Basic Introduction to Columbian Emeralds
Columbia is the world's most important source of emeralds, with 75% of the world market's supply coming from there during a recent period. The three most significant mines, Muzo, Chivor, and TRAPICHE, are all located in the Andes Mountains. These mines' emeralds generally feature a clear, pure green color, with some displaying unique growth patterns (such as six green arms).
Product Characteristics
An emerald is the gemstone-quality form of the mineral beryl, colored green. Its green color must reach a medium to vivid green hue, meaning the saturation of the color must be relatively intense. Pale green varieties are typically referred to as green beryl.
When describing emeralds, someone once said: “Even the most ignorant savage, stumbling upon an emerald in a humid forest, would recognize its bright, crystalline beauty and value.”
Historical and Folklore
It is said that around 1600 AD, in Muzo, over 200 kilometers north of the Colombian capital, the river swelled, flooding with powerful torrents and carrying away large amounts of sediment. After the floodwaters subsided, the local Moscas people returned to their former homes and found that the once clear river water had turned murky black, assuming that the mud at the bottom of the river had been churned up. People discovered numerous beautiful, green gems in the river, which were the famous Columbian emeralds. The Moscas people were ecstatic and selected some beautiful emeralds, embedding uncut prismatic crystals into a fine, unique necklace, which they presented to Princess Fura of Muzo. Later, the necklace was named after the princess, and the mine here was also named FURA. The outstanding FENA necklace became the most representative treasure of emeralds. The Moscas people passed down this necklace through generations, enshrining it in the mountains. Spanish colonizers tried to seize it multiple times but were always thwarted by the careful protection of the Moscas people. Over time, the necklace came into the possession of the Colombian Chinese family, the Caranza family, who have kept it to this day. In nearly 400 years, such beautifully crystalline prismatic emerald columns have not surfaced again. An American billionaire once offered two billion dollars to acquire it but was never able to do so.
Differentiating Genuine from Fake
The distinction between natural and synthetic emeralds often requires laboratory analysis, with the following characteristics:
(1) The refractive index of natural emeralds is usually between 1.57-1.59, while synthetic emeralds often have a lower refractive index, generally less than 1.57, though there can be exceptions.
(2) Natural emeralds tend to be heavier, with a specific gravity generally greater than 2.7, whereas emeralds synthesized using the melt-growth method have a specific gravity of only about 2.65-2.66. However, it should be noted that hydrothermally grown emeralds can have higher specific gravities.
(3) Natural emeralds usually contain inclusions and triphasic inclusions, such as needle-like, prismatic, or granular crystalline mineral inclusions, while synthetic emeralds are often cleaner. Hydrothermally grown emeralds exhibit “window screen” inclusions, while those synthesized using the melt-growth method show bread crumb-like inclusions. The inclusion characteristics of natural and synthetic emeralds differ.
(4) Under ultraviolet light, natural emeralds react more slowly or may appear dark red, whereas synthetic emeralds often emit a strong red fluorescence. When conducting this test, it is generally advisable to compare with a standard sample.
However, there are often exceptions in identification, and it is usually impossible for the average person to accurately distinguish them by eye, even with a 10x magnifying glass. Advances in modern technology have made synthetic products increasingly similar to natural ones. For example, hydrothermally grown emeralds can contain silicon-beesite “crystals” with sharp edges, similar to natural inclusions. Therefore, when purchasing high-end emerald jewelry, customers should not rely solely on their instincts but should obtain a certificate of authenticity from the seller. The conclusion in the certificate should specify “natural emerald” rather than simply “emerald.”