A Simple Way to Tell Guatemalan Jadeite from “Oil-Green” Jadeite

Note: This article isn’t about which origin is “better.” Some of my customers do have preferences: many Asian buyers especially favor Burmese jadeite, Meanwhile, many Western customers, especially in Latin America, they simply enjoy wearing jade, and they often love Guatemalan jadeite for its look and price.

The pieces I’m using here aren’t the best in the world—just items on hand that make convenient examples.

Dark “oil-green” jadeite and Guatemalan jadeite can sometimes look very similar. When a piece shows multiple colors, it’s usually easier to tell them apart. But for uniform (solid) color—like these two pieces below, one oil-green and one Guatemalan—there may be little visible difference under both natural and artificial light.

There are differences, though. For example, density: Burmese jadeite typically measures around 3.34 g/cm³, while many Guatemalan pieces come in around 3.33 g/cm³. That difference is so small that it’s not very practical for everyday identification.

In fact, if you understand the color origins, it becomes easier to distinguish them. Of course, both Burmese and Guatemalan jadeite can contain other trace elements—such as chromium (Cr)—which can produce a vivid, luminous green (often called “yang-green”). Chromium-colored Guatemalan jadeite is less common, but it does exist (like the example shown here).

Oil-green jadeite and Guatemalan jadeite are similar to Hetian (Hotan) green nephrite in that their dominant hue is gray-green, primarily caused by iron (Fe) ions. The more iron present, the deeper the color—sometimes even appearing nearly black to the eye.

However, Guatemalan jadeite often shows a cool, bluish cast, because it contains a small amount of titanium (Ti)—something that typical oil-green jadeite generally lacks. Even at extremely low levels, this trace of titanium can reveal itself under a light, making the difference easier to spot. (Please ignore the small blue square visible on the back in one of the photos—that’s just a paper label I attached.)

Of course, both Burmese and Guatemalan jadeite can contain other trace elements—such as chromium (Cr)—which can produce a vivid, luminous green (often called “yang-green”). Chromium-colored Guatemalan jadeite is less common, but it does exist (like the example shown here).