U.S. Senators pay visit to Jades, S.A.

Jades, S.A. welcomed several congressmen and senators from the United States, including John Cornyn and Richard Shelby.

Jades S.A. Celebrates its 30th Anniversary

Jades S.A. celebrated their 30th anniversary in May 2004 with a party to introduce our new jewelry designer, Andrea Novella, our 19 year old granddaughter. She inaugurated her own jewelry design business this year, Novella Creations, to help defray the cost of her freshman year at NYU. 

Jades S.A. sets an example, gives back to the community

Jades, S.A. helped workers rom Camotan, one of the poorest and most remote areas of Guatemala, to learn to polish, grind, shape, and drill a soft calcite stone from their own land.

 

Dalai Lama Visits Guatemala

Guatemala welcomed the Dalai Lama in October and we basked in his message of world peace, which was welcome as we suffer murky political moments around the globe.

In the photo above the Dalai Lama is about to place a rose in the Monument for Peace, at the National Palace of Culture, on his first day to Guatemala, which included a press conference, private meetings, with President Berger, and a dialogue with a group of women pro defense of civil rights, among them Guatemalan Nobel Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu.

Jades S.A. Active Promoting Jade Museums

Jades S.A. is selling Jade Museum/Showroom franchises in the region to local owner-operators. We are excited about the success of the first two, Ambergris Jade Museum on Ambergris Key and Maya Jade Museum of Belize in Belize City. We are moving on others in Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador.

New Cruise Port Facility at Puerto Quetzal

A new cruise port facility on the pacific coast at Puerto Quetzal was inaugurated with the arrival of Holland America’s ship “Zaandam” on May 5, 2004. Mary Lou Ridinger was aboard lecturing on Maya Archaeology and Jade.

Jades S.A. helps keep Sister Cities ties alive

Jades S.A. is doing its part to sustain the recently renewed Sister City relationship with Coral Gables, Fla., near Miami. Sales Manager Veronica Ortiz traveled to Coral Gables last September with a contingent of Antigua business and civic leaders.

Jade search reveals untouched Mayan site

While scouring the Sierra de las Minas for additional sources of blue jadeite that the ancient olmecs had mined, Jake Ridinger discovered an untouched Mayan archaeological site.

Governor Richards of Texas Visits Jades S.A. Showroom

Among VIP visitors lately to the Jade Museum and Jades, S.A. showroom in Antigua was former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, who had an enjoyable visit with seventh generation Texan Mary Lou Ridinger.

Rotary introduces new members

The Antigua chapter of Rotary International, under the leadership of new president Juan Antonio Meza, is introducing new members. 

Rave Reviews!

Antigua, Guatemala 

Arguably the most picture-perfect colonial city in the Americas.

October 24, 2002: 3:41 PM EDT 

By Glenn Coleman, Money Magazine Senior Editor

ANTIGUA, Guatemala (Money Magazine) – Stuffed from lunch, my wife and I sat for an extra-long while at our restaurant table, holding hands by a tropical garden in a Spanish colonial mansion more than two centuries old. The birdies peeped. The fountain gurgled. The check arrived. Two bottled waters, two beers, a heaping platter of grilled vegetables drizzled with olive oil, a sampler of grilled meats (chicken, steak, pork chop, sausages), bread pudding, coffee, tax, tip… 25 bucks. And this, I reminded myself, was one of the expensive joints.

 

Fine Jade rosary, emblems crafted for Papal visit.

When Pope John Paul II made his historic trip to Guatemala in July, he had Guatemalan Jade at hand. 

More notable shoppers visit Jades S.A.

 

Panama President Mireya Elisa Moscoso visited Jades S.A. showroom in Antigua prior to the papal visit to Guatemala in late July. President Moscoso, a trained interior designer, was elected in 1999, the first woman president of Panama. Her late husband was Arnulfo Arias, who had been president three times. President Moscoco defeated her principal contender 45-38 percent.

Burial site at Abaj Takalik yields mask

The archaeological team working at Abaj Takalik, near the municipality of El Asintal in Guatemala’s department of Retalhuleu, discovered a unique mask in a newly excavated burial site at this ancient Maya community.

Medical clinic opens for Jades S.A. staff, families

Jades S.A. employees and their families needn’t wait in the doctor’s office anymore. The doctor comes to them, courtesy of the company.

Cruising for Tourists, One Ship at a Time

 

When cruise ships dock at Caribbean ports such as St. Thomas, Cozumel, or Cancun, nearly all of the passengers disembark to shop, eat, or sightsee. When cruise ships dock at Guatemala’s Puerto Quetzal, nearly all of the passengers stay aboard. Archaeologist Mary Lou Ridinger of Antigua has embarked on a one woman campaign to entice tourists off the luxury liners and into Guatemala.