Rare Green EMERALD Crystals in Sparkling Mica & Schist Matrix Specimen with Quartz Inclusions

Locality: Sandawana Mines, Zimbabwe

AAA Grade!

Measurements: 

63 x 58 x 37mm approx at widest points

Weight:

145 grams

Specimen will come in a mineral box with a name label.

The Story of Sandawana and Columbian Emeralds

Sandawana emeralds are the most beautiful and sought after in the world.

The Sandawana emerald is probably one of the most prestigious, beautiful, and rarest stone in the world, so it holds its value well. Liz Taylor and Angelina Jolie have both dazzled many when wearing them. The Columbian emerald comes second to the Sandawana emerald, but is also noted for some of the most fabulous finds in history.

The History of Zimbabwean Emeralds

Emeralds were originally discovered in the the Sandawana area of (then) Rhodesia in 1955. Initially emeralds greater than three carats were found quite frequently at the Sandawana mine, but that is not so anymore. The norm is now about half a carat. The largest mine in Sandawana, Zimbabwe, closed in 2012, leaving another twenty seven mines currently operating.

These stones have a far higher value than those mined in Colombia or elsewhere.

As a jeweller once said - The finest emerald I’ve ever seen was a 3-carat Sandawana stone shown me in 1980. It’s owner, an Indian dealer, wanted a mind-boggling $60,000 per carat. He got it.”

The colour and clarity of the stone has a lot to do with the price . In the early 80s, when the Sandawana mine production was still in full production, this African emerald was fetching twice the price of emeralds mined elsewhere — $1,600 versus $700 per carat.

Famous Emerald Mines

Emeralds are mined in most countries in the world, but two particular types of emeralds stand out for their beauty and quality — the Sandawana emerald from an area in Zimbabwe with the same name and the Colombian emerald from Colombia.

Colombian emerald tends to be the popular choice as they are more freely available and, therefore, less expensive. It is has a more yellow tint. The Sandawana emerald has a rich blue green tint, and the mines are almost mined out, so they have a rarity value that the Columbian emerald does not have.

The colour ranges from a yellow green to a very dark blue green.

Columbian Emeralds vs Sandawana Emeralds

There have been some spectacularly large Colombian emeralds found, and their colour has been as good as those of the Sandawana mines. They also have fewer inclusions. However, there are those who will tell you that the colour of the Zimbabwean emerald is superior, and they still fetch a higher price.