Trapiche Emerald, 0.52ct

About Trapiche Emeralds

One of the rarest variety of the gemstone Emerald is the one which has an appearance similar to a spoked wheel, commonly known as Trapiche Emeralds. They get their name after a Spanish word Trapiche used for a wheel in South American countries to process sugarcane, due to their resemblance to it.

The six-ray figure looks similar to a star-effect but is different in the sense that it is not an optical phenomenon and remains fixed even on orienting the gem specimen in different directions. The mystery behind the formation of these rare gems of nature has possessed the imaginations of geologists and connoisseurs alike since time immemorial. The latest research explains the formation on basis of addition of black carbon impurities to the hexagonal crystal structure, forming a six-point radial pattern with a hexagonal core.

The completeness of the hexagonal rays, along with the color and size generally determine the quality of the gemstone.

They are commonly given a Cabochon cut, to display their effect best and thus many times used as centerpieces for rings and earrings.

Majority of these limited beauties have been found from the western part of the Eastern Cordillera basin, Muzo mines, and the Peñas Blancas mines of Colombia, the gems belonging to the latter two being the most expensive.