Like diamonds, emeralds are highly coveted gemstones. It captivates with its brilliance, unique green color and bewitching beauty. A symbol of eternal beauty and love, emerald is often used to adorn engagement rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Would you like to buy a piece of jewelry set with an exceptional emerald? Planetys gives you all the tips you need to find the quality emerald you’re looking for.
Choose the right shade of green
The emerald’s shade of green is one of the main criteria determining its quality and value. To assess an emerald’s color, you need to consider its brightness, hue, tone and saturation.
The emerald’s luminosity
One of the reasons emeralds are so valuable is their transparency and the luminosity of their green color. An emerald is most valuable when it has no inclusions, which justifies its rarity. Bear in mind that the deeper the emerald’s color, the more naturally it will hide its imperfections. Avoid gems with a glassy appearance.
Emerald hue
An emerald’s hue, or overall color, takes into account the predominance of the green color, as well as any visible nuances.
Green-yellow emerald
Emerald owes its green color to the combination of vanadium, chromium and iron (slightly) acting in synergy. If emerald does not contain sufficient chromium or vanadium, its color can turn yellow. Depending on the stone, shades of yellow may be very visible or almost non-existent.
When they are very visible, they considerably reduce the stone’s attractive bright green hue. This is why emeralds with a yellow-green hue are generally less valuable. In some cases, stones of this color are not even considered true emeralds. They are usually referred to as “green-yellow beryl”.
Green-blue emerald
Green-blue emerald has a high concentration of iron. These shades of blue give the stone a darker green color. While these emeralds can be very beautiful, they don’t have the same value as those with a very pure green color.
Pure green emerald
Pure green emeralds are the most highly prized, as there are virtually no visible shades. To achieve this color, there must be a perfect balance between vanadium and chromium, and a small amount of iron. Naturally, pure green emerald is the most expensive, and makes a great addition to an engagement ring or luxury earrings.
Planetys offers you a whole collection of top-of-the-range emerald earrings perfect for enhancing your pretty face. Whether in a claw or hoop setting, these jewels will make the perfect gift for any woman.
Emerald tone
The tone of an emerald refers to the depth of its green color. It can be light, medium or dark. In other words, an emerald can have a light, moderate or dark green hue. Prioritize the gem with a tone halfway between medium and dark. In addition to being very attractive, these types of emeralds are very valuable on the market.
Emerald saturation
Saturation refers to the purity of the emerald’s green color. An emerald with an intense green color is considered to have good saturation. It may have little or no hue at all. Conversely, if the emerald has a dull green color with many shades, it is said to have low saturation.
If you’re looking for a high-quality emerald with high brilliance, choose one with high saturation. This type of emerald is highly prized in jewelry, as it reflects light perfectly.
Emerald inclusions
Inclusions are another factor influencing emerald’s value. In fact, almost all emeralds have inclusions. Depending on the particles present in the environment in which the emerald was formed, these may be very small fissures, crystal particles, mineral fibers or even droplets of liquid. Known as “gardens” in gemology, these particles are very often captured in the stone as it is being formed.
The probability of finding an emerald with no inclusions is very low. So, to make sure you’ve made the right choice, prefer a gem that has very few inclusions, but is extremely pure. Indeed, the term clarity is used to designate the number and type of impurities present in the stone, as well as their location within the gem.
The number of foreign bodies in an emerald is also a measure of its strength. The more foreign bodies an emerald has, the more likely it is to break easily. These types of emerald are generally more fragile than others.
Characteristics of a good-quality emerald
Emerald is one of the world’s four crystals classified as gemstones, alongside diamond, ruby and sapphire. This gemstone belongs to the beryl group, along with aquamarine, heliodore and morganite. Its hardness ranges from 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. Its deposits are found in countries such as Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Russia, Colombia (with the famous Muzo mine), Zambia and Brazil.
The value of emeralds can therefore vary according to where they were mined and the different treatments they have undergone. To be certain of an emerald’s authenticity and quality, here are a few characteristics it should have:
- intensity with a bright green color,
- medium-dark tone,
- very limited number of inclusions,
- preferably masked by its deep color,
- size that will optimize its beauty.
If your emerald has all the above characteristics, you can be sure that it is worth its weight (carat).
Planetys offers you superb emerald jewelry at very attractive prices. Thanks to the perfect combination of gold, emerald and diamonds, all our jewels have a unique beauty. Depending on your needs, you can opt for jewelry with emeralds in large or small sizes and different shapes (heart, oval, square, round, rectangular).
Once you’ve chosen your emerald, avoid exposing it to heat, chemicals or strong air pressure. To clean it, simply use a brush and lukewarm, soapy water, and scrub gently.
