Years ago, the production of Colombian emeralds was highly affected by government’s ownership, regulation, criminal activity and violence. The government’s position in emerald mining improved and became more transparent and traceable after multinationals started to invest in the emerald mining field. Those investments increased the production of Colombian emeralds and also made it possible to win emeralds with more modern equipment.
Emeralds from Colombia possess less iron and fewer impurities and fractions than emeralds from other countries like Brazil and Zambia which makes Colombian emeralds much more valuable. Some of the most expensive and rarest emeralds in the world came from the emerald mines in Colombia. Colombian emeralds have kept their value over the last few years and it even has increased. Where emeralds once had the value of $40,000 per carat, nowadays they can reach almost $90,000. More investments in the Colombian emerald mining sector will guarantee the increase of the production of emeralds and could be a great asset for any investor who is interested in the emerald mining field.
Mines that had been Spanish royal property fell under Colombian government control after independence in 1810. Still, many independent miners—called guaqueros —continued to dig for emerald. By 1979 two companies, Tecminas in Muzo and Esmeracol S.A. in Coscuez, had begun privatized mining. Relations between the two groups became strained. Elements of the Colombian drug cartels tried to infiltrate the industry in the 1980s, leading to the Green War, in which thousands lost their lives. A peace treaty was signed in 1990, mediated by the Catholic Church. Instrumental in the treaty was the legendary Victor Carranza, known as the “Emerald Czar” and considered the most influential figure in the emerald industry at that time (Angarita and Angarita, 2013).
The last five years have seen more foreign investment and multinational companies entering the Colombian mining industry, stronger efforts at formalization, greater transparency, stricter enforcement of traceability, less violence, and new branding efforts to create a marketable image for today’s consumer.
At this very moment colombian emeralds might be the ONLY not yet registered and centrally controlled high value asset on the planet.
• Some say all assets on the planet should be centrally controlled by the few that run the show…having assets “outside this control system” should be illegal - and they are moving forward with their agenda.
The good thing is - they are not there yet - and when it comes to emeralds, they never will.
• Some say “there is a universal right to privacy” we, the people, should insist on…for good reasons…to ensure and fund the financial base of our version of “persuit of happiness” without undue interference.
