Colombian trapiche emeralds

The trapiche is an emerald whose crystal shows six green sectors radiating around a core, separated by dark arms of carbonaceous inclusions trapped during growth. The word comes from Spanish, the wheel of the sugar-cane mill, whose spokes the stone reproduces. It is not a twin, the six sectors share the same crystal orientation, as our article on emerald twinning explains. The pattern requires black shales saturated with carbonaceous matter, the geology of Colombia's two belts, Muzo, Peñas Blancas and Coscuez in the west, Chivor in the east (see the Colombian emerald mines), which explains why it remains almost impossible to find in France.

A trapiche is not judged like a faceted stone. Color counts, but the pattern counts more. Thin, continuous, well drawn arms are worth far more than a diffuse pattern. An even wheel with the core at the center is rare. The green of the sectors has to stand out against the dark of the arms, and supply becomes very thin above 3 carats. At equal weight, a trapiche is worth less than a faceted emerald of fine color, because it is less transparent. A trapiche with a very crisp pattern is paid for on its drawing, not on its weight. The treatment of each trapiche on this page is taken from the laboratory report, its nature as well as its degree. Our trapiches range from €580 to €6,700 including tax, roughly €300 to €1,265 per carat.

Every trapiche on this page was bought in hand during our trips to Colombia, then certified by an independent laboratory. Our product pages state Colombian origin, the only mention a certificate can attest. The stones are cut as slices or cabochons to show the whole wheel, and are set flat, in rings or pendants. Prices shown including tax, insured FedEx shipping, hand delivery possible anywhere in the world. To compare with our faceted stones, see all our Colombian emeralds, and for a specific search, the custom order.