At Berganza we are most privileged to hold some of the finest and most sought after of gems. From Kashmir sapphires, to pigeon blood rubies, we deal in rarities.
Today we would like to shine a light on one of our most exceptional gems, a natural Colombian emerald weighing an impressive 9.65 carats!
There are several factors which go into the prestige and value of an emerald; the first is origin. Emeralds from the old mines of Colombia are famed for being of the finest quality, known for their rich and saturated green hue, and superior clarity. First mined on an industrial scale by the Spanish in 1538, they were traded for precious metals with European and Asian clients, thus bringing this most exquisite of gems to international renown. These old mines have long since been exhausted, with these emeralds having decorated not only Incan emperors but also European royalty!
Another aspect which determines value is whether an emerald has been treated, as is true of the vast majority of emeralds on today’s market. Untreated emeralds, and even ones with minor clarity enhancement are exceptionally rare, and are valued accordingly. A naturally more included gemstone, emeralds are often referred to as the 'garden stone', and are a softer gem, measuring a 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale. These factors mean that when cutting and faceting an emerald, a certain amount of oil is required in order to ensure the process runs smoothly. As such, it is quite common for this oil to penetrate any inclusions within the stone, thus improving its colour, and/or clarity. Therefore, for an emerald to be determined as having no oil in its inclusions is remarkably rare, and an indicator of it being a gem of the finest quality.
The Colombian emerald in this ring weighs an incredible 9.65 carats, and having no oil, you will rarely come across a more impressive emerald. Emeralds such as this are highly sought after by both collectors, and investors.
If you are looking for an emerald piece, our collection features rare Colombian emeralds in a myriad of styles, so you are sure to find the perfect one for you!