Sparkling Emerald Jewel

Emerald Shape

Emeralds are cut into several popular shapes, with round and octagon “emerald” cuts being the most favored. Round cuts enhance the emerald’s refractive quality, adding more sparkle, but color remains paramount. Cushion cut emeralds are also popular, typically available in 6mm+ (~1.00ct+). Other shapes like Oval, Princess, Pear, and Marquise are less expensive than round and emerald cuts. Oval and pear shapes can be found in various sizes, while Princess (square) emeralds are usually smaller than 5mm, influenced by rough wastage and supply-demand aspects. Emeralds are gaining popularity as diamond alternatives for engagement rings, often being as expensive as diamonds, making it a matter of personal preference.

Emerald Size

Emeralds are measured in millimeters (length by width) rather than by carat, with carat weight being an approximation. To highlight an emerald’s color, the cut may be deeper or shallower, significantly affecting the carat weight while maintaining the same length and width. Larger emerald sizes exponentially increase in price. Round and octagon shapes appear larger, whereas cushion and princess cuts seem smaller due to their size distribution in the gemstone’s depth. Unlike diamonds, where size reduction can remove inclusions, emeralds naturally contain inclusions, making size adjustment less likely.

Emerald Color

The primary determinant of an emerald’s value is its color, evaluated based on hue, tone, and saturation. These elements classify emeralds from AAA quality (highest) to C quality (lowest). Given the lack of industry standardization, color grading remains subjective with categories: AAA, AA, A, B, and C. Emeralds exhibit various undertones, but the purer the green, the higher the color quality. The gemstone’s color is assessed face-up without magnification, checking its hue, tone, and saturation from multiple angles. Ideally, the hue should be green without additional undertones, the tone vivid and deep (neither too dark nor light), and the saturation even throughout.

We recommend selecting emeralds with deep green or those with slight yellow undertones for the best visual appeal, avoiding those with brown or blue undertones.

Emerald Clarity

Emeralds are among the gemstones most heavily included with tiny imperfections called inclusions, visible without magnification. These inclusions, such as clouds, needles, crystals, feathers, pinpoints, and cavities, occur naturally during the growth process. Without a standardized clarity grading system for emeralds, clarity merges with color in the AAA rating scale. Since every emerald has inclusions, it’s best to prioritize color over inclusion visibility for higher qualities. However, significant inclusions in large emeralds can reduce color quality, thus lowering their grade. Clarity evaluation, like color, is done face-up without magnification, considering the overall appearance rather than specific inclusions. Common inclusions are fissures or small fractures appearing as white, wavy lines inside the emerald.

Emerald Sourcing

Emerald mining is a fascinating endeavor, often conducted manually since machinery can damage heavily included emeralds by applying too much pressure. Typically mined in pits, rocks are blasted into larger pieces, which may or may not contain emeralds. These larger pieces are then processed for removal and manufacturing. Artful Bracelets sources emeralds primarily from Colombia, Zambia, and Brazil, regions renowned for high-quality emeralds with fewer inclusions and vivid green colors. The origin of emeralds can often be identified by their color. We collaborate with local communities and support ethical practices, ensuring environmental safety, community development, and human rights protections. Mining operations significantly support towns by funding schools, public facilities, and hospitals. Our commitment involves working with suppliers to uphold fair labor practices and laws, with direct visits to mines to ensure authentic sourcing and reliability.

Emeralds present a unique, sophisticated, and royal alternative to diamonds for engagement rings. They are rarer than diamonds and are less likely to fuel conflict, ensuring your gemstone is conflict-free and symbolizes untainted love.

Emerald Certification

Due to their status as precious gemstones, determining the quality of emeralds can be crucial. Certification helps confirm whether your emerald is natural or synthetic. Generally, emeralds under 6.5mm in size do not require certification if obtained from a reputable jeweler. Although there isn’t a universal quality grading scale for emeralds, certification can still verify the gem’s origin and natural status, which might be significant for some buyers.

