Muzo x Argyle: A Dazzling Collaboration of Rare Gems – What Treasures Will This Power Duo Unveil?

Jewelry enthusiasts are undoubtedly familiar with Colombia’s Muzo mine, renowned for producing exquisite emeralds, and the now-closed Argyle mine, the “holy grail” of pink diamonds. Both mines have become household names due to their production of exceptionally rare and high-quality gemstones.

Recently, these two iconic sources have announced a collaboration, combining top-tier emeralds and pink diamonds in a limited-edition series.

Colombian emeralds have long been the crème de la crème of colored gemstones, prized for their exceptional color, fire, and clarity. Their scarcity has made them highly sought after by jewelry collectors.

Among Colombia’s three main emerald mining areas – Muzo, Coscuez, and Chivor – Muzo is known for producing emeralds with the purest color.

As a result, emeralds from this mine are often referred to as “Muzo green,” becoming a descriptor for the highest quality emerald color in the jewelry world.

Argyle pink diamonds, on the other hand, have been famous for their vibrant, highly saturated pink hues. The rarity of pink diamonds is well-known, with numerous world records set at auctions.

To put this in perspective, even at the Argyle mine – the primary source of pink diamonds – only 0.01% of the 600 million rough diamonds produced annually were the coveted pink variety. Yet, this small percentage accounted for 90% of the world’s pink diamond supply.

Now that the Argyle mine has ceased production, each pink diamond becomes even more precious – truly a case of “when they’re gone, they’re gone!”

The collaboration between these two sources of extremely rare gemstones is undoubtedly exciting news for jewelry collectors. But what sparked this partnership?

The story traces back to a Christie’s auction in 2017, where a ring named “The Green Jewel” was presented. The centerpiece was a 13.2-carat Colombian emerald from the Muzo mine, surrounded by sparkling Argyle pink diamonds. This exquisite color combination captivated collectors, fetching a price of nearly $1.2 million.

Recognizing collectors’ desire for exceptional gemstones, Muzo and Argyle decided to join forces and launch The Green Jewel collaboration series.

The initial Green Jewel collaboration series featured 16 unique pieces, designed by Australian jeweler John Glajz, a long-time partner of Argyle. He expressed, “It’s an honor to be part of this project, having the opportunity to combine two of nature’s rarest treasures – the captivating Muzo emeralds and Argyle pink diamonds.”

In 2022, the two companies launched their third collaboration, the Green Jewel Majestique series, presenting five rings, four pairs of earrings, and one pendant. The combination of vibrant emeralds and exquisite pink diamonds resembled the colors of many blooming flowers.

For instance, the Victoria earrings feature 3.18-carat and 2.98-carat cushion-cut, non-oil emeralds as the centerpieces, surrounded by over 4.5 carats of pink diamond petals, interspersed with 2.25 carats of white diamonds. This design perfectly enhances both gemstones, showcasing their exceptional beauty.

At the end of this year, the two companies joined forces again, launching their fourth collaboration, the Green Jewel Tradition series. This time, the designs are bolder, reflecting John Glajz’s mastery in working with these two gemstones after accumulating extensive experience.

The flagship piece of this series is The Earth Magic II necklace, featuring a 7.66-carat cushion-cut Muzo emerald as the main pendant stone. This emerald is set within a white diamond frame, surrounded by a halo of gentle pink diamonds, and accentuated by two vivid pink diamonds above and below.

A significant portion of this series consists of rings. As you might expect, opulent cocktail rings are an excellent medium for showcasing emeralds. The Leila ring, set with a 6.11-carat non-oil Muzo emerald, beautifully demonstrates the high transparency and pure green color of Muzo emeralds.

The details are often revealed on the back of the rings. For example, the Amelia ring features a 5.48-carat non-oil Muzo emerald on the front, while the reverse side displays a small flower set with pink diamonds and a blue diamond center.

Perhaps the most ingenious design is the Mila ring. At first glance, it appears to be a pear-shaped ring, but the upper half of the pear is a 2.65-carat non-oil, triangular-cut Muzo emerald, while the lower half is a portrait-cut white diamond. Through this diamond, one can see numerous pink diamonds set underneath. This design pays homage to both mining regions – Muzo hidden in the mountains and Argyle beneath the lake.

However, the editor particularly appreciates the earring designs in this series, which are more dynamic and lively. For instance, the Karri earrings feature pear-shaped emeralds that seem to elegantly climb up your ears like vines, with Argyle pink diamonds at the top of each “leaf” row, resembling blooming pink roses – both romantic and exquisite.

Undoubtedly, this is a rare combination of gemstones. Both in terms of value and beauty, they are equally matched, creating a magnificent display when brought together.

For collectors, this level of collaboration between two powerhouses is a welcome development, offering more choices. After all, not everyone has the opportunity to acquire these two rare gemstones together in their collection.

Muzo x Argyle: A Dazzling Collaboration of Rare Gems – What Treasures Will This Power Duo Unveil?

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