Independents

The Maya empire was in what is currently Central America; reaching from what is now southern Mexico to Honduras.  Emeralds have long been found nearby along the northern foothills of the Andés.  But even the Indians near present-day Bogotá (northern Colombia) were known to trade emeralds with the Carib & other Indians, who traded with Maya.   In fact, Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro wrote first-hand accounts of emeralds & other treasures they took from the Maya, Aztecs and Incas.  

Perhaps most defining is the Popol Vuh, an ancient Mayan text commonly referred to as the "Mayan Bible".  Throughout the Popol Vuh, there are numerous references to emeralds.  Nim-Ac and Nima-Tziís (the Creator man & woman) are referred to as masters of emeralds.  Vucub-Caquix (demon) has emerald teeth and emerald eyes.  Even ahqual is identified as the K’iche’ (Mayan dialect) term for an "emerald cutter". 

So whatever your thoughts on the 219 watch, which undoubtedly is a matter of taste, 219's glyphs, bas relief engraving and use of Colombian emeralds are historically accurate; yet, similar to De Bethune's graphical representation, the dial is an artistic rendering done in a contemporary style.

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