Jade Identification & Appraisal Services

What We Do

At The Jade Guys, we specialize in jade—real jade. Whether you want to know if your stone is nephrite or jadeite, confirm whether something is real or fake, or understand its market value, we offer professional identification and appraisal services based on decades of hands-on industry experience.

Our goal is simple: give you accurate identification, honest appraisals, and straight answers—all from clear photos or an in-person appointment.

Stone Identification
(Nephrite vs. Jadeite)

What You’ll Get

For each stone, we will:

  • Determine whether it is nephrite or jadeite
  • Provide a definitive distinction between the two
  • Do our best to visually identify the source country
  • In many cases we can narrow it down
  • In tricky cases, you may receive 2–3 likely origin possibilities
  • Catch obvious fakes instantly
  • Evaluate high-quality fakes to the best of our ability
  • Some modern imitations are extremely convincing, and photos limit certainty
  • When in doubt, we’ll tell you clearly

In-Store Stone Identification

For Customers

If you're buying something during your visit, we’re happy to identify up to 3 stones for free.
More than 3? The fee is $5 per stone.

For Non-Customers

If you’re not making a purchase, you have two options:

  • Leave us a solid Google review as a trade, and we’ll ID a few stones for free

or

  • Pay $5 per stone for identification services

Online Stone Identification

Identifications are $5 per stone.

Important: Clear, well-lit photos matter. Blurry or dark images reduce accuracy and are not eligible for refund. Take multiple angles—including close-ups, edges, translucency shots, and backlighting when possible.

Purchase Online Identification Here

Stone Appraisal
& Authentication

In-Store Appraisal

Appraisals always require a paid appointment with Adam, the owner.

Important Disclaimer

Any appraisal from The Jade Guys is not valid for insurance purposes.

Adam does not hold formal gemological accreditation—what he has is far more practical:

  • Dug at 300+ mines worldwide
  • Personally cut and processed over 10,000 gemstones
  • Expert jeweler and lapidary
  • Owner of a gemstone processing facility in India since 2018
  • Actively buys, sells, and evaluates hundreds of tons of stone annually

If it’s jade—or pretending to be jade—Adam will almost certainly know what it is, and what it’s worth at both retail and wholesale levels.

But he cannot “officially certify” it.

Service Fees

  • $20 for a single stone
  • $40–$200 for small batches (under 20 stones)
  • $200+ for large batches (over 20 stones)

If we cannot identify or appraise it, you won’t be charged

Online Appraisal

Online appraisals are available for $20 per stone (or your chosen tier).

Please send plenty of detailed photos—front, back, sides, translucency shots, and close-ups of texture and grain. This allows us to:

  • Confirm whether the stone is nephrite, jadeite, or imitation
  • Provide a suggested retail and wholesale value
  • Offer a realistic understanding of where your stone fits in today’s jade market

Where to Sell Your Jade

For 1–3 stones, your simplest options are:

  • Facebook Marketplace
  • Craigslist
  • Local rock shops or jewelers (quick sale, but often lower payout)

Market value often requires patience, time, marketing, and the right audience. If you want fast cash, selling below market value is usually the only practical option.

Purchase Online Appraisal Here

Please Note — What We Cannot Do

We do not appraise artifacts, antiques, or cultural pieces.
We can tell you if the material is real jade, but not the dynasty, age, or archaeological significance.

We cannot estimate collector or museum value.

Any appraisal reflects only the stone’s value as processable rough, not the carving or history.

If you have other stone varieties you’d like identified or appraised, please visit our main business page to do so: Rubble Rock and Gem.