Emerald, a gemstone that serves as the May birthstone, is known for symbolizing royalty, wit, eloquence, and foresight. Thanks to its stunning green hue, Emerald is considered to be a superior jewel by cultures worldwide. The ancients considered Emerald as a sacred symbol of immortality and fertility.
Reportedly, Cleopatra might have made the gemstone popular as she supposedly adorned herself and her palace with Emeralds. She also liked to give Emeralds as gifts to foreign dignitaries to display power and wealth. No wonder celebrities like Jacqueline Kennedy, Halle Berry, Duchess of Windsor, Grace Kelly,· Angelina Jolie, and Beyoncé have chosen Emerald as their choice of gemstone for their engagement ring.
That is why Emeralds are popularly used in engagement rings and are among the four most precious gemstones on earth. Emeralds are generally green, but each gem varies in overall quality. If you have picked Emerald to be your stone, you need to be careful about the quality and stone you pick.
Here’s a detailed guide to help you pick the best Emerald for your ring or any other jewelry. These are the top factors to keep in mind when buying Emerald.
Pick the Right Shade of Green
Ask any reputed jeweler, and they will tell you that the green hue of the Emerald is the most important factor that influences the overall value of the stone. Emerald’s color is evaluated based on hue, tone, and saturation. Here the hue refers to the overall color of the gemstone. The most beautiful Emerald will have a vivid green hue without any overtone. And if there are overtones, it’s preferable to have a blue overtone instead of yellow.
In simple terms, tone refers to the depth of an Emerald’s color. The gemstone can have a light, medium, or dark tone, which means it’s either light green, medium green, or dark green. Good quality Emeralds will have a medium to moderately dark tone. Lastly, saturation is used to describe the purity of the color. An Emerald with good saturation will have more brilliance as it will reflect light well.
Decide Between Zambian or Colombian Emeralds
There are several sources of Emerald around the world. However, Colombia has been considered the main source for a very long time. Zambia is a close competitor and is the second-largest producer of Emerald. The gemstones from both sources have similar properties.
However, if you are struggling with the Zambian Emeralds vs Colombian Emeralds decision, you need to know a few things. Colombian Emerald is greener, while Zambian Emeralds have a blue overtone adding depth to the color. The former is high-quality and harder to cut, while the latter is more affordable because of few inclusions. But Zambian Emeralds have better clarity.
Ensure There Are Less Noticeable Inclusions
Emeralds will almost always have several inclusions, including mineral fibers, other crystal particles, and even tiny cracks sometimes. Most of these inclusions come from the environment where the gemstone was formed and trapped inside the gem.
Since it’s impossible to find an Emerald with zero inclusions, it’s imperative to find a gem with fewer inclusions that are not easily noticeable. In jewelry terms, the lesser the inclusions, the higher the clarity. It’s important to find an Emerald with fewer inclusions as it enhances the look of the stone and makes it stronger. Emeralds with a lot of inclusions will be brittle and crack easily.
Give Importance to the Cut
Next up, any high-quality emerald will have a good cut as it plays an important part in determining the quality of the gemstone. Emeralds found in the rough are usually six-sided hexagons. Jewelers carefully examine the quality of these crystals and give a cut to hide the inclusions, minimize the pleochroism, and improve the gem’s brilliance.
Jewelers usually give a cut that enhances the beauty of the stone. An emerald might have a princess, round, cushion, and pear-shaped cut. However, the most common cut is the Emerald cut with linear facets and steps along each side. Usually, Emeralds will also have cut corners to improve strength.
Ensure That the Emerald Comes With a Colored Stone Report
You may have heard that diamonds receive a certificate to guarantee their quality. Similarly, colored gemstones receive a Colored Stone Report. The report lists all details of the EMerald and guarantees that it’s a high-quality stone. Ensure that the Emerald you’re buying comes with a report from a trusted gem lab like the GIA or the IGI.
These are the top factors to keep in mind when buying Emerald jewelry. If you stick to these pointers, be rest assured that you will pick up the best quality emerald.
