What is Emerald?

Emerald enjoys the honor of one of the first gemstones mined in the world. For centuries, it has been used as accessories and jewelry. This gem is associated with the Venus goddess and symbolizes eternal love and hope. Cleopatra was a connoisseur of emerald, and it featured heavily within her royal collection.

Determining Emerald Value

Is Emerald valuable? The value of colored stones is typically determined by color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. This is no different when determining what emerald is worth. These guidelines will help you choose emerald for your collection.

• Emerald Color

The most valued emeralds are highly transparent with intense color saturation and lighter tones. Emerald features a high amount of chromium, iron, magnesium, and sodium. The emerald crystal color is defined by the presence or absence of any of these elements. Nothing can be as beautiful and eye-soothing as intense lush green emerald.

Most times, the mining location of this gemstone has a vital role in its appearance. Emeralds mined from Columbia are of a more warm and intense pure green color. In contrast, Zambian emeralds have a cool bluish-green color.

• Emerald Clarity

Emeralds generally have inclusions that are visible through unaided eyes. Traders also accept the fact and consider emeralds with visible inclusions as of high quality and value. Such inclusions drastically impact and hamper the transparency and clarity of the gemstone. In that case, the value of the stone decreases relatively. Absolute eye clean emeralds are very rare and hence, highly valuable.

• Emerald Cut

The very famous emerald cut is the best-suited cut for this vibrant green gemstone. In the emerald cut, the gemstone corners are faceted and offer efficient prong settings to protect it from damage. These gems are difficult to cut due to fractures. It makes them more brittle than their ranking on the Mohs scale of hardness would suggest. With its hexagonal crystal structure, emeralds in oval and cabochon cuts are also immensely popular as they provide similar benefits. Despite this, emeralds can be found in nearly every popular fancy-cut today.

While determining any cut for emerald, the distribution of color, durability, and inclusions of the stone must be vitally considered. The luster, weight, effect of hue, tone, saturation, and value of stone can be maintained. Cutting makes a significant difference to the appearance of emerald as a deep cut can darken a pale color stone, or a shallow cut can lighten a dark stone.

• Emerald Carat

Emeralds are found in a wide range of sizes. They are available in sizes from 0.05 carat to 20 carats, depending on the mining location. The Sandawana emerald mine in Zimbabwe is known for its small and intense green emeralds. The value of emeralds largely depends on its quality. If a good quality stone is larger, the price rises dramatically. One of the largest emeralds ever discovered is the Bahia Emerald weighing over 840 lbs. That's more than 180 000 carats!

Emerald Treatment

Due to emeralds' nature and their frequently included state, it is not uncommon to find that these gems have been treated. It's a traditional and widely accepted practice within the gem trade. Oiling a gem is the most frequent treatment that emeralds would undergo. Cedar oil would be applied to the gem to help improve its clarity. It is also commonplace for a polymer-agent to be applied to an emerald under low heat to help fill surface fractures and improve the stone's stability and appearance.

Caring for Emerald

Ranking 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, emerald is suitably resistant to scratching or abrasion. However, on the scale of toughness, emeralds range from good to low.

The best way to care for your stone is through the standard gem and jewelry care. Clean with a soft-bristled brush, lukewarm soapy water, and dry with a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic or steam cleaners as these devices can damage the stone and can lead to external abrasions. Avoid heat or harsh chemicals, which can also damage the appearance of the gem.

Store your emerald jewelry in a clean and dry place in a fabric-lined jewelry case or box with compartments and partitions to prevent jewels from scratching each other.

Emerald Varieties

Besides the traditional green hue variety of emerald, there are several varieties of this enthralling gemstone.

•   Boyacá Columbian Emerald: With a captivating, playful green hue, these emeralds are yield from the Boyacá province in Columbia. The gemstones are known for their subtle transparency and crystallization.

•   Kazem Zambian Emerald: Sourced from the Republic of Zambia's Kazem mines in southern Africa, this variety of emerald displays a yellow-green to blue-green hue. It is the official gemstone for North Carolina.

•   Brazilian Emerald: One of the largest emeralds' sources, brazil produces a large part of total emerald production in the world. The Brazilian emeralds are one of the most popular and mid-grade quality emeralds.

