| Around 500 years ago, Spanish conquistadors who | | | | them; they shipped the stones, both those mined and |
| set foot upon the until then unknown continent of | | | | those taken from the Indians, to Spain where they |
| South America discovered the lovely green crystals | | | | were sent to Paris for sale. |
| found in the Andes of Columbia, which give this South | | | | Europe first knew of the fabulous emeralds from |
| American country the honor of being the source of | | | | South America when Pizarro ruthlessly conquered and |
| the world's finest emeralds i.e,Colombian Emeralds | | | | despoiled Peru, taking from the Incas an immense |
| The Indian tribes of Colombia had been using | | | | quantity of emeralds, many of incredible size being |
| wonderful emeralds in jewelry and ornaments and | | | | sent to the Queen of Spain. Subsequently the old |
| they also used them for barter with other neighboring | | | | native workings in Colombia were found by the |
| tribes, which probably extended to those as far north | | | | Spanish invaders and worked by them; they shipped |
| as Mexico, and south to Bolivia and Peru. Despite 300 | | | | the stones, both those mined and those taken from |
| years diligent search no other emerald-bearing areas | | | | the Indians, to Spain where they were sent to Paris for |
| outside Colombia have been found in Andean ranges, | | | | sale. |
| or in Central America or Mexico. The so Called | | | | Colombia today is the world's most significant exporter |
| 'Peruvian' or 'Mexican' emeralds were in all probability | | | | of gem-quality emeralds and is generally described as |
| products of the ancient Colombian mines. | | | | setting the standards with regard to quality and |
| Subsequently the old native workings in Colombia | | | | desirability. |
| were found by the Spanish invaders and worked by | | | | . source of the world's finest emeralds i. |