Crazy high priced Panjshir emeralds, wonder why?

[MJO]

Terrible to hear about large stones being destroyed; hopefully they will transition to more "sensitive" ways of accessing the rough.

Unfortunately not anytime soon. The miners do this because they have no access to the machinery needed and they need to feed their families. A small fractured stone they can sell now and take care of family needs now is worth more to them than a large valuable one that they have to wait for later.

The richest people in the world would trade it all to live just one more day.

 

[bazargan]

Terrible to hear about large stones being destroyed; hopefully they will transition to more "sensitive" ways of accessing the rough.

Unfortunately not anytime soon. The miners do this because they have no access to the machinery needed and they need to feed their families. A small fractured stone they can sell now and take care of family needs now is worth more to them than a large valuable one that they have to wait for later.

The richest people in the world would trade it all to live just one more day.

But the main reason is that all mine activities are illegal and by using heavy machines and tools, the mine will be more visible to the government and therefore higher risk of trouble even though Panjshir valley has its own rules and somehow is being managed by tribes living there. You can not just fly to Afganistan and enter the valley. As i have heard from my Afgan friend, you should have contacts to pass through security check. If they get suspicious about you, your family will be able to use your life ensurance back in your country. Lol

 

[MJO]

I know someone that went there regularly. I saw a pile of rough and mineral specimens that the litnon stone was cut from. It covered an entire desk with large nice looking rough but that was back around 2004. The litnon stone was the best he had cut. The reason so much nice material came out then is the area was under some stability at the time.

Now the mining may be illegal as far as the central government is concerned but the local officials look the other way. Who do you think profits the most. It's never the actual miners. The area is still controlled by what used to be the Northern Alliance. The reason they have so many fractured stones is they don't even have dynamite and have to use old munitions as explosives. They have to estimate everything from where to set the charge to how to pack it.

Until the country is no longer engulfed in war and violence you will not see many fine stone since they will be blasted away. Until them large clean stones will be rare and scarce so the prices will be high.

 

[bazargan]

Until the country is no longer engulfed in war and violence you will not see many fine stone since they will be blasted away. Until them large clean stones will be rare and scarce so the prices will be high.

And that day may be hundred years away. Because the entire generation has been growing up in war. This will definately affect the behaviour of next genegations. They will be more aggressive, stressed and more towards violence. Well, the effect of war takes a long time to disappear.
My friend is traveling to Panjshir in next month. He has the possibility to bring rough and refund what he couldnt sell. I cant wait to take a look at those!

 

[MJO]

good luck

 

[LoversKites]

A pity course they are so close to fine columbian emeralds - a bit different but equal - not number two!!

You think??? I'm not seeing it. Muzo emeralds have that characteristic "glow" that just doesn't occur anywhere else. Those Afghan emeralds are a pretty medium bright green color, but not exceptional like these gems, and I've never seen emeralds like this except from the Muzo mine.

I agree, the first emerald crystals posted here are not to my liking at all compared to these. I haven't seen Panjshir emeralds in person though. Maybe my opinion will change.

The mining situation is very sad.

Eta: Ah yes, good luck!

 

[Marlow]

Wish you good luck too!!

Are you in Germany? Course you visited Munichshow??

 

[bazargan]

Thank you guys.
No i am living in Helsinki, Finland. I try to visit shows nearby next one will be held from 05.12 to 07.12 in Hamburg, Germany.

 

[Marlow]

So the next month you will have a problem with the daylight color of an alexandrite.....

 

[AhmadKhaled]

Bazargan,

Were you able to source any Emeralds from Afghanistan? And are you dealing in Panjshir emeralds now?

 

[DanJ]

The Panshir mines are located at 3,000 meter elevation and are currently not accessible by roads thus no mining equipment. Al mining is done by hand using explosives and transportation is by Mule.

 

[DanJ]

Here are some of my Panjshir Emeralds