For thousands of years, Hetian Jade has been treasured in China — as imperial seal, as scholar’s companion, as a family heirloom passed from mother to daughter. Today, it remains one of the most beloved gemstones in modern Chinese jewelry. With such high demand comes the risk of imitations. That is why China has established clear, strict national standards to protect both the stone and the trust of those who wear it.
1. What Is Hetian Jade? – A Definition Backed by Science and Law
Based on this national standard, we are confident enough to make a bold promise: if any StillJade piece fails to be certified as genuine Hetian Jade (nephrite) by an accredited lab, we will refund you ten times the purchase price. Because real jade deserves real proof — and you deserve peace of mind.
Hetian Jade is also known as nephrite. The name “Hetian” comes from the Hotan region in Xinjiang, where the finest nephrite has been mined for millennia. Chinese people naturally began calling all high‑quality nephrite “Hetian Jade”, and the national standard adopted this name. According to China's National Standard GB/T 38821-2020, a stone can only be called Hetian Jade if it is composed primarily of tremolite – a specific calcium‑magnesium silicate mineral (chemical formula Ca₂(Mg,Fe)₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂). This standard is recognized internationally and aligns with global gemological practices. In other words: genuine Hetian Jade has a clear, testable scientific identity.*
2. Who Can Issue a Certificate? – The Only Labs You Can Trust
Even with a clear definition, we still need independent, qualified laboratories to examine each stone and issue a certificate. Not all labs are equal. The certificates that accompany StillJade pieces come only from institutions that hold the following credentials:
✧ CMA (China Metrology Accreditation)
Minimum legal requirement for any testing laboratory in China. A CMA mark means the lab has passed government inspection and is authorized to issue legally binding test reports. Without CMA, a certificate carries no legal weight.
✧ CNAS (China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment)
International passport for laboratory competence. CNAS accreditation follows ISO/IEC 17025, recognized by over 100 economies worldwide (ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement). A CNAS‑accredited lab can produce results that are trusted globally.
✧ NGTC (National Gemstone Testing Center)
Highest authority in China’s jewelry testing industry. NGTC is a ministerial‑level institute directly under the state. However, NGTC certification is more expensive and is typically used for higher‑priced pieces. At StillJade, we use NGTC for items with a higher retail value.
3. StillJade Commitment – Every Piece, One Unique Certificate
Every StillJade pendant, bracelet, ring, or earring comes with its own unique lab certificate. The certificate number is recorded and can be verified online at the issuing lab’s official website. Our certificates are issued by institutions that at least carry both CMA and CNAS accreditation. For our most precious pieces (such as rare seed jade or high‑end carvings), we also provide NGTC certificates.
We stand behind every piece with a “fake‑or‑misrepresented, ten‑times refund” guarantee. And because we respect your right to verify, we support global re‑testing – you may have the piece examined by any independent lab of your choice. If any StillJade piece fails to pass an accredited lab’s test as genuine Hetian Jade (nephrite), we will refund you ten times the purchase price
You should never have to guess whether your jade is real. That is why we built StillJade on transparency: clear standards, accredited labs, verifiable certificates, and a promise we are ready to keep. Because peace of mind is not a luxury — it is the very reason we wear jade.
StillJade — wear your peace. 🧡