What is an emerald? Everyone knows this. But there are many nuances that make this stone so special. And hardly anyone can name the features of its structure, color and rich hue. Why is the emerald considered one of the three most beautiful and expensive stones in the world?
What is an emerald?
This is a gemstone of the beryl mineral family with a noble, distinct dark green color. They are found in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks in just a few places around the world.
More than 5,000 years ago, emeralds were one of the most coveted and valuable colored stones. Ancient civilizations in Africa, Asia and South America independently mined emeralds and considered it the most valuable stone. Today, emerald, along with ruby and sapphire, form the "big three" of colored stones. The Big Three generate more economic activity than all other colored stones combined. In 2015, the value of emeralds imported into the United States exceeded the value of all colored stones outside of the Big Three.
Today most of the emeralds are mined in four countries: Colombia, Zambia, Brazil and Zimbabwe. Small volumes of production come from Madagascar, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Canada, Russia and some other countries. From around 2015 significant quantities of emeralds with exceptional color and clarity began to be exported from Ethiopia.
Color
A bright green color that fluctuates between bluish green and slightly yellowish green. Stones with a light tone or low saturation should be called "green beryl" instead of emerald. Almost every natural emerald has visible features, which can be inclusions, surface cracks, or healed fractures. The green color is caused by the content of chromium or vanadium in the composition.
When evaluating the color of an emerald, we must consider three main points: hue, tone and saturation.
Tint
Hue refers to the primary and secondary tones of a gemstone, which in the case of emeralds will be green with possible secondary nuances of yellow or blue. More than 70% of the emeralds on the market come from Colombia, where bluish-green emeralds are usually produced.
Tone determines how light or dark the emerald is. The best stones have a medium tone: not too light and not too dark. An emerald that is too light may look inexpensive, and one that is too dark will lack brightness and color.
Saturation plays a role in the intensity and strength of a hue. The higher the saturation, the brighter the color, which then correlates with morehigh prices. As a reminder, an ideal emerald will have a medium-light tone with high saturation and a bright green tint.
Origin
Beryl, a variety of which is emerald, has the chemical composition Be3Al2(SiO3)6. Pure beryl is colorless and is known as "goshenite". Traces of chromium or vanadium in the mineral cause it to develop into a green color. Traces of iron will cast a bluish or yellowish tint to the emerald depending on its oxidation state. Emerald is defined by its green color.
The sample stone should have a bright green tone that ranges from bluish to slightly yellowish. To be an emerald, the specimen must also have a rich color. Stones with low saturation or light tone should be called "green beryl". It is important to remember that such stones should not be called emeralds. If the color of beryl is greenish blue, then it is aquamarine. If it is greenish yellow, it is heliodor.
This definition of colors has become a source of confusion. What combinations of shades, tones are the dividing lines between "green beryl" and "emerald"? What is an emerald, if not beryl of a different color? Jewelry professionals may not agree on where the separation should take place. Some feel that the name "emerald" should be used when chromium is the cause of the green color, and vanadium-colored stones should be called "green beryl". Be careful if you buy an emerald. Make sure you get the gem fromrich hue instead of low-saturated beryl green.
The name "yellow emerald" is incorrect
By definition, emeralds are gemstones of the beryl family of minerals with a rich bright green color. Because of this, it is inappropriate to use the name "emerald" in marketing when selling any other color of beryl.
FTC publishes guidance for jewelry, precious metals and pewter industries. They use "yellow emerald" as an example of a misnomer that, when used in marketing, can be "unfair", "misleading", and "deceptive" (the words here are quoted, straight from the FTC's guide to jewelers). Heliodor is a beautiful stone. But it sells for a lot less than an emerald.
Clarity, Processing & Durability
Emerald has a good hardness for use in jewelry. However, most of them contain numerous inclusions or surface cracks. They can weaken the gemstone, cause it to become brittle and break. It is rare to find an emerald that does not have inclusions and surface cracks that can be seen with the naked eye.
Cleaning emeralds should be done carefully. Steam and ultrasonic cleaning removes oils and other substances. There are special procedures for filling cracks. Light washing in warm water with mild soap is safer to clean and should only be done ifnecessary.
