The Colombia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai hosted a delegation from the Colombia Association of Emerald Exporters (Acodes) on March 4 where they shed light on Colombia’s precious gem, the emeralds. Known for its distinctive bluish tone, Colombian emeralds make up more than half or 55 per cent of the world’s exports, making Colombia the world’s leading producer of emeralds.
The Acodes, which was established in 1969, discussed the flourishing export business of emeralds and the potential to expand the industry’s reach to the UAE and across the region. Visitors at the Colombia Pavilion also had a chance to take a closer look at the emeralds that was on display.
The country is the first global producer of emeralds where exports of the precious stone reached its value at USD 42 million in 2020, while normal export account for about 150million per year. Commercial grade emeralds are abundant; however, fine and extra fine quality emeralds are extremely rare. This makes Colombian emeralds valued in the global market where a 10-carat stone can cost much more than diamonds of the same size.
Colombian emeralds, also known as ‘The Green Spell’, exude colours that reflect Colombia’s green features – from its flag to the verdant prairies, mountains, fertile landscape, the Amazon rainforests, and natural reserves of the country.
Colombia owns the crown when it comes to the largest and finest emeralds discovered in the world. The largest recorded and registered in the Guinness Book of Records was found in Las Cruces mine near Gachala in 1969 weighing 7,025 carats. The Fura emerald, found in 1999 in Muzo, Boyaca, is the second largest cut in the world, weighing 11,000 carats and 2.2 kilograms. The third largest emerald vein in the world known as Petra was also found in a mine in Muzo, weighing 236 pounds and has more than 60 embedded emeralds of all shapes and sizes.
Colombian emeralds are also heralded as the world’s most expensive jewel after the tiara of Princess Katharina Henckel von Donnersmarck from a noble German family was auctioned in 2011 at USD 12.7 million. In addition, Colombian emeralds have also adorned famous Hollywood stars such as Amy Adams, Annette Benning, Marisa Tomei, and Reese Witherspoon who all wore this beauty during the Oscar Awards Red Carpet in 2010.
