emerald gemstone

emerald

Emerald gemstones are among the foremost precious of natural gemstones, alongside rubies, sapphires and diamonds. Emerald is a type of the mineral beryl. Its green colour is a result of small amounts chromium and sometimes vanadium within the gemstone.

Depending on the quantity of those elements, the emerald can appear light green to a really deep, dark green. Emeralds are by far the most stunning and popular of the green colour gemstones. For centuries, they need been among the foremost wanted and valuable gemstones symbolizing rebirth and love.

Colour

The colour of a gemstone is considered to be the most defining characteristic when evaluating the overall appearance. Colour is the most important factor when pricing emeralds and is broken down into three components: hue, saturation and tone. An ideal emerald for an ring is well saturated and bright.

Emeralds are found in hues starting from yellow-green to blue-green, with the first hue being green. The most desirable emerald colours are bluish green to green, with vivid saturation and medium to medium dark tone. The most prized emeralds are highly transparent with even colour distribution and no eye visible colour zoning. 

Secondary hues found in emeralds are usually yellow and blue however, when the hue is just too yellowish or bluish the stone is not any longer considered an emerald but will be considered a different beryl. (Gray is that the saturation modifier or mask found in emeralds.)

Beryl may be a relatively common mineral and is related to many gemstones. For instance, beryl that’s yellow or orange is typically called Heliodor, pink or salmon coloured beryl is named Morganite and therefore the rarest sort of beryl, bixbite may be a deep, intense red. Emerald usually comes in a deep, intense green. However, it’s sometimes found as a light-weight green or maybe to possess a tinge of yellow within the stone.

Clarity

Emerald tends to possess numerous inclusions and surface breaking fissures. Unlike a diamond, where the loupe standard, i.e. 10 X magnifications, is employed to grade clarity, emerald is graded by eye. Thus, if an emerald has no visible inclusions to the attention (assuming normal visual acuity) it’s considered flawless. 

Stones that lack surface breaking fissures are extremely rare and thus most emeralds are treated, “oiled”, to reinforce the apparent clarity. The most expensive emeralds are eye-clean stones of an intense primary green hue with no quite 15% of any secondary hue or combination of a medium-dark tone.

Taking care of Emerald Gemstones

On one hand, emerald softness makes them easy for carving by extremely skilled artists; we cannot say the same about their durability. If your Birthstone is Emerald, or you’re simply an emerald enthusiast, you simply have to make sure you handle emeralds with more care than other gemstones. Emerald jewellery can still be worn as daily wear: be sure to clean them regularly keep this precious stone shining with high sparkle and optimal colour.

Jewellery is timeless, but how long can the luscious colours, beauty and charm exist is up to you. Proper care and maintenance can retain their shimmer and attractiveness. There are certain types of jewellery that require more care than others, and emerald rings fall into this category. If you are someone who is in love with emeralds and possess some stunning emerald rings, then here are some tips that will help you keep your favourite emerald rings eternally gorgeous:

Emeralds are one of the softer varieties of gemstones, and hence are more susceptible to abrasions and scratches. If you want to wear your emerald ring for an important event, then always put on your jewellery when you are done wearing your outfit, minimizing any chances of getting them tangled. Additionally, in most jewellery, the mounting tends to catch dirt, grime, sweat and dead cells, which accumulate over a period of time. More often than not, emerald rings are the biggest attracter, so avoid wearing them while you are doing household chores.

Storing your emeralds the right way is equally as important. Always make sure you store your emerald rings, wrapped individually in tissues or soft cloths in separate jewellery box compartments. Always avoid putting your emerald ring next to another fine jewellery piece, which may cause scratches. Finally, a visit to a professional jeweller once in a while also helps your favourite emerald rings get back their original lustre and colour.

Frequently Asked Questions

An emerald is one of the four precious gemstones. They are a type of the beryl mineral. It has a magnificent green colour, aptly named from the Greek word “green gem”. The word emerald originates from a Greek word meaning “green gem.”

No. Diamond is a Carbon and Emerald is chemically Beryl. They are both one of the four precious gemstones but completely different. Emeralds are bright green in colour and diamonds are usually white in colour and also come in fancy colour such as red, blue, yellow, green, pink, orange etc.

Emeralds contain many natural inclusions, making them prone to breakage. On the Mohs hardness scale they are 7.5 to 8, as opposed to a Diamond which comes in at 10.

Emeralds are priced according to the 4 Cs, like diamonds. Colour and clarity, however, is very important in emerald pricing as the high intense cleaner stones are much sought after. Of the four precious stones’ price scale they are second only to diamonds.

If the stone is set securely, it can be worn as an engagement ring, but it is not ideal due to its tendency to break. Care should be taken to never wear it while doing any hard physical activities and the ring should be serviced at least twice a year. Consider your lifestyle before selecting this stone as your center piece.