Gemstone Focus: THE FASCINATING JOURNEY OF ZAMBIAN EMERALDS
Diamond World|May - June 2023
Zambian emeralds are becoming increasingly popular, thanks to the greater level of clarity that they possess, when compared with their counterparts. They have a lower incidence of “eye-visible” inclusions, which enhances their colour and enables them to reflect light better. Suneeta Kaul traces the fascinating journey of these magical green gems, from the mine to the market
Suneeta Kaul
Gemstone Focus: THE FASCINATING JOURNEY OF ZAMBIAN EMERALDS

Emeralds have captured the imagination of people for centuries, enthralling royalty and common folk alike with their enchanting green hue, and an intriguing past. The origin of these precious stones is as fascinating as their final, polished look on a piece of jewellery. That rich green colour is a result of the coming together of chromium, vanadium, beryllium and iron in their crystalline structure. While most emeralds have visible inclusions, the overall combination of all the elements that go into making these alluring stones contributes to the distinct intensity and saturation of their captivating green hue.

Zambian emeralds – allure unlimited! 

Shaped by specific geological conditions, emeralds are formed deep within the earth, taking millions of years to emerge to the surface. Zambian emeralds have taken a jaw-dropping 500 million years to form! The extreme temperatures and pressures necessary for emerald formation make these vibrant green gems much rarer than diamonds.

According to auction house Phillips, “Zambia has created a stir within the gemstone world because of its abundant supply of emeralds. Located in a region surrounded by neighbours renowned for their gem deposits — think Tanzanian tanzanites and Mozambique rubies — Zambia has quickly risen to become one of the most valuable emerald sources in the world. On both sides of the Kafubu River, the mineral-rich Copperbelt Province is home to the Kagem emerald mine, majority owned by UK-based mining company, Gemfields, which is the world’s single largest producer of emeralds, taking up approximately 25% of global production.”

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