WHAT IS THE BEST COLOR?

Other considerations aside, the hierarchy of color value would be green, lavender, red, yellow, white and black. This is by no means an absolute scale; however, no one would argue with the first two. The finest color of green jade would be close in color to a fine Colombian emerald, but of a darker hue. In fact, the coloring agent, chromium, is the same for jadeite and emerald. As the green becomes lighter or darker than this standard, the value becomes proportionately less. The same can be said of the other colors (even black). The ideal is a strong, vibrant color while successively darker or lighter shades are considered less desirable.

In all cases, except white jade, the degree of translucence enhances the value, while a lack of translucence diminishes the value. Translucence alone, in the absence of body color, is called "water" or "crystal" jade.