Colombian Emeralds: A Benchmark For Emerald’s Beauty

May 22, 2014

By Katerina Perez

2 min read

With Spring breathing new life into nature and everything turning green again, I was moved to write about the emerald, the birthstone for May (I know – it was bad of me not to write something sooner). So that this article doesn’t read like a series of extracts from a gemmology textbook, you won’t find any descriptions of the emerald’s chemical composition, its crystal structure or anything about synthetic emeralds here. I want to simply draw your attention to the most valuable variety of green beryls: the Colombian emerald.

Originally, the largest producer of emeralds was India. However, that situation was radically altered when, in the 17th century, Spain colonised Columbia and extracted roughly 18,000 stones suitable for making jewellery. To this day, Colombian mines produce a “generous crop” of emerald rocks. Of particular renown are those which are mined in the regions where emeralds are primarily sourced, situated roughly eight kilometres from a small village called Muzo. On finding these mines in the 17th century, the Spaniards could never have suspected that within those underground haunts lay emerald deposits that would eventually become models of beauty.

Suzanne Syz “La Colombiana perfecta” ring crafted in yellow gold and titanium. The centre stone is a Colombian Emerald 13.18 cts complemented by 12 Yellow diamonds 0.06 carat

Suzanne Syz “La Colombiana perfecta” ring crafted in yellow gold and titanium. The centre stone is a Colombian Emerald 13.18 cts complemented by 12 Yellow diamonds 0.06 carat

The standard by which the colour emerald is judged was set by the crystals mined at Muzo. I managed to find out how they were mined from Nikolai Timoshuk’s book Jewellery Secrets (a publication which is unfortunately only available in Russian). The author talks about his unforgettable experiences of visiting the deepest Colombian mines, travelling around in armoured jeeps, long conversations over a glass of tequila and heated bargaining sessions with local fat cat businessmen.

After going down the mines himself, where the lack of oxygen after just five minutes of working away with a hammer starts to make you feel like a “squeezed lemon”, Nikolai Timoshuk had his views on emeralds completely changed: Whatever price I paid for them now, it would never be too high! Unlike many other stones, emeralds are not extracted by means of a production line; everything is mined by hand. No gaping quarries, no bulldozers, no explosives. Just a slow laborious drilling process, inch by inch, to a depth of 150 metres…

Despite the fact that emeralds mined at Muzo are a paragon of beauty, the stones extracted from the Panjshir gorge in Afghanistan (see below) are of no less quality. They are very similar to their Columbian cousins in terms of their chemical composition and for that reason they are sometimes taken for Columbian emeralds in Europe.

Photo by Barbra Voltaire from www.gemologyonline.com forum

Photo by Barbra Voltaire from www.gemologyonline.com forum

Throughout the years I saw various types of emeralds: some were bigger, others smaller, cabochons and faceted stones, clear and cloudy, those that have belonged to the members of royal families and famous people of the 21st century. Of all of them, the ones that have for various reasons “stuck themselves to my memory” are four unusual Columbian stones which I will tell you about next time.

A Jewellery Must-Have: Diamond Studs

continue reading

Jewellery Manifesto: Tracing Three Pivotal Decades with Pomellato Collezione 1967

With Collezione 1967, Pomellato is presenting its ‘Jewellery Manifesto’ through 75 pieces, each inspired by one of three revolutionary decades in its creative history: the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Let’s take a closer look at the Maison’s artistic signatures, reinvented for a new generation of high jewellery lovers… 

by Sarah Jordan

Pink City Style: The Best-Selling Reversible Jewels of Gyan Jaipur

I would like to tell you more about the brand, its origin story, design inspirations and its popular Jaipur and Yami collections

by Katerina Perez

Fabulous Futures: Le Vian Unveils its 2026 Jewellery Trends in Las Vegas

Here's a rundown of what was included this year…

by Sarah Jordan

Exceptional Splendour: Jaipur Gems Celebrates 50 Years with Abu Dhabi Opening and New High Jewels 

Let me take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Abu Dhabi boutique and share some of my sparkling highlights

by Katerina Perez

Radiating Confidence: The Mother-Daughter Energy Behind Growing Brand Aponine

As one of this year’s Couture show debutants, Turkish brand Aponine impressed me with its blend of colourful creativity, timeless elegance, and stylish femininity. Let’s take a closer look…

by Katerina Perez

Sensual Silhouettes: Jewels with Curves in All the Right Places

Is it getting hot in here, or is it just us? As jewellers swap sharp lines for shapely swirls, we look at new collections that are embracing the raw power of sensuality inspired by the female form

by Rachael Taylor

Artistic Realms: The Enchanting Natural World of Histoire D’Elle

I had the pleasure of speaking with Pascale Van Maele, the Brand Manager of Histoire d'Elle, which celebrates the deep-rooted connection between quiet femininity, elegance and natural forms. Let's explore together…

by Sarah Jordan

Spinel Stories: Celebrating the Special Allure of Spinels with the House of Gübelin 

I visited the Geneva boutique of the family-owned business to indulge my passion for this overlooked gemstone and explore some of its beautiful creations…

by Katerina Perez

Golden Hour: Cosmic Creations in the Chanel Reach for the Stars High Jewellery Collection

The Reach for the Stars collection bounces between cosmic constellations of diamonds, elaborate, almost mythological neckwear, and starbursts of coloured stones, all with the Maison’s Parisian flair

by Sarah Jordan

Ultimate Guide to Promise Rings: What They Mean, How to Wear One and Where to Buy

While the promise ring's meaning has evolved, its emotional weight remains, making it especially popular among Gen Z and millennial couples seeking the perfect, personal pre-engagement jewel

by Claire Roberts

Exquisite Escapes: The Idyllic Inspirations Behind the Diorexquis High Jewellery Collection

In early May 2025, Dior Joaillerie's Artistic Director Victoire de Castellane showcased an unprecedented high jewellery collection, Diorexquis, to more than 300 VIPs at the Château de la Colle Noire in the heart of Provence. Let's take a closer look…

by Katerina Perez

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Epic Evolution:Miseno Launches the Arco Collection to Celebrate a Fabulous Decade

I am pleased to present to you my highlights of the new Arco High Jewellery collection, which was formally showcased to the jewellery world at Couture from June 4-8, 2025

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

In Conversation:Discussing Paraiba - The Legacy of a Color

with Vogue Singapore

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.