中國古玉器不僅是藝術品，也是記載中國歷史的實物證據。前面的聲明只有在這些文物是真實的時才是真實的。因此，除了玉器質量和做工精湛等其他因素外，玉器的價值取決於其真實性。因此，玉石鑑定在中國玉石研究中至關重要。

古玉的鑑定是客觀而科學的。一般而言，古玉可透過觀察玉器本身是否具備下列物理化學特性加以測定：差異風化，擴散沁色（玉器表面受到不同礦物隨著玉之紋理結構，侵蝕滲透至玉器內部，所形成深淺層次不同的顏色，溶蝕孔（玉器埋在在地下時，表面若接觸到不同的化學物質，所形成之不規則孔洞，一般是洞口小，洞內大且有角礫岩），晶體曝是古玉受外界礦物影響所形成低於玉器表面的反光體（又稱雲母片）），次生長晶體（次生結晶體是古玉受外界礦物影響所形成高於玉器表面凸起的物體為針狀）而與古玉表面平行，這些針狀晶體系覆蓋於刀工紋飾之上，說明了玉器雕琢在先，次生結晶體的形成在後。

 Jade antiquity authentication may be verified through evidence of certain physical and chemical characteristics. This evidence consists of dissolved pits, cleaving veins, differential weathering, diffusive markings, exposure crystals, deterioration marking and secondary additive crystal planes. In addition, mineral attachments such as gold or silver placer may be served as evidence that the sample jade has been buried under the ground. These physical and chemical phenomena are formed by nature through ages and cannot be made by human beings. The authentication of this antiquity evidence is of paramount importance in the whole process of the scientific method of antiquity jade authentication.