History of the Worlds Finest Emeralds i.e,Colombian Emeralds

History of the Worlds Finest Emeralds i.e,Colombian Emeralds
Around 500 years ago, Spanish conquistadors who set foot upon the until then unknown continent of South America discovered the lovely green crystals found in the Andes of Columbia, which give this South American country the honor of being the source of the worlds finest emeralds i.e,Colombian Emeralds

The Indian tribes of Colombia had been using wonderful emeralds in jewelry and ornaments and they also used them for barter with other neighboring tribes, which probably extended to those as far north as Mexico, and south to Bolivia and Peru. Despite 300 years diligent search no other emerald-bearing areas outside Colombia have been found in Andean ranges, or in Central America or Mexico. The so Called Peruvian or Mexican emeralds were in all probability products of the ancient Colombian mines. Mexico, and south to Bolivia and Peru where mostly Indian tribes

Europe first knew of the fabulous emeralds from South America when Pizarro ruthlessly conquered and despoiled Peru, taking from the Incas an immense quantity of emeralds, many of incredible size being sent to the Queen of Spain. Subsequently the old native workings in Colombia were found by the Spanish invaders and worked by them; they shipped the stones, both those mined and those taken from the Indians, to Spain where they were sent to Paris for sale.

Colombia today is the worlds most significant exporter of gem-quality emeralds and is generally described as setting the standards with regard to quality and desirability.

The emerald mines of Colombia are situated in the Cordillera Oriental, the eastern range of the Andes. They lie north to north-east of Bogota the Colombian capital, in the departments of Boyaca, Cundinamarca and Santander. Colombian emeralds are mined from two zones: the western zone that hosts, from north to south, the Penas Blancas, Cosquez, Muzo and Yacopi mining regions and the eastern zone that hosts the Chivor/Somondoco and Gachala mining regions.

Colombia today is the worlds most significant exporter of gem-quality emeralds and is generally described as setting the standards with regard to quality and desirability.
Europe first knew of the fabulous emeralds from South America when Pizarro ruthlessly conquered and despoiled Peru, taking from the Incas an immense quantity of emeralds, many of incredible size being sent to the Queen of Spain. Mexico, and south to Bolivia and Peru where mostly Indian tribes

Peruvian or Mexican emeralds were in all probability products of the ancient Colombian mines.

Author: Harshil Zaveri
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