The Emerald Tzar of Colombia

Víctor Carranza (8 October 1935 – 4 April 2013) was a Colombian emerald dealer and the owner of emerald mines in the Boyacá mountains. Carranza was involved in the Muzo mining area outside Boyacá, Colombia from the 1980s until his death. Various forces clashed during the Green War, including Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel, leftist guerrilla groups and right wing paramilitaries. Carranza remained in control of Colombia's emerald trade during this period. Carranza controlled at 40% of Colombia’s emerald business, which supplies about two thirds of the world’s stones.

Before the signing of a peace pact in 1991, an estimated 3,000 people were killed in fighting for control of the business. As cancer spread, his hold on power slipped, and the peace pact started to unravel. He survived at least two assassination attempts.

The emerald tsar brought a relative peace to the industry. Carranza claimed emeralds “called to him”.

Slipping production is likely the reason behind the rise in the price of Colombian emeralds, which spiked 30 per cent in 2017, according to industry experts.

Jadeite

Jadeite is a pyroxene mineral with composition NaAlSi2O6. It is monoclinic and has a Mohs hardness of about 6.5 to 7 depending on the composition. The Latin version of the name, lapis nephriticus, is the origin of the term nephrite, another variety of jade. Jadeite is formed in metamorphic rocks under high pressure and relatively low temperature.

The most highly valued colors of jadeite are the most intensely green, though white has been considered the most valuable of the jades by the Chinese.

Jadeite from the Motagua Valley, Guatemala, was used by the Olmec and Maya, as well as the indigenous of Costa Rica. Top quality jadeite is very rare. Vivid, sleek, and translucent, magnificent jadeite commands some of the highest prices among gems.

Natural Icy Imperial Emerald Green Jadeite Dragon's Fang Pendant 16 carats.

Jadeite’s three most important qualities, in order of their impact on value, are color, transparency, and texture. The finest-quality jadeite is known as Imperial jade. The royal court of China once had a standing order for all available material of this kind, and it’s one of the world’s most expensive gems.

The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace carries 27 matching pure jadeite beads. $27.44m

Jadeite and diamond pendant £180k

Jadeite’s transparency ranges from opaque to semitransparent. The best jadeite is semitransparent. The finest quality jadeite is usually cut into cabochons. A jadeite snuff bottle, 1780–1880. It sold for HK$ 1.5 million

A pair of jadeite and diamond ear pendants. Est HK$3,800,000-5,800,000 ($480,000-750,000)

A jadeite ring. Est ($3,500,000-4,800,000)

Art-deco jadeite, enamel, gem-set and diamond brooch from Cartier, circa 1927. HK$7m-8m

Jadite Bangle.($777,816 - $1,037,088)

Paraiba tourmaline giving shine to high end watches

Hublot’s Big Bang Paraiba is set with up to 224 paraiba tourmalines. Prices range between $232k and $274k.

Paraiba is perfect for watches because it retains some of its sizzle even when set flush. Compared to the prong setting of a ring, setting a gem into metal blocks light from entering the pavilion and out through the top, which can make diamonds look dull. Paraiba is the exception to this drawback. Watches set with the gem retain a glow.

See ----->Paraiba tourmaline - World's most desirable Gemstone

Graff's Pigeon Blood Ruby - $8.6M

The 8.62-carat cushion-shaped 'Graff Ruby' ring from the Collection of Dimitri Mavrommatis soared beyond pre-sale estimates and set a world auction record for a ruby in 2014 at $8,600,410, as well as a record price per carat for a ruby at $997,727. Another highlight of the evening was a natural pearl and diamond necklace that was likely once the property of Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. Comprising 111 pearls, the necklace sold for $3,426,669, above the pre-sale estimate of $800,000-$1,400,000.

In addition to the Graff Ruby, the collection included a rare 27.54-carat step-cut Kashmir sapphire with a velvety blue color that sold for $5,984,474, a world auction record for a Kashmir sapphire. It had an estimate of $3m to $6m.

A pair of superb sapphire, ruby and diamond earrings, by JAR. Each of circular form, pavé-set with circular-cut sapphires of various hues ranging from light pink to purplish blue, surmounted with a cage set cushion-shaped stone, one a diamond weighing 3.06 carats, the other a ruby weighing 4.89 carats. 557,000 CHF.