The Gachalá emerald is one of the most famous and valuable emeralds in the world, named after the town of Gachalá in Colombia, where it was discovered.

In this article we are going to tell you as much information as possible about this Colombian emerald whose beauty and rarity managed to cross borders.

General characteristics

Name: Gachalá Emerald
Discovery: 1967
Origin: Gachalá, Department of Cundinamarca, Colombia
Weight: 858 carats
Current location: Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA

Discovery and origin

The Gachalá emerald was found at the Vega de San Juan mine, located in the town of Gachalá, about 142 kilometers northeast of Bogotá, Colombia. This region is part of Colombia's renowned emerald belt, known for producing some of the finest emeralds in the world.

Colombian mines, including those near Muzo, Chivor and Gachalá, have been prized for centuries for their production of deep green, high-clarity emeralds. Gachalá, though not as famous as Muzo, produced this exceptional emerald that astonished the gem world for its extraordinary size and purity.

Physical characteristics

The Gachalá emerald weighs 858 carats (approximately 171.6 grams). Although the crystal was not cut, it exhibits the intense green color typical of Colombian emeralds, highly coveted in the jewelry industry.

An emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl, whose green color is due to small amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. The word "emerald" comes from "esmaralda", a Latin variant that originated from the ancient Greek "smaragdos", meaning "green gem".

Being a raw crystal, the Gachalá emerald retains its natural shape and texture, offering a glimpse of the environment in which the mineral grew.

Where are you now?

Shortly after its discovery, the Gachalá emerald was acquired by the famous American jeweler Harry Winston. Recognizing its immense importance, Winston donated the emerald to the Smithsonian Institution in 1969, where it became part of the National Gem Collection.

Today, it remains housed in the National Museum of Natural History. The Gachalá emerald is displayed alongside other famous gems, contributing to its status as one of the most admired emeralds in the world.

Paula A. Bonilla

Social communicator and journalist from Sergio Arboleda University in Colombia. She is also a jeweler and is passionate about constantly learning about precious gems and national fine jewelry.

Currently, she works for one of the most important jewelry stores in Bogotá, Esmeralda by Love. This jewelry store has more than 40 years of experience and has 2 physical branches in the capital of Colombia, located in the city center .