The world of gemstones: Brazil

A paradise for lovers of gems!

In the 1730s, Brazil had replaced India as the world's largest producer of diamonds. It maintained this position until 1870, when South Africa began mining and exporting diamonds.

Brazil is a humid, tropical country, and centuries of rain have eroded the majority of diamond pipes, leaving no indication at the surface. Therefore Brazil is exclusively a producer of alluvial diamonds.

The kimberlite pipes were finally discovered in 1968 but none have been able as yet to produce economically viable quantities of diamonds.

Almost all of the existing types of stone can be found in Brazil, specifically in the region of Ouro Preto in the state of Minas Gerais.

Diamonds, of course, but also very beautiful emeralds, some sapphires and rubies, and especially all kinds of beryl (aquamarine, bixbite, etc..), splendid imperial topaz and tourmalines, including the famous Paraiba Tourmaline which has a superb electric blue colour but whose deposits are now almost exhausted. The list is almost endless.

As in Colombia and elsewhere in the world, access to Brazilian mines is extremely difficult and their production is sent directly to export.

Contact us for an appointment in our offices in Paris or Antwerp.