Emerald: From mines to market

Zambian rough emeralds against a flash light: The dark portions of each stone are non-emerald inclusions like minerals and dust. The challenge is to carve out and separate the real jewel from the corruption. 

The one ring: A craftsman sets a cabochon green opal in a pre-cast gold ring.  The workshop handles many different kinds of stones, not just emeralds.

Emeralds being crafted at an workshop.

The last leg: Aquamarine and tanzanite set silver rings go through a final quality check.

I've got the blues: A rough aquamarine from Madagascar at a gem factory in Jaipur.

For keeping secrets: This 110 carat emerald locket-pendant with diamonds and pearls is part of a collection at the Gem Palace - a famous jewellery store in Jaipur.  

Shaping-up: Craftsmen busy polishing coloured gemstones at a gem factory in Jaipur.

Size matters: A rough emerald weighing 3.38 kgs and 16,900 carats. It was the largest rough emerald at the Gemfields auction in Jaipur this November.  The auction - which features only rough emeralds - brought in revenue of $11 million.

All the green you can hold: A Jaipur-based bidder holding up a handful of rough emeralds at Gemfields' November auction. Gemstone dealers and several top companies from around the world sit across long tables to inspect the stones.  This was the third Gemfields auction in Jaipur.

Head inspection: Ian Harebottle, CEO of Gemfields, holds a rough emerald against an inspection light at the emerald auction in Jaipur.