in fact are dyed serpentine.	Pale Jade: These beads are genuine jade but they are a very pale color	Red Jade:  Sometimes you will see "jade" beads this color for sale, perhaps labelled "cherry jade".  Though red jade does occur naturally, it is never in this fire engine red hue.  This is the result of dye.	Black Jade Beads:  black jade beads can be found with their natural color.  These, for example have not been yed and have a very nice polish.  When you see beads that are perfectly, uniformly black, you can suspect dye

 

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