To improve their appearance, most emeralds are treated with oils, waxes, polymers, or other substances that get into the fractures and make them less obvious. While these treatments may improve the appearance, they often do not improve the longevity of the gemstone. Therefore, jewelry may become discolored or deteriorate over time. Based on these characteristics, the emerald is considered a very fragile stone. Moreover, they have a very decent price. Therefore, it should not be worn daily, it is best suited for special occasions.
Synthetic
The first synthetic emeralds were produced in the mid-1800s, but it wasn't until the 1930s that commercial production began.
Synthetic emerald - what is it and how to distinguish it? Synthetic emeralds, also known as laboratory emeralds, have the same chemical composition and crystal structure as natural stones. They are sold alongside natural emeralds in most jewelry stores. Compared to natural products, synthetics generally have superior clarity and a more uniform appearance. There is nothing wrong with synthetic emeralds or synthetic stones of any kind.
What are hydrothermal emeralds or doublets? A doublet is a cheap version of a gem that is glued together from two or more smaller pieces. Many buyers buy and use synthetic emeralds because they get a great look at a fraction of the cost.
Differences in stones
Two key tests allow you to determine what it is: an emerald or a nanocrystal, a natural or synthetic material? To distinguish, the refractive and magnification indices should be determined. Natural emeralds tend to have a refractive index that is slightly higher than most synthetic stones.
Magnification is the most accurate way to determine the authenticity of a stone. Synthetic emeralds can often be identified. They contain visible features that are the result of the way they were created.
What is a hydrothermal emerald? A stone created artificially when exposed to elevated temperatures and pressures. Hydrothermal synthetic emeralds may display characteristics that include chevron growth zoning, small inclusions of gold. Flow-grown artificial emeralds may display subtle veil inclusions, tiny platinum crystals, or parallel growth planes. Many gemologists can quickly identify most synthetic emeralds through microscopic examination. This is how you can determine what it is: an artificial emerald or a real one.
Color zoning and pleochroism
In emeralds, the color should be evenly distributed over the stone without significant zoning. The latter looks like a strip or section of stone that has a color different from the main one. For example, a bright green emerald with a single stripe of blue would be a color-zoned emerald. This should not be confused withpleochroism. Pleochroism in emeralds is the appearance of different colors from different angles.
Inclusions in an emerald are often considered a good way to tell if a stone is natural or fake. Emeralds with bubbly and irregularly spaced inclusions are often counterfeit stones. Except for such minor signs, it can be said that a hydrothermal emerald is the same stone in appearance as a real emerald.
Size
As with most gemstones, size directly affects value. The larger the emerald, the higher the cost. There are many private collectors and museums that own hundreds of carats of emeralds. They are incredibly large and definitely not suitable for everyday wear or use. When it comes to emeralds, a smaller stone with a better color will be considered more valuable than a larger stone with a bad color. The size you choose will depend on your budget and the purpose of your purchase of the emerald.
Stone shape
In emeralds, the cut should highlight the color of the stone, not its brilliance, which is the case with colorless diamonds. The symmetrical, open and even facets are ideal for creating a smart accent on the color and brilliance of emeralds. One of the most traditional emerald cuts is the so-called emerald cut. It has large open edges, which visually gives volume to the color. It also reduces waste by leaving most of the stone unpolished.
While this cut can be incredibly appropriate for an emerald, there is another very popular shape - the round one. This is an ideal shape for rings, especially engagement rings, and looks incredibly elegant when paired with diamonds. Some other popular shapes for emeralds are oval, pear-shaped, diamond-shaped, and heart-shaped. However, an important factor will be that such a faceted emerald will have a high cost. The facet cut is distinguished by flat cuts of the correct geometric shape, during the creation of which a lot of stone is cut off.
Jewelry
Jewelers believe that a stone like emerald is better suited for earrings and pendants. Such jewelry is usually less exposed to impacts, all external influences and abrasion than rings and bracelets. Emeralds look good in all types of jewelry and go with a wide variety of styles. They have been used for over 5000 years in jewelry making and have come to represent prestige, luxury and we alth. They are often worn by stars on the red carpet.
From large emerald pendants or brooches to miniature stud earrings, an emerald will enhance the beauty of any wearer. It is often paired with diamonds, yellow sapphires, or other colored gemstones. Even today, this green gemstone is in high demand and no jewelry collection is truly complete without an emerald.