To be recognized worldwide for creating unique, high-quality Guatemalan jade products with passion and excellence.
To create innovative pieces that allow you to experience the beauty and originality of jade through committed collaborators passionate about excellence and community well-being.
We LEAD with PASSION
We strive for EXCELLENCE
We work as a TEAM
We walk in INTEGRITY
We act RESPONSIBLY
We SERVE people
We treat everyone with RESPECT
The 70's
Our founder, Gerald Leech, along with a group of North American visionaries, began the dream of bringing this invaluable Mayan legacy back to life, choosing the beautiful city of Antigua Guatemala, now a World Heritage Site, as their headquarters for their business. Over time, this entrepreneurial group dissolved, but Gerald continued with the desire to revive this wonderful legacy. After arduous planning and many hours of work, the dream finally became a reality, and Casa del Jade opened its doors on July 9, 1977, with a small exhibition of jade crafts and jewelry. The first three years of Casa del Jade were very significant, and it grew to include 30 employees and two points of sale
The 80s
The early 1980s marked a series of events that tested the strength of the Casa del Jade family. The intensification of the armed conflict in the country led to an economic recession that impacted our development; and unfortunately, in 1984, Casa del Jade was robbed of most of its merchandise. But thankfully, despite these difficult times, we were able to recover, and through ingenuity and sacrifice, accompanied by a positive change in the country’s situation, we restarted and exceeded the business’s expectations. We managed to expand our facilities to provide sufficient space to provide guided tours and to handle large groups in our sales rooms.
The 1990s represented a new era for Casa del Jade. The international recognition of Guatemalan jade, along with the desire to always provide the best experience to our clients, prompted us to look for a new home. Thus, we set our sights on rebuilding “Casa Antigua El Jaulón,” a 16th-century colonial residence that had been destroyed by various natural disasters. Construction began in January 1993 with a group of investors and was completed five and a half years later. Today, it is the only privately restored monument in the city. And so, on June 15, 1998, we inaugurated our new facilities.
The beginning of the new era was marked by our commitment to disseminating the historical and cultural legacy of jade; thus, the idea of developing a museum was born. The first one opened in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico, in 2001. We then began the dream of a museum in Antigua Guatemala to provide the public with the opportunity to appreciate beautiful reproductions of archaeological artifacts, most of which are in private collections. This became a reality when we opened the doors of our new “Mesoamerican Jade Museum” in 2003.
Surviving the global pandemic was one of our biggest challenges. Like many businesses serving both domestic and international tourists, we faced a world of closed borders and halted travel, leaving us completely shut down for seven months.Today, Casa del Jade is a vital source of employment in the city of Antigua Guatemala, directly and indirectly benefiting more than 80 families. Here, you will find the most beautiful jewelry and pre-Columbian recreations, crafted with the excellence and quality that has defined us from the very beginning. We look forward to welcoming you!
