Photo Credit: Mayan-Carvings-Clothing-and-Jewelry
Rough Guatemalan Jadeite Jade Slab
Buy It Now Price: $115 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This is a beautiful slab of rough Guatemalan jadeite jade. Jadeite jade is a microcrystalline gemstone material that has been prized throughout history for its extreme toughness and subtly alluring appearance.
-This piece of rough Guatemalan jadeite jade measures 160 mm (6.30 inches) long by 80 mm (3.15 inches) wide by 17 mm (0.67 inches) thick. It weighs 696 grams (1.53 pounds) and originates from the Motagua river valley in Guatemala – one of the world’s few major deposits of this rare gemstone.
-There are actually two different varieties of true jade in existence: nephrite jade and jadeite jade. Jadeite jade has historically been the rarer of the two.
-While most jade antiques and artifacts from before the 18th century are nephrite, Central America is an exception to this rule. All pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations, including the Olmecs, Mayans and Aztecs, exclusively used highly prized jadeite jade in their decorate arts. This is because the only source of jade in the region was jadeite jade from Guatemala.
-This piece of rough Guatemalan jadeite jade is a striking mix of dark green and light grayish-white material that is known locally as jaguar jade because it resembles the coat pattern of the indigenous big cat.
-The Chinese have traditionally had a strong cultural affinity for jade and have, consequently, driven both global demand and pricing for the precious material. However, the superlative physical properties of “The Stone of Heaven” are gradually becoming known in the West. In the future, I believe a significant portion of jade demand, perhaps even a majority, will originate outside of China.
-I believe that rough jade is significantly undervalued in today’s market. And, of all the different varieties of jade, rough Guatemalan jadeite jade is probably the least appreciated and most undervalued.
Cons:
-The very highest quality Burmese jadeite jade – called Imperial jade – is a translucent, vivid green color that almost looks like emerald. Unfortunately, no Guatemalan jadeite jade approaches this level of quality. Instead, most rough Guatemalan jadeite jade is opaque like this specimen, reducing its desirability and value.
-This rough Guatemalan jadeite jade slab is only 17 mm (0.67 inches) thick. This will limit its potential uses to jade carvers, albeit modestly. A thicker slab would be more desirable.
-Rough jade is a raw material. In order to maximize its value, it would have to be fashioned by a skilled jade carver.
