ZAMBIAN EMERALDS

A Zambian emerald displays a more saturated green, often with a slight yellow or blue cast depending on the mine, with fewer visible inclusions and greater clarity. A Colombian emerald offers a slightly purer, more velvety green — historically regarded as the absolute benchmark — but tends to show more characteristic inclusions. In terms of durability, Zambia has a slight edge thanks to its superior clarity (fewer internal fractures). On price, Colombia remains two to three times more expensive for equivalent quality, making Zambia an unbeatable choice for value.

Zambia has two major deposits. The Kagem mine (Kafubu region, Copperbelt Province), operated since the 1980s by Gemfields, is the largest emerald mine in the world by volume and supplies around 25% of global production. The Musakashi mine in the north-west, more recent, yields emeralds with a purer, slightly blue-green colour sometimes compared to Colombian stones. Over the past 30 years, Zambia has become the world's second-largest source of emeralds after Colombia. Bonnot Paris sources its Zambian emeralds through its office in Jaipur.

There are three main reasons. Historical rarity: Colombia has a 500-year head start in the cultural and commercial emerald market, creating a significant prestige premium. Colour perception: Colombia's slightly bluish-green tone is culturally regarded as the "ideal" emerald colour, and Asian buyers — the world's largest market — tend to favour it. Production volume: Zambia produces greater quantities than Colombia, which naturally exerts downward pressure on prices. In terms of quality, top-grade Zambian emeralds compete fully with their Colombian counterparts — making them a particularly astute choice.

Expect to pay €800 to €1,500 per carat for average quality (1-carat, oiled), €1,500 to €4,000 per carat for a fine 1-to-2-carat stone, and €5,000 to €15,000 per carat or more for an exceptional un-oiled emerald. At equivalent quality, a Zambian emerald trades at roughly two to three times less than a Colombian one, making it the finest value-for-money option on the market for a top-quality green stone.

Zambian emeralds display a range of greens spanning from deep, saturated green with a slight blue cast (Musakashi mine) to intense green with a subtle yellow warmth (Kagem mine). Compared to Colombian emeralds, they generally show stronger saturation and superior transparency owing to fewer dense inclusions. This characteristic means Zambian emeralds catch the light particularly well, with a livelier brilliance. For lovers of deep, luminous greens without the Colombian prestige premium, they represent a first-rate choice.

Like virtually all emeralds on the market — Colombian, Zambian, Brazilian or Ethiopian — Zambian emeralds are almost universally oiled to enhance their visual transparency. Cedar oil or a colourless resin is applied to fill natural surface fractures. This is an internationally recognised and accepted standard. A gemmological certificate specifies the degree of treatment according to CIBJO/SSEF standards: "no oil", "insignificant", "minor", "moderate" or "significant". An un-oiled Zambian emerald commands two to five times the price of its oiled equivalent and remains extremely rare.

Both offer an intense green at a considered price, yet they are very different stones. The Zambian emerald presents a richer, more mature green — slightly blue or yellow in cast — with its characteristic inner garden. The tsavorite (grossular garnet) delivers a purer, more saturated green, free of visible inclusions, with superior brilliance. In terms of durability, tsavorite (hardness 7.5) is more resistant and requires no protective setting. On price, tsavorite is generally 30 to 50% less expensive for comparable quality. For prestige and chromatic depth, choose the emerald; for clarity and practicality, the tsavorite.