When traveling to Guatemala, I knew I wanted to get a piece of Jade jewelry. There are two stones that are considered “Jade”: nephrite and jadeite. Nephrite is more common and is often used for carvings, while jadeite is harder and denser and so is often used for jewelry. Guatemalan jade is of the jadeite variety and comes in a variety of green colors as well as more unique finds like lavender or black. Jade was precious to the ancient Mayan, Olmec, and Aztec civilizations as it was a status symbol of wealth, power, and life itself.
Thus, jade makes a beautiful souvenir from Guatemala. It is important to purchase from reputable shops, as many of the cheaper stores and markets actually sell cheaper Chinese carved stones that are likely not actual jade. I wandered in to Casa Del Jade, one of the fancier shops. It boasts many different designs and colors of jade in addition to a small museum. While it is on the more expensive side, it was a nice buying experience and came with a certificate of authenticity to prove that it was Guatemalan jade. I was at first looking for a traditional green jade, but fell in love with a pale lavender necklace. But like most shops, they will push you to buy more, so be firm with them. (Although now I do regret not getting the matching earrings…darn!)
Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.
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