09 Apr 2025
My daughter (age 16) And I just completed this experience in Antigua and had so much fun. Be warned that it is harder than it looks, but we were so proud of our pieces after completing. Our instructor was nice and helpful. We started by deciding the shape planned for our jade (I suggest something simple), then picked out or stone, mapped out our first cuts, then used various tools for shaping and polishing the stone. The whole process took about 2 hrs. You will be standing the whole time at the machines and by the end, both my daughter and I were a bit sore from hunching over. You will also be wearing safely glasses and ear protection, so this is not the activity for you if you are looking for lots of socialization. At the end of the activity, we both had really cool jade necklaces that we are so proud of. Much better than buying a similar item in the market!! My final thoughts: this was harder than I thought it would be, but worth it to make your own memorable keepsake. Take a break if your neck/shoulders get sore.