•   Sokoto Emerald: Named after its mines, Sokoto emeralds are fine quality emeralds produced in Bahia, Brazil. With distinct color zoning, Sokoto emeralds are defined for their beauty, evoking pleasant and soothing lush green forests. Emerald, being a notorious gemstone for inclusions, the Sokoto variety possess number of mineral inclusions lending it its intense green color.

Who Can Wear Emerald?

Anyone looking for a royal touch to styling can wear emeralds. The gemstone is known for its eye-soothing and lush green color that makes you feel closer to nature. Those born in May or any gem enthusiast can wear emerald jewelry. The prestigious and pricey gemstone set in gold, silver, or platinum is capable of giving that exotic touch and amplify your appeal in seconds. The premium appeal of emerald makes it a perfect pick to wear for daytime engagements or evening outings.

Emerald is a traditional gift for 20th and 35th wedding anniversary. Emerald jewelry is great to pamper your loved one or express your feelings to your partner.

An emerald looks glamorous with the black, white, red, or yellow outfit. The lively gem is also known as "Stone of successful love", making it an excellent choice for an emerald engagement ring.

How Does Emerald Compare to Other Green Stones?

The emerald stone is prized for its attractive green color and other properties making it immensely popular. The green color of the stone is due to the presence of chromium. The most desirable color of emerald falls in the range of bluish green to pure green. The surface of the emerald offers sparkle as compared to other green gemstones.

For someone looking for jewelry that presents sophistication and luxury with brilliance, emerald is just perfect. Consider emerald if you want to own a unique, glamorous and luxurious jewel and love the beauty of Russian diopside, tsavorite, peridot, malachite, jade, or even peridot. Suppose you want to own a glistering gemstone with the perfect green color that reminds nature. What could be better than a gorgeous emerald?

Where Does Emerald Come From?

Emeralds were first mined in Egypt. Other ancient locations where these gems were mined include India and Austria.

Emeralds were discovered in present-day Colombia during the Spanish invasion of the region. This carries through to the modern age as Colombia is one of the largest producers of emeralds today. Behind Colombia, Zimbabwe is the second-largest producer of this stone.

Besides these historical and modern locations, emeralds have deposits worldwide. None has yet to rival the combined powerhouse of Colombian and Zambian production. Colombian emerald production accounted for 50-95% of the world's supply. Shop LC sources emeralds directly from the mines of Columbia and Zambia. Columbian emeralds are known to be the best in the world. Zambian emerald have more of a bluish tint with vitreous color.

How is Emerald Mined?

Emerald is usually found in the layers of other minerals like mica. The two standard methods of mining emerald are open pit and terrace mining. The miners and diggers dig open pits to extract the mineral. In some cases, when the emerald bearing ore is deep and inaccessible, explosives and high-pressure water are also used.

Emerald Properties

What Does Emerald Mean?

The energies of the gorgeous gemstone are believed to provide healing, brings freshness, and vitality to the spirit. In many cultures, emerald is also considered a stone for inspiration that promotes friendship and is known for rendering domestic bliss, contentment, and loyalty.

Dedicated to Goddess Venus, emerald bring is said to bring security in love. The gem was a divine intuition for the Greeks that symbolize hope and development. Some people believe that the green color of the emerald represents love and romance in life and invite happiness and good luck.

Use of any stone or mineral is not a substitute for professional medical care or treatment, and nothing herein constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information provided should not be used to treat any illness, injury, medical condition, or ailment without prior consultation with a qualified health professional.

Disclaimer: The information presented is for information purposes only and should not replace the advice of a trained medical professional.

Is Emerald a Birthstone?

The beautiful gemstone is the modern birthstone for May. For those born in May, it is an excellent option for birthstone jewelry for yourself or gifting someone special. Old, young, males or females, the gemstone perfectly suits almost everyone. Associated with joy, happiness, and luxury, emeralds are believed to fill lives with positivity.

Emerald Facts

• Ranks 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness
• Bluish-green to pure green with high saturation and lighter tones
• Shop LC sources emeralds from Colombia, Brazil, and Zambia
• Emeralds undergo oiling treatment
• Be₃Al₂SiO₆