Emeralds

 

Emeralds

Second of the four precious stones.

A Precious Stone is distinguished from the fine stones because of its rarity. Colombia is the world’s leading producer of emeralds both in the quantity of its gems, but also and especially in the size and quality of its stones. Between 75 and 80% of world production comes from Colombia. Exceptional gemstones represent between 1.5% and 2.0% of world production and are all extracted from Colombia.

Emeralds mines

Three main mines are active there as well as a less known one.

North west of Bogota

Muzo

Muzo the best known and already exploited of the time of the Incas.

Coscuez

Coscuez two hours away by car from Muzo.

 

Nord-Est de Bogota

Chivor

Chivor, from which gems are extracted with a brilliance and a clear purity.

Gachala

Gachala located near the previous one and having about the same peculiarities

Geological features

Inside we can see drops of water that have crystallized, they are called garden. It’s his fingerprint. If, however, to the naked eye nothing is discerned a magnifying glass x 10 will make it appear. This is quite normal, although the idea is to be able to cut a stone with the smallest possible garden, so as to be near perfection.

Composition

Aluminum silicate + Chrome
C

Hardness

7,5 – 8
On Mohs scale (max 10)
\

Density

2,67 – 2,78
N

Refraction

1,576 – 1,582

The height

The size is mainly square or rectangular.

 

The weight

The weight of a stone is defined in carat.

For the record, the tree Carob tree produces pods that contain seeds inside, karats. Remarkable thing of the Nature, the seeds weigh almost all 0.20 grs, our ancestors being seen weighed the stones with. The unit has since remained.


				

			
 
			
 

				
				
				

				
				
				

					

					

						
1 carat = 0,20 g

						

							 
						

					

				
 
			
 
			
 
				
				
			
 
				
			
 

				
				
				
					

				

				
				
				

				
				
				

					
Selection criteria


The criteria for selecting an emerald are 4.

				

			
 
			
 
				
				
			
 

				

				
				
				

				
				
				
			

			
 

				
				
				

				
				
				

					
1. An intense green


The shade of green intensity of an emerald quantifies its rarity
				

			
 
			
 
				
				
			
 

				

				
				
				

				
				
				
			

			
 

				
				
				

				
				
				

					
2. A beautiful glow


Also called the life of the emerald


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3. Almost perfect purity


Although there will always be inclusions that we affectionately call: the garden.
				

			
 
			
 
				
				
			
 

				

				
				
				

				
				
				
			

			
 

				
				
				

				
				
				

					
4. The height


Round, square, heart or oval, everyone’s preference.