This month we are spotlighting one of the most popular colored gemstones - the emerald. The emerald gemstone represents renewal, rebirth, and youth, making this widely-known gem a gorgeous and meaningful birthstone. We showcase the emerald in rings, bands, and custom jewelry pieces, so there is no shortage of options for clients looking for a special May birthday bauble!
THE 4 C's OF EMERALDS
COLOR
The signature green color is meant to be very deep. It is distinguished from other green beryls based on the color depth. The more improved the cut of the stone is, the more color depth it will show. The deeper the color, the more valuable the emerald! Deep blue-green emerald gemstones are rare. These are even more highly regarded for their status!
CLARITY
Most emeralds contain noticeable inclusions. It is very rare to find eye-clean emeralds. Cutters generally accept the emerald's inclusions as part of the stone's usual features! Like many other gemstones, emeralds are often clarity enhanced to appear more desirable to the consumer.
CUT
Emeralds are beryls with a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, which is perfectly suitable for everyday wear. Gem cutters handle emeralds with special care. Cutting mistakes can result in emeralds that look significantly paler than desired.
CARAT WEIGHT
Emeralds are mined in sizes ranging from 1mm to 1 foot! Emeralds mined in smaller sizes show very vivid color. It is the larger rough that requires a more thoroughly planned cutting. As with most gemstones, the larger the emerald, the more valuable it is.
FUN FACTS
- Elizabeth Taylor's famous emerald pendant sold for over $6.5 million in 2011, the highest paid value of an emerald on record!
- Emeralds are a signature gemstone for 20th and 35th year wedding anniversaries.
- As early as 330 B.C., Emeralds were mined in Egypt
For more information on colored gemstones, read here:
Check out our featured video on gemstone comparisons here:
