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How to tell if Hetian jade is real – and how to check the certificate

The most reliable proof is a testing certificate from a qualified gemstone laboratory, matched to the exact piece. Here is how to read one.

What to check on the certificate

Name: it should say 和田玉 (Hetian jade / nephrite). "和田玉（白玉）" means white nephrite. Words like "jade-like", "玉石" or a trade name are not the same.
Photo and weight must match your piece exactly.
Laboratory marks: reports issued to the public by a qualified Chinese lab should carry the CMA mark; many labs also show CNAS accreditation (older reports may show CAL).
Online verification: enter the certificate number on the laboratory's official website (not a link supplied by the seller) and compare the result.

A certificate normally confirms the mineral. It usually does not state the origin (Xinjiang, Qinghai, Russia) or whether it is seed or mountain material, and it does not value the piece.

Common problems

Dyed "skin": mountain material tumbled and dyed to look like river-pebble seed jade.
Other stones sold as jade: quartzite, serpentine, marble, glass.
Mismatched certificates: a real certificate for a different stone.
Prices too good to be true: compare with our price guide.

At Yufu

You can ask for a photo of the certificate of the specific piece before paying, and see the piece on a live video call. Award-winning pieces show the award, with the award certificate and a link to the organiser's list where one is published.

Quick answers

Can a certificate tell if jade is seed (river) material?

Usually not. Certificates confirm the mineral; seed vs. mountain is judged from the stone itself, its skin and the seller's information.

How do I verify a Chinese jade certificate online?

Type the certificate number on the testing laboratory's own official website and check that photo, weight and description match.

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Yufu Hetian Jade (御府和田玉) · Shanghai Yufu Crafts Co., Ltd. · founded 2002 by jade carver Fu Xuefei · Showroom: Palm Spring Garden, Lane 3800 Dongda Road, Tangzhen, Pudong, Shanghai (by appointment). Free insured international shipping; import duties paid by the buyer; non-custom pieces returnable within 7 days of delivery (return shipping paid by the buyer). Prices in CNY; USD figures are approximate (1 USD ≈ 6.69 CNY). Updated 2026-11-07.