BRILLIANT BRAZIL
A Guide To Buying Brazilian Gemstones
The world’s love affair with Brazilian gemstones started in 1573 when rumours and discoveries unleashed a ‘gem rush’ upon the country’s interior. After Brazil’s independence in 1822, German immigrants from the legendary lapidary hub of Idar-Oberstein saw Brazilian gemstones boom! Gold and diamond exploration overshadowed gem mining until the 19th century when ‘garimpeiros’ (independent miners) became prolific. Today, gem mining has shifted towards larger, more organized operations. Brazil’s deposits are extensive, yet still underexplored - hardly a year goes by without enchanting new Brazilian gemstone discoveries.
With each gemstone's unique qualities, discover what to look out for with Gavin's quick guide to buying your next Brazilian gemstone. All are easily assessed by ranking them against their defining attributes: Beauty, Rarity and Durability.
BEAUTY
- Colour - Determines 50% of a gem's value.
- Brilliance & Transparency - The amount of reflected light and opacity of gem (make sure to only compare similar stones as a dark stone will not have the brightness of a light stone but may remain just as valuable).
- Clarity - Very few gemstones grow in nature undisturbed.
- Cutting Quality - This determines the proportions and finish of a gem.
- Carat - The bigger the gem, the higher the value.
- Country - Some gems have a single source or an acclaimed locale.
RARITY
- All gems are rare, but some are rarer than others.
DURABILITY
- Is a gemstones hardness, toughness and stability.
Using the above, let’s meet some Brazilian gemstones…
Brazilian Emerald
BEAUTY
- For centuries, emeralds have captivated hearts with their mesmerizing green hues, symbolizing love, rebirth, and prosperity.
- Look for vivid and electric neon blues; visually similar to the famed Paraíba Tourmaline.
- Bright brilliance with high transparency.
- Eye-clean clarity, which is the highest clarity grade for gemstones.
- Optimal for cutting.
- Premium quality.
RARITY
- Very rare, plagued by sporadic production, and challenging to optimally facet.
DURABILITY
- Popular jewellery gemstone.
MARAMBAIA TOPAZ
BEAUTY
- Named for the Marambaia Mine in Minas Gerais "General Mines".
- Velvety blues reminiscent of fine Sapphires and vivid blues close to the purest Aquamarine.
- Bright brilliance with high transparency.
- Excellent brilliance with high transparency.
- Optimal cutting quality.
- Quality benchmark, representing the top 2% of all Blue Topaz.
RARITY
- Mined since the early 1900s. Extremely limited due to low yields and high demand.
DURABILITY
- As one of the world’s hardest gemstones, Marambaia Topaz is an excellent choice for everyday jewellery.
Tourmaline
BEAUTY
- A Rainbow of Beauty and Durability
- The wide range of colors makes tourmaline a versatile gemstone that can be used in a variety of jewelry designs.
- Bright brilliance with high transparency.
- Excellent brilliance with high transparency.
- Optimal cutting quality.
- Quality benchmark, representing the top 2% of all Blue Topaz.
RARITY
- Mined since the early 1900s. Extremely limited due to low yields and high demand.
DURABILITY
- As one of the world’s hardest gemstones, Marambaia Topaz is an excellent choice for everyday jewellery.
