Emerald Basics 101

Emeralds are one of the four precious Gemstones, also are the rarest type of gems due to the limited geological environment they can be found in. Most emeralds are found in metamorphic rocks. This is a narrow, baked zone where lava is in contact with sedimentary rock like limestone.

Scientifics estimate that it could take about 100,000 years to fully grow a natural emerald.  Emeralds are commonly clouded with inclusions and that is an indication of their natural formation.

For over five thousand years, emeralds have been one of the most desirable and valuable gemstones. Ancient civilizations in South America, Africa, and Asia, discovered emeralds and made them a gemstone of veneration. That is why today emeralds are used to celebrate the 55th anniversary according to the World Almanac and Book of Facts.

The Green Color

Emerald’s green hue is a consequence of the presence of Beryl, which is a mineral that in combination with other elements provides that desirable greenish color. Beryllium is an uncommon element that occurs in very small amounts in the Earth’s crust. This is the reason why emeralds are so rare and only found in a small number of locations. The vivid color is the right combination of saturation and hue. The more intense the green color in the gem is, the more expensive it will be, see the color chart above to have a better idea of the color.

Clarity

Emeralds usually contain natural inclusions that are visible to the unaided eye. These will look like small dark dots inside the gem as a consequence of the presence of minerals like chromium and vanadium.

Also it could appear to be air bubbles. Features like imprecise cutting and visible inclusions that could be unacceptable in a fine diamond are perfectly tolerable in an emerald. Eye-clean emeralds are the most valuable because they’re so rare. Emerald inclusions are often mossy, cloudy, or garden-like. These inclusions will affect the price of the gem, making the heavily included affordable and the eye-clean inclusion even more valuable than a diamond.

Cut

Emeralds found in nature won’t look like the finished product we see on a jewelry stand. Like many other gemstones, they will only reveal their beauty when they are cut and polished.

There is misinformation about the emeralds being soft, it is true that compared to a diamond an emerald is softer. But still, it has enough harness not to crack easily. When talking about cutting there are four characteristics of emeralds that make them difficult to cut. First, almost all emeralds have significant natural fractures. A cutter must sketch the cut to reduce the effect of those fractures.

The second factor is partly to those inherent fractures. As emeralds have inclusion and air bubbles inside they are vulnerable to damage during cutting, polishing, and setting. That is the reason why an emerald’s cut can help to protect it against damage because the vulnerable corners are faceted providing a comparatively safe place for prongs.

Third, the color helps to set up an emerald’s value, the cut also helps to maximize the effect of hue, tone, and saturation. The cutter or designer can affect color by adjusting an emerald’s proportions and number of facets.

Emeralds can be difficult to find on earth due to the parameters it needs for its formation. It has a few distinctive features that make it unique. Such as inclusions which are natural fissures, air bubbles, and small dark particles formed from other minerals like chromium and vanadium. The presence of the mineral beryllium is what gives the stone its characteristic green color. The extreme rarity of transparent, eye-clean emeralds can make them even more valuable than diamonds.

Our Emerald Jewelry

Here at Anam Karat, we offer personalized customer service to help you choose the best piece of jewelry for your needs. We provide a lifetime guarantee on all our pieces and an appraisal certificate for the diamonds and emeralds. Also, as a courtesy, we offer FREE insured shipping which includes adult signatures required to make sure your new piece of jewelry arrives safely at your hands.