Editor’s Note
This article highlights the unique geological origins and exceptional qualities—such as brilliance, color, and hardness—that make Colombian emeralds among the world’s most prized gemstones.
According to the National Mining Agency (ANM), Colombian emeralds stand out for their brilliance, color, transparency, light play, and optimal hardness. All these traits have played a fundamental role in characterizing this precious stone produced in the country as one of the highest quality in the world.
The then-president of the ANM, Juan Miguel Durán, indicated that the reason for these characteristics was due to its hydrothermal sedimentary origin (i.e., its proximity to hot springs or natural hot waters).
This, combined with a high chromium content, causes the emeralds to take on an ideal color, light play, and brilliance, making them unique stones.
The largest production of these precious stones is concentrated in the mountains of the Colombian Eastern Cordillera, more precisely in the departments of Boyacá and Cundinamarca. According to Fedesmeraldas, the municipalities that stand out the most in this production are:
Muzo: This municipality in Boyacá is recognized by many as the emerald capital. An entire culture and tourist destination have been built around this stone. So much so that they have the International Emerald Museum.
San Pablo de Borbur: This Boyacá municipality has one of the most important and globally recognized emerald mines, the Conscuez mine. Additionally, it is also recognized for its natural tourist sites such as the Las Cacas cavern, the Lagunas páramo, and the Fura and Tena hills (places with incredible waterfalls).
Gachalá and Gachetá: These two municipalities in Cundinamarca are the most prominent in the department’s emerald production. An interesting fact is that one of the largest emeralds to date was found in 1967 at the Vega de San Juan mine in Gachalá. According to Procolombia, this emerald weighed just under 3 kilograms and 858 carats.
In addition to the aforementioned municipalities, other municipalities in Boyacá also stand out in emerald production, such as Chivor, Maripí, Coscuez, and Macanal.