Visiting Colombia, the World's Top Emerald Producer

Colombia, the beautiful country nestled in the northwestern corner of South America, produces most of the world’s emeralds.

The first records of emeralds being worn in jewelry date back to the early days of the Roman Empire, and they’ve been treasured ever since.

I recently traveled to Colombia, to speak with those involved in the emerald trade. It was a unique opportunity to understand where these gems come from, and the pride they bring to so many Colombians.

Most of the emeralds mined in Colombia come from towns around Boyaca, an area northeast of the capital Bogota. Some of the finest emerald deposits in the world are here, producing stones with bluish green and pure green color.

It’s typical to see inclusions in emeralds. In fact, they’re often referred to as a “jardin,” the French word for garden, because of their appearance. 


Many of the stones for sale in tourist areas of Colombia, like Cartagena, are heavily included. You tend to see less of a “jardin” effect, meaning the stone is cleaner, in gems exported for sale in other countries.

When we purchase emerald jewelry at Hingham Jewelers, for example, we are hand selecting stones after inspection. We look for rich color, and stones free of heavy inclusions. Interestingly enough, some of our clients actually like seeing a few inclusions, as a reminder that the stone is natural, and imperfect by design.

Back in Colombia, I came across many women who wore engagement rings featuring emeralds, a nod to the pride and prevalence of emeralds in the country.

Those working in the industry were eager to share the lore around emeralds in Colombia, as well. The myth of Fura and Tena, represented by two mountains in the mining region, reflect how significant emeralds are to the cultural fabric of this country.

Colombians are also eager to explain the chemical differences between their emeralds, and those from other nations like Zambia and Brazil.

A 5 ct. emerald ring sourced and custom made at Hingham Jewelers

In walking me through a replica mine, a gemological guide explained that Colombian emeralds tend to have lower iron content, one of many factors giving the gems their world renowned characteristics.

Emeralds, like so many other gems, are a true expression of nature’s beauty. Next time you stop in to our store, please feel free to view our selection of emeralds, now that you’ve read more about their background.

And if there’s a particular piece of jewelry you’ve always wanted, involving an emerald, reach out so we can source the perfect stone for you.

-Michael