By Zambian Emeralds Co - Open Publications Magazine, November 2025

Emeralds are among the most eye-catching of all of gemstones. However, among them there are some that are more special than others. Those are the Zambian emeralds, and one devoted fan of those emeralds is Marcus, a jeweler with more than thirty years of experience in the field. I had the opportunity to talk to Marcus about his appreciation of Zambian emeralds and why he uses them so frequently in his own creations.

I started with Marcus with a basic question: why Zambian emeralds in particular? Without hesitation, he answered, "Consistency. The Colombian name holds history, but Zambian is more consistent". Consistent in larger stones, he quickly added. As a jeweler who was looking for a dependable emerald with which to work with, Marcus found the Zambian variant more predictable for larger stones. It's a huge plus if you are working with custom pieces and a commissioned piece for a client. He also found that the Zambian stones had great transparency, and the stones had less garden ("Jardin" in the trade) which is preferred for the clean lines of today's sleek design. Marcus also noted that the slightly higher refractive index provided exceptional brilliance both in natural and artificial light conditions, and they are not just for special occasions, but for daily wear as well.

There is some of the Zambian emerald appeal that is due to the chemical and geological uniqueness of the gem, but Marcus also discussed a less tangible characteristic. "They have an energy, a presence", Marcus said. "When you look at these stones, there's a depth to them that people pick up on. Clients often just fall in love with them on sight". The meaning of emeralds have been linked with attributes such as wisdom, growth, and patience in many different cultures. Marcus thinks Zambian emeralds, in particular, have a certain grounding energy but also otherworldliness. He recounted stories of customers who chose Zambian emeralds as engagement stones over more conventional diamonds, being drawn to the symbolism of a vibrant and growing love. "I think when someone opts for an emerald, especially a Zambian emerald, they are really making a statement about valuing the unique, the naturally beautiful".

"Emeralds from Zambia are considered the best", Marcus said. "The combination of color, clarity and size make them amazing. The color of Zambian emeralds tends to be more bluish-green in color than other emeralds". Emeralds sourced from Zambia are mined in Kafubu River, the area that is one of the largest greenstone belts in the world. Emeralds from Zambia are younger than many other emeralds as they were not discovered until the 1920s. Commercial mining of emeralds in Zambia did not start until the 1970s.

Emeralds from Zambia are one of the best sources of emeralds for use in jewelry, but one of the least known to the public as compared to other sources of emeralds. "Cutting a Zambian emerald is a different animal altogether. The crystal formation allows for deep clarity and color saturation", Marcus explained. He went on to illustrate how light refracts differently in a Zambian emerald compared to other sources, resulting in what he described as a "living green" effect. On the subject of how they lend themselves to craftsmanship, Marcus notes that Zambian emeralds, in general, have fewer inclusions compared to their Colombian counterparts. This quality makes them ideal for a wide variety of setting styles. "If I'm working on a signature piece and I want something that is vibrant yet elegant, I often reach for a Zambian emerald".

He also made some comparisons and contrasts between Zambian emeralds and other gems: "Emeralds make us think of plants and of the earth. Sapphires represent the sky; diamonds show us a rainbow", Marcus said. On the subject of the Colombian versus Zambian emerald debate, Marcus further added that Colombian emeralds tend to be more yellow-green in color, while Zambian stones tend to be more blue-green in hue, a characteristic that most modern consumers prefer. Zambian emeralds of the highest quality also require little to no treatment for them to be put in their best light, while many lower-quality rubies require treatments to be able to look their best. Marcus also noted that, when it came to Brazilian or Afghan emeralds, he personally believed that the Zambian variety offered the best value in terms of color-to-clarity ratio, especially when it came to larger stones (two carats and up). "Emeralds as an investment piece? I hear a lot of people say that. But diamonds get all the marketing, and I think most of these people overlook emeralds".

Our interview with Marcus Marcus complete, we have discovered for ourselves why he holds such a fondness for Zambian emeralds. Unique in their own way, as Marcus describes it, their appeal is a product of rarity, aesthetics, and the symbolic power that they project. Collectors and those who love gemstones will be hard pressed to find stones that can match the allure of Zambian emeralds in the world of jewelry. Marcus provides a unique and well-rounded perspective on Zambian emeralds that complemented the clinical aspects of gemstone and jeweler analysis with a poetic reflection of their beauty and meaning. For the fortunate who may have the opportunity to come into contact with these marvels of gemstone whether in the sparkle of a cut stone or in the depths of an uncut beryl, the allure of the Zambian emerald is not an easy thing to resist. As Marcus carefully returned his exquisite pieces to the protective velvet of their display cases, he left us with one last nugget of wisdom: "In an age where authenticity and significance are more sought after than ever, Zambian emeralds provide a truly unique gift - a slice of natural elegance that not only adorns but endows the wearer with a connection to the earth and the eternal".

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