Some well-known grading laboratories include GIA, AGS, and AGL. Gemologists at Artful Bracelets are GIA-trained and assess the nature of each emerald. We independently certify and inspect every gemstone in our jewelry, ensuring top-tier quality. Our gemstones, known for their deep green hue and minimal inclusions, illustrate our dedication to quality.

Considering the expenses involved in certification (which vary based on the emerald’s size), certified appraisals can be an economical alternative. Modern tools and technologies enable skilled gemologists to determine a gemstone’s nature effectively.

We advocate for natural emeralds over synthetic ones. Non-natural emeralds often have an unnatural green tone due to excessive treatments. Natural inclusions add unique character and allure to emeralds. Moreover, emeralds symbolize love and commitment, making synthetic options less desirable.

Emerald Treatments

Like many gemstones, emeralds often undergo treatments to enhance their color and luster. Given that emeralds usually have more inclusions compared to other gemstones, treatments help improve their purity. These processes address natural fractures and enhance the stone’s vibrant green color. Over 99% of emeralds are treated, with untreated varieties being extremely rare and significantly more expensive. Common treatments include oiling, dyeing, irradiation, and lasering. At Artful Bracelets, our emeralds only undergo oil treatment, a standard industry practice. We avoid temporary dyeing or color enhancement methods.

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During the oil treatment, emeralds are immersed in hot cedar oil, which shares the same refractive index rating as emeralds. The hot oil penetrates cracks and fissures, solidifying upon cooling. This process greatly reduces clarity inclusions, enhancing the emerald’s overall structure and appearance.

At Artful Bracelets, we disclose all treatments applied to our colored gemstones, valuing transparency. We perform rigorous tests to confirm treatments and avoid any procedures that may compromise the gem’s integrity or value.

Emerald Buying Guide

Purchasing an emerald can be complex, as certificates alone are insufficient to determine quality. Trusting your eyes is often the best approach, as they can naturally perceive a gemstone’s beauty. However, it is still advisable to consider several factors:

1. Set a Budget: Being the most expensive colored gemstone due to their rarity, setting a budget is essential. Seek assistance from a jeweler to balance size and quality within your financial limits.
2. Choose a Shape: Emeralds are available in various shapes, with round and octagon being the most popular. Fancy shapes like pear and oval can also enhance the gem’s size and color. Opt for round cuts for more sparkle and fancy shapes for deeper color.
3. Select Quality: All emeralds have inclusions. Quality typically involves a balance of color and clarity, with color often masking inclusions. Trusting a jeweler for selection can be beneficial. At Artful Bracelets, we offer AAA quality emeralds, focusing on superior color and minimal inclusions.
4. Choosing Size: While size is vital, quality holds equal importance. Select the appropriate size based on your budget and the desired style and color. Given their high value, there’s little risk of choosing an emerald that’s too large.
5. Natural vs. Non-natural: The allure of emeralds stems from their natural origins. Natural inclusions add uniqueness, while synthetic alternatives often exhibit unnatural coloring. Given the personal and financial investment in jewelry, opting for natural emeralds is recommended.

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FAQs

What month is emerald the birthstone of?

Emeralds are May’s birthstone and are traditionally gifted on the 55th milestone anniversary.

What is the shape of an emerald?

Emeralds are cut in many popular shapes, with the round and the emerald cut being some of the most loved options. Cushion-cut emeralds have also become quite popular, along with oval, princess, pear, and marquise.

Where is emerald mined?

Emeralds are typically mined in Colombia, Zambia, and Brazil. When buying this gem, look out for stones that display a vivid green hue, as the color is the most important factor when it comes to judging the quality of an emerald.

Are emeralds good for engagement rings?

Yes, emeralds are a beautiful choice for engagement rings since they exude a vibrant, sophisticated, and royal vibe. Emerald engagement rings also symbolize luck, love, and hope.