Editor’s Note
Colombian emeralds, prized for their exceptional color and clarity, dominate the global market. This week, their prominence is underscored by major auctions in Colombia and Asia, highlighting their enduring appeal to collectors and jewelers alike.
When it comes to precious stones, Colombian emeralds are highly valued in the global market, not only due to their intense green color and purity—qualities that distinguish them from their competitors—but also because Colombia is the world’s leading producer, generating approximately between 70% and 90% of high-quality emeralds.
These stones, coveted by jewelers and collectors worldwide, will be in the news again this week due to an auction taking place in Colombia and Asia. It is expected to confirm that this industry represents a significant source of income and employment for the country, as well as the livelihood for thousands of families that depend on it.
The event will take place from November 11 to 13 and is organized by Fura Gems. The company explained that this is the seventh auction of exceptional quality Colombian emeralds, initially held in Bogotá and subsequently moving to Bangkok from November 21 to 25.
Event organizers stated that this “marks a milestone in Fura’s history, being the first time that over 170,000 carats of top-tier local emeralds are offered to the international market,” once again elevating Colombia’s name in the precious stones market.
Fura reported that a legendary mine located in the famous Muzo formation, known as the Coscuez Mine, is the source of the stones to be auctioned in the coming days. They highlighted that their achievement is the result of a joint effort between science and the ancestral knowledge of the area’s inhabitants.
Rupak Sen, Marketing Director of FURA Gems, explained:
He also stated:
and emphasized that emeralds are a product that generates significant development in Colombia.
A novelty for this auction is that each gem will have a “digital twin,” serving as a permanent and immutable record of its origin, ownership history, and unique characteristics. Similarly, each auction lot is loaded onto a blockchain platform before sale, and the digital key is transferred to the winner along with the gem.
Rupak Sen added:
Finally, looking ahead, Fura Gems announced that it will organize additional auctions of Mozambican rubies (December 10-14, 2024) and Australian sapphires (January 21-24, 2025), “further expanding access to world-class precious stones from responsible sources.” They urged interested parties to stay tuned for future announcements on the matter.
