About This Site & the Person Behind It
A traveler, a passionate gem hunter, and a student of gemology — here’s the story.
How it all started
I’m Hugo, a traveler running horizonhugo.com with a deep passion for gemstones and minerals — especially those found across South America.
What started as curiosity became an obsession: visiting mines, walking local markets, talking to miners and cutters, and slowly building a real understanding of where these extraordinary stones come from.
Every trip taught me something new: about the stones themselves, about the people who extract them, and about a continent that holds some of the world’s most spectacular mineral wealth.
Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, each country has its own gem story, and I’ve been collecting those stories one trip at a time.
Why I Built This
Most gemstone content online is either too academic, too commercial, or written by people who’ve never set foot in a mine or negotiated with a market seller. I built this site to fill that gap — honest, field-tested guides for collectors, travelers, and curious people who want to understand South American gemstones from someone who’s actually been there.
Whether you’re planning a trip through Minas Gerais, looking for a Colombian emerald you can trust, or simply want to learn the basics of gemology without reading a textbook — this is the place.
Get in Touch
Have a question about a gemstone? Planning a trip and want advice? Want to collaborate or just say hello? I’d love to hear from you.
💬 Questions about buying gems in South America
🤝 Collaboration, press or partnerships
📦 Early interest in gem parcels
Explore the Beauty of South American Gemstones
Field experience is invaluable, but I wanted to back it with proper knowledge. I’m currently studying gemology formally — learning the science behind what I see and feel in the field. It’s making me a better buyer, a better writer, and a better guide for you.