THE EMERALD STRIP
Love Emeralds?
You’re not alone. That’s why TVSN will be showcasing this exquisite stone every Monday evening at 8.30pm throughout the month of May.
Each week we’ll dive into a new continent of emeralds: Colombia to Brazil and across to Zambia!
Join us each week for a new emerald reveal.
The most precious stone in the beryl family, Emerald is the most coveted of the green coloured stones. The name Emerald derives from the Greek word ‘smaragdos’, meaning ‘green stone’. Representing love and kindness, Emerald is the birthstone for May.
COLOUR
With vivid colour saturation, bluish-green to pure green is considered the optimal colour for Emeralds.
CLARITY
Emeralds commonly have visible inclusions that appear mossy or garden-like. Gem dealers often refer to them as 'jardins' (gardens).
CUT
Emerald’s crystal shape determines its cut. Rectangular step cuts, known as ‘emerald cuts’, are most common.
CARAT WEIGHT
A one-carat emerald looks more prominent in size than a one-carat diamond due to its lower density.
(Source: https://www.gia.edu/emerald)
ZAMBIAN EMERALD
- Large scale emerald mining began in Zambia around 1976. Zambia produces 20% of the world’s emeralds.
- The majority of Zambian emeralds are produced in the Kamakanga and Kagem mines, located in the 'Copperbelt' region of northern Zambia.
- A stunning deep green colour, Zambian emeralds are darker in tone than Colombian Emeralds, with more of a bluish tint.
BRAZILIAN EMERALD
- In terms of lustre, Brazilian emeralds come in varying tones from light to dark brilliant green. The distinctive hues make them note-worthy amongst the emerald family.
- Top-quality emeralds are mined from the Itabira/Nova Era belt in Minas Gerais. These mines are gradually gaining popularity for producing premier-quality gemstones to rival those from Colombia.
- Brazilian emeralds have great density and strength, which makes them ideal for pavé settings.
COLOMBIAN EMERALD
- The most famous of the beryl family gemstones, the Colombian Emerald is highly coveted for its beauty, colour, and historical origin.
- The most popular of Colombia's emerald mines is the Muzo mine, located in the emerald belt of the Colombian Andes. The mine has produced raw gems of incomparable beauty for over a decade.
- Historians agree that native indigenous people have been mining the gemstone since 300 AD. The Spanish sold emeralds to Europe (where they were valued for their purported medicinal qualities) and India (where the emperor wore them as decorative protective charms).
- Colombian Emerald is a warm green colour with a pure and intense hue. Although they do not have the sparkle or lustre of other gemstones, Colombian Emeralds’ tones and colour are unique and highly desirable.
Source: https://www.withclarity.com/education/gemstone-education/emerald-gemstone/colombian-emeralds
