From Fabergé to Cartier and Chopard, a number of high-end jewelers have used African colored gemstones in recent creations. Pictured: Julianne Moore in Zambian emerald earrings from Chopard's Green Carpet Collection in Cannes in 2016.<br />
High end jewelry —
From Fabergé to Cartier and Chopard, a number of high-end jewelers have used African colored gemstones in recent creations. Pictured: Julianne Moore in Zambian emerald earrings from Chopard's Green Carpet Collection in Cannes in 2016.
Courtesy Gemfields
Actress Mila Kunis in 9.32 carat Mozambican ruby earrings from Fabergé's Devotion collection. Recent discoveries of ruby and emerald in Africa are challenging traditional sources, such as Colombia for emeralds and Myanmar for ruby.
On the red carpet —
Actress Mila Kunis in 9.32 carat Mozambican ruby earrings from Fabergé's Devotion collection. Recent discoveries of ruby and emerald in Africa are challenging traditional sources, such as Colombia for emeralds and Myanmar for ruby.
Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images
Colored gemstones company Gemfields are the largest producers of the African gems. Kunis, pictured here wearing African stones, was the company's brand ambassador between 2013 and 2015.
Brand ambassador —
Colored gemstones company Gemfields are the largest producers of the African gems. Kunis, pictured here wearing African stones, was the company's brand ambassador between 2013 and 2015.
Stefanie Keenan/WireImage/Getty Images
French luxury jeweler Cartier is among the companies that have embraced the Mozambican ruby.
High end jewellery —
French luxury jeweler Cartier is among the companies that have embraced the Mozambican ruby.
Courtesy Cartier
Cartier used a 15-carat oval-shaped Mozambican ruby in a the Reine Makéda necklace, pictured, part of their Royal Collection created for the 2014 Biennale des Antiquaires.
Made for royals —
Cartier used a 15-carat oval-shaped Mozambican ruby in a the Reine Makéda necklace, pictured, part of their Royal Collection created for the 2014 Biennale des Antiquaires.
Courtesy Cartier
Actress Jane Fonda wore the choker-style necklace during the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.<br />
Ruby necklace —
Actress Jane Fonda wore the choker-style necklace during the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Also part of the Reine Makéda collection is a pair of Mozambican ruby and diamond pendants from Cartier, pictured.
Ruby pendants —
Also part of the Reine Makéda collection is a pair of Mozambican ruby and diamond pendants from Cartier, pictured.
Courtesy Cartier
Discovered in 2009, the deposits in Montepuez, northern Mozambique are rapidly becoming the world's largest known ruby source, according to the Gemological Institute of America, (GIA).
Cut gems from Mozambique —
Discovered in 2009, the deposits in Montepuez, northern Mozambique are rapidly becoming the world's largest known ruby source, according to the Gemological Institute of America, (GIA).
Courtesy Gemfields
The shade of a ruby may vary depending on its country of origin and some experts consider the highest quality Mozambican ruby to be comparable to that of Myanmar, which is sometimes described as having the color of pigeon blood.
Rough cut high quality Mozambican ruby —
The shade of a ruby may vary depending on its country of origin and some experts consider the highest quality Mozambican ruby to be comparable to that of Myanmar, which is sometimes described as having the color of pigeon blood.
Courtesy Gemfields
Like ruby, the sapphire is part of the conundrum family and comes in a variety of colors including violet, green, orange, pink and blue. It's traditionally sourced in Kashmir, India, with African sources including Nigeria and Madagascar, becoming the leading sources today, according to GIA.
Sapphire —
Like ruby, the sapphire is part of the conundrum family and comes in a variety of colors including violet, green, orange, pink and blue. It's traditionally sourced in Kashmir, India, with African sources including Nigeria and Madagascar, becoming the leading sources today, according to GIA.
Courtesy Robert Weldon /GIA
Among the well-known faces spotted at the Gemfield's events and launch parties are actresses Ashley Olsen and Kristina Hendricks, pictured here in Jamie Wolf earrings set with Mozambican rubies at the an event organized by Gemfields and luxury store Bergdorf Goodman in New York in 2015.
Cocktails and gems —
Among the well-known faces spotted at the Gemfield's events and launch parties are actresses Ashley Olsen and Kristina Hendricks, pictured here in Jamie Wolf earrings set with Mozambican rubies at the an event organized by Gemfields and luxury store Bergdorf Goodman in New York in 2015.
Adela Loconte/Getty Images
Predominantly mined in Zambia, the African emerald is gaining ground too, and new discoveries in Ethiopia are likely to increase production of the luminous green stones.
African emerald jewelry —
Predominantly mined in Zambia, the African emerald is gaining ground too, and new discoveries in Ethiopia are likely to increase production of the luminous green stones.
Stefanie Keenan/WireImage/Getty Images
Actress Gemma Arterton wears African emerald earrings at the premiere of the film "La La Land" at the Venice Film Festival in August 2016.
Emerald earrings —
Actress Gemma Arterton wears African emerald earrings at the premiere of the film "La La Land" at the Venice Film Festival in August 2016.
Courtesy Gemfields
Emeralds have a long history dating back at least to ancient Egypt, and records suggest that Cleopatra herself had a penchant for them. <br />
Zambian emerald —
Emeralds have a long history dating back at least to ancient Egypt, and records suggest that Cleopatra herself had a penchant for them.
Courtesy Robert Weldon/ GIA
A Cartier necklace with an African emerald as its center point.<br />
Emerald necklace —
A Cartier necklace with an African emerald as its center point.
Courtesy Cartier
First discovered by a Maasai tribesman in 1967, tanzanite's only known source is the hills of Merelani near Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania, making it among the rarest gemstones on earth, according to GIA.
The stone of the Maasai —
First discovered by a Maasai tribesman in 1967, tanzanite's only known source is the hills of Merelani near Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania, making it among the rarest gemstones on earth, according to GIA.
MATT BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
A tanzanite and diamond ring part of the David Jerome Collection, valued at between $60,000-70,000 at an auction in London in 2015.
Tanzanite —
A tanzanite and diamond ring part of the David Jerome Collection, valued at between $60,000-70,000 at an auction in London in 2015.
NIKLAS HALLEN/AFP/Getty Images
Tanzanite has so-called pleochroic qualities, and has three distinct shades when viewed from different directions.
Three shades —
Tanzanite has so-called pleochroic qualities, and has three distinct shades when viewed from different directions.
Courtesy Russell Shor/GIA
Also tanzanite has made its way into Cartier's collections, including this white gold and diamond bracelet which has a cabochon-cut tanzanite in the center.<br />
Tanzanite bracelet —
Also tanzanite has made its way into Cartier's collections, including this white gold and diamond bracelet which has a cabochon-cut tanzanite in the center.
Courtesy Cartier