The Colombian Emerald International Producers Association (CEIPA) was founded in 2018 with a view to representing the interests of Colombian emerald producers internationally. CEIPA will be crucial in the implementation and promotion of the proposed new appellation of origin for Esmeraldas de Colombia (Colombian Emeralds), as well as representing APRECOL members in international forums with the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).

Global consumers, and particularly millennial audiences, are becoming increasingly interested in where their luxury goods come from – investigating the sustainability, traceability, best practice, ethical/social responsibility and provenance of products before they buy them. Colombia produces the world’s best quality emeralds and now we want to focus on how we can improve formalization throughout the industry to offer authentication and certification of these precious gems.

This is why APRECOL, together with CEIPA, is spearheading a project to secure an official appellation of origin for Esmeraldas de Colombia (Colombian Emeralds), ensuring an independent and regulated quality control both nationally and internationally. This has never been achieved for any other precious gemstone and Colombia is proud to be setting a new global benchmark for colored gems.