What a jadeite grading report actually says
CMA, CNAS, Grade A and treatment status — how to read a jadeite certificate and what it does not prove.
A jadeite grading report is a laboratory’s statement about a stone. It is useful, limited, and frequently misrepresented in marketing. Here is what the document actually covers.
Who issues it
In China, jadeite reports are commonly issued by laboratories accredited under CMA (China Metrology Accreditation) and, often, CNAS (China National Accreditation Service). CMA is the baseline: a report without a CMA mark is not a Chinese accreditation report in the usual sense.
Outside China, laboratories such as GIA, Gübelin and SSEF issue reports with different formats and terminology. A “certificate” from a jewellery shop is not the same thing as a laboratory report.
What the report usually states
- The species: jadeite (not nephrite, not “jade” generically).
- Treatment status: natural / untreated, or evidence of bleaching, dyeing, polymer impregnation.
- Colour and dimensions, in descriptive terms.
- Sometimes weight, shape and remarks.
The critical line is treatment status. “Grade A” in the Chinese trade means natural and untreated. “Grade B” usually means bleached and polymer-impregnated; “Grade C” means dyed. These labels are trade shorthand, not a universal laboratory scale.
What it does not prove
- Value. A report does not say whether the price is fair.
- Colour quality. Laboratories describe colour; they do not rank its beauty.
- Investment return. Jadeite prices are not guaranteed to rise.
- Origin. Many reports do not certify the mine or country of origin, even when a seller claims Myanmar.
- That the photo matches the stone. Always check the report number and the stone’s dimensions against the listing.
How to verify a report
- Find the report number and the issuing laboratory’s name.
- Go to the laboratory’s official website — not a QR code supplied by the seller alone.
- Enter the report number and compare the returned details: weight, dimensions, colour, treatment status.
- Check that the report’s photograph matches the stone you are buying.
If the laboratory’s site cannot verify the number, treat the report as unverified.
“Certification available on request” — what it means
It means the seller can arrange testing, not that a report already exists. That is a legitimate practice, but it is not the same as “certified”. Ask three things:
- Has this exact piece been tested?
- Which laboratory, and what is the report number?
- Can I see the report before I pay?
A seller who cannot answer is asking you to trust adjectives. A seller who says “not yet, here is the timeline” is being honest.
Our position
We do not claim that every piece already has a report. Each product page states the certification status of that exact bangle. Where a report exists, it is issued by a CMA-accredited laboratory and provided with the piece. Where it does not, the page says “pending” — and you can ask us to arrange testing before you order.
A report is evidence of testing. It is not a promise about beauty, price or resale value. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling certainty that does not exist.
Written by Rissdon Jade. Questions about a specific stone? Ask us before you buy.