Emerald Showdown: Natural vs. Lab-Created

Emeralds form via the process where elements like beryllium rise from the earth’s crust into hydrothermal veins. They owe their captivating green color to elements like chromium, vanadium, and iron. Color is the most crucial aspect when choosing an emerald. Unlike diamonds, emeralds rely more on color and saturation than brilliance for their beauty, making the final choice heavily dependent on personal preference. Emeralds are increasingly popular for engagement rings due to their symbolism and stunning hues. With variations from light green to dark green, there is a range to suit different tastes.

Understanding Emerald Quality

An emerald’s value is graded on a scale from B (least valuable) to AAA (most valuable). While a raw emerald’s value is largely dependent on color and saturation, its hardness remains fairly consistent—emeralds are fragile—and clarity and brilliance are less critical compared to diamonds. Buyers can choose the desired depth of color for the stone. Quality is also influenced by whether the emerald is natural or lab-created, with natural ones typically holding higher value.

Natural vs. Lab Created

Natural emeralds typically have more inclusions, or visual variations due to minerals within the gemstone, compared to other colored stones. While these inclusions may seem like flaws or irregular patterns, they actually make each gem unique and personal. Natural emeralds, found in countries like Colombia and Brazil, possess the deep green hues we admire.

Lab-created emeralds, on the other hand, lack inclusions and come with color differences. Some people may prefer this, as inclusions can be perceived as flaws. Although synthetic emeralds are chemically identical to natural ones and similar in appearance, color and saturation differences can be noticeable. Man-made emeralds miss the rarity and detail of natural ones, and often don’t match the expected color and saturation. While lab-created emeralds are real in composition, they are not considered authentic since they are man-made.

Lab-created or grown emeralds generally come at a lower price compared to natural ones of similar color, but the price difference also reflects a difference in appearance and quality. An emerald of the same grade on the emerald scale (AAA-B) may still be considered less valuable due to an inferior look or slightly off-color. These irregularities can be detected by the naked eye, making a synthetic emerald feel less true. It might be better to opt for a smaller natural stone or a different cut rather than a man-made emerald.

Emerald Jewelry

Emeralds offer a unique, striking alternative for engagement rings, either as the main gem or an accent stone. Diamond engagement rings can be customized to include emeralds for a rich, vibrant effect. Emeralds also make stunning standalone pieces of jewelry, from earrings to necklaces. Natural emerald rings can feature a singular emerald cut, known for its brilliance, or a round cut. Natural emerald earrings add a touch of luxury to any outfit, and necklaces can showcase emerald pendants. Timeless and eye-catching, emerald jewelry is an excellent investment and a meaningful gift.

Emerald cuts, designed to highlight the brilliance and saturation of natural emeralds, are among the most favored, closely followed by round cuts which are particularly popular in engagement rings. Oval and pear cuts are also commonly seen, especially in natural emerald necklaces. Any piece of emerald jewelry benefits from the unique detail and coloring of a natural emerald.