A Glimmer in the Shadows

It is estimated that Colombia’s emerald trade accounts for up to 80% of the global emerald market. With their unique gemological properties, Colombian emeralds have long captivated jewellers, instilling green fever in both colonisers and tribespeople for generations. The project addresses Colombia’s dark, disputed emerald trade by proposing a new private trade centre and public gem gallery to be set within Bogota’s cultural centre.

Inspired by the successive stages of emerald sourcing, trading and shaping, the interior design of the galleries attempts to reflect the mystique of the Colombian emerald trade as well as the intricate artisanal crafts it inspires.

A journey through the gallery is the journey of the emerald.