Collection: Shop Guatemalan Jadeite Jade Jewelry

The Two Jades

Jade is a name given to two distinct gemstones: Nephrite Jade and Jadeite Jade (also called Fei Cui). Natural, untreated jadeite is known as ‘A Jade.’

Most jadeite jade in today’s market comes from Myanmar, but Guatemala is considered the second most significant jadeite-producing country. However, the majority of jadeite available in the U.S. is still Burmese in origin.

Jade in Ancient Mesoamerica

At least seven different Mesoamerican civilizations revered and used jadeite jade, including the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec. It was highly valued and used for:

• Tools and weapons
• Celts (ritual axes)
• Religious and burial artifacts
• Jewelry
• Dental implants

A Jade Lost to History

The Spanish Conquest in the 1500s abruptly ended the jade trade in Mesoamerica, and for centuries, Guatemala's jade deposits were forgotten.

The Modern Era of Guatemalan Jade:

• 1904-1909: Edward H. Thompson dredged the Sacred Cenote in Chichen Itza, unearthing a trove of jade artifacts that revealed connections to the Olmec civilization.
• 1954: Geologist William Foshag published findings linking pre-Columbian jade artifacts to Guatemala.
• 1973: American jade hunter Jay Ridinger and archaeologist Mary Lou Johnson fell in love while searching for jade in Guatemala. Their discovery led to the founding of Jade Maya, the country's first major jade business, still in operation today.
• 1999-2001: Russell Seitz uncovered a significant source of translucent blue jadeite jade in Guatemala.

Mason-Kay Jade, the leading supplier of natural jadeite jade (also called 'fei cui') in the U.S., is currently a major supplier of Guatemalan jadeite jade to American retail jewelry stores.

Guatemalan Jade Colors and Characteristics

Guatemalan jadeite jade comes in a diverse palette, including:

• Blue
• Blue-green
• Green
• Lavender
• White
• Black
  
• Yellow
  
• Red

Fine Guatemalan jade is translucent with a vivid, true green color. High-quality green jadeite jade (also called 'fei cui') is particularly rare because much of the rough material is fractured or has only thin veins of green running through blue or blue-green boulders.

Guatemalan jadeite jade is often recognizable by its characteristic grey-blue-green hue, with albite ‘snowflake’ inclusions and mica inclusions.

Blue Jade Explained

While nephrite jade is more common than jadeite jade (also called fei cui), high-quality specimens of blue nephrite jade are rare. Blue nephrite jade is mainly sourced from California and Russia, but is not commercially significant on the world market.

Blue jadeite jade from Myanmar does exist but is rarely seen in the American market. Most blue jadeite available in the U.S. today comes from Guatemala.

About Mason-Kay

Established in 1976, Mason-Kay Jade is the premier wholesale supplier of natural jadeite jade in the U.S.

Owner Jeff Mason, G.G., is an expert in jade testing and valuation, offering services to both the trade and the public. While Mason-Kay carries some nephrite jade and Guatemalan jadeite jade, our primary inventory consists of gem-quality Burmese jadeite—available as bangles, beads, cabochons, and mounted jewelry designed by Kristina Mason.

Learn more about Guatemalan jade here.