Set along the coast of Monterey Bay, the city of Monterey provides a fitting backdrop for a gathering centered on jade. Known for its rugged shoreline, the scenic 17-Mile Drive, and the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, the region blends natural beauty with a long-standing connection to the material itself. Just to the south, the Big Sur Coast has long been associated with nephrite jade, where wave-worn boulders occasionally surface along the beaches—making this one of the few places where jade is directly tied to the landscape.
Each June, the Monterey Bay Jade Festival brings together a focused community of jade dealers, carvers, collectors, and lapidaries—a U.S. event dedicated entirely to jade.
Unlike broader gem and mineral shows, where jade is one of many materials, here it is the sole focus. Rough nephrite from the nearby coastline sits alongside finished carvings, jewelry, and sculpture, giving attendees a rare chance to see the material across its full range—from rough stone to completed work.
That setting makes it a natural home for something more.
The Summit
In recent years, the festival has expanded to include the International Jade Summit. Presented by Mason-Kay, the one-day program brings together jade artists, miners, and gemologists to give the trade a clear understanding of the material—from how it forms and where it is sourced, to how it’s identified, then carved, and ultimately brought to market.
The Schedule
What stands out about the Summit is not just the content—but the sequence. The program begins with what jade can become—a sculptural, artistic medium. It then moves to how jade enters the market—through mining, supply chains, and branding. And it concludes with how jade is verified—through scientific research and origin determination.
Jade isn’t just being sold as rough or carving material anymore. It’s being presented with more context—where it comes from, how it’s worked, and what makes one piece different from another—and that’s starting to influence how it’s valued.
The Program: A One-Day View of Jade
Georg Schmerholz | Jade as a Sculptural Medium
The day begins with sculptor Georg Schmerholz, who presents jade not as rough or inventory, but as a sculptural medium.
A professional sculptor and one of the more recognized Western jade artists, Schmerholz has received multiple gold and silver awards at the Zi Gang Bei Jade Competition in Suzhou, China. His introduction to jade dates back to 1992, when he created what was then the largest Quan Yin jade figure for a Buddhist monastery in Bangkok.
Since relocating to California in 2007, jade has become central to his work, offering both creative freedom and technical challenge. In 2018, alongside collector Rudolph Estrada, he co-founded the Monterey Bay Jade Festival.
“My intention for the viewer is to experience a deeper beauty that exists beyond mere form,” he says.
Photo: Georg Schmerholz / Monterey Bay Jade Festival
Photo: Georg Schmerholz
Photo: Georg Schmerholz
William Ralston-Saul | From Mine to Marketplace
The focus shifts from artistry to supply with William Ralston-Saul, Acting COO of Jade Resources Ltd. and CEO of Jade Vault Ltd.
With more than 17 years in mining, Ralston-Saul has worked across Central Asia, bringing multiple operations into production. His current focus is the Itmurundy jadeite deposit in Kazakhstan—considered the largest known jadeite source globally.
His presentation centers on building a legally traceable jade pipeline into China while moving material up the value chain through branding and product development—an effort aimed at expanding a market historically centered on rough trading and traditional jewelry.
Dr. Aaron Palke | Jadeite Origin and Research
The program concludes with Dr. Aaron Palke of the Gemological Institute of America.
Palke, Senior Manager of Colored Stone Research, leads GIA’s work in geographic origin determination and treatment identification. His session focuses on jadeite origin—an area of growing importance as buyers look for greater confidence and transparency in the marketplace.
Tap here for more information about the Monterey Jade Festival and International Jade Summit 2026
Link Direct to the International Jade Summit 2026
