Polishing Process of Jadeite Cabochon

Jadeite jade is a very popular jade in China and the demand for ornaments of jadeite is great. However, the polishing qualities of the jadeite cabochons vary unevenly on the market and there is little published literature on the polishing process of jadeite cabochons. In this study, an experiment on jadeite cabochon polishing was carried out according to fast polishing method (choose of sandpaper or oil-stone) and fine polishing method (choose of polishing lap and abrasive). The final process parameters were used to verify in the process of jadeite jade with all kinds of texture. It was proved that a sandpaper combo of 600, 1 000, 1 500 grit leads to the best result in fast polishing process, so as to a diamond paste combo of 2.5, 1.5-micron, cowhide (or wool) polishing lap in fine polishing process. According to that polishing process, jadeite cabochons in all kinds of textures will show high gloss.