How to Read an NGTC Hetian Jade Plaque Certificate

An NGTC report can make a jade purchase easier to verify, but it is not a magic label. Read it alongside the actual plaque, clear photographs and the seller’s material records. The report should belong to the piece you are considering, not to a similar item from a catalogue.

Start with the identity fields

Check the report number, issue date, photograph, product name and weight or dimensions when those details are listed. The photo should match the colour pattern, skin and carving of the plaque in front of you. If the report has a QR code or online lookup, use the official channel printed on the document rather than a link sent in a chat.

The material description is usually the key line. It may identify the item as nephrite or Hetian jade according to the laboratory’s testing scope. Read the remarks section carefully. Terms such as dyed, filled, coated or other detectable treatment notes deserve a direct explanation before payment.

What the certificate does not normally establish

A laboratory report can identify tested material and disclose detectable treatments. It does not normally establish a specific geographic origin, prove that a piece came from a named river or confirm seed-jade provenance on its own. Claims such as Xinjiang origin, river-worn seed jade or a particular skin type need supporting evidence from the stone and its records.

That is why we show front, reverse, edge and transmitted-light views for documented plaques. On the 17.1 g gold-skin peace plaque, for example, the 9.5 mm side profile and retained skin can be compared with the report and the physical piece.

Before you order

Ask for a current certificate image, a close-up video and confirmation that the report number matches the plaque being sold. Keep the invoice and photographs with the report. You are also welcome to arrange an independent recheck before purchase. A certificate is one part of sensible due diligence, not a substitute for it.