How do Zambian emeralds differ from Colombian emeralds?

Zambian emeralds usually have a cooler, a bit bluish-green tone, with strong clarity and fewer internal inclusions. Meanwhile, Colombian emeralds tend to look warmer and more “pure” in an intensely saturated green, but they are generally more heavily included.

How they were formed underground makes these visual differences. Zambian emeralds get their colour from iron together with chromium, so they come out darker and more sturdy, and they typically need less oil enhancement. Colombian stones depend very much on chromium plus vanadium, which produces that famous “jungle green” many collectors admire, even though the material can be inherently fragile.