Emerald Month: the joy of colour

In colour theory, green marries the calming stability of blue with the energetic warmth of yellow, bringing a sense of balance and harmony. The green of an emerald comes from traces of chromium, vanadium, and iron. Compared to emeralds of other origins, Zambian emeralds in particular are lacking in vanadium, resulting in their desirable bluish-green tint and often eye-clean crystals, and ever-so-slightly richer in iron,  which is pivotal in bonding the elements more tightly. Consequently, Zambian emeralds boast a distinctive colour, which can be described as a sharp, evenly distributed green that glows with a tint of blue.

Highly prized emeralds display an even saturation of colour, and a vivid hue. Early humans’ fascination with colour and the desire to own lasting examples of it made them fall in love with gemstones, for their vivid beauty remained unchanged with every passing day. In a world where people aged, flowers wilted, and sunsets faded, only the colour of gemstones remained unchanged. For them, the only logical explanation was that gems were divine, forever linking gemstones to the spiritual world.

This enduring allure of gemstones continues to captivate and remind us of the beauty and permanence found in a transient world.