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Emerald
Emeralds have been part of human culture since records began with historical figures such as Alexander the Great, Cleopatra and Emperor Nero all known to have been admirers of this cherished gemstone.
From ancient times, across the Americas, Europe and Asia, Emeralds have always been one of the most valued of all possessions. The desire for this perfect example of the color green continues to this day.
Emerald Colors
The most sought after emeralds have a pure green color with an intense color saturation that is evenly spread across the stone with no visible color variations. Too much blue or too much yellow will lower the value considerably.
To be a true emerald, the gemstone has to be deeply colored and saturated enough to earn the name, if the color is considered too light then it should be called, green beryl.
Read more about gemstones colors here
The degree of greenness has led to a number of arguments amongst gemologists over whether a stone can truly be an emerald.
Emerald Species
Emerald is the green to greenish blue gemstone that belongs to the mineral species beryl which also includes aquamarine and morganite. The green is caused by the presence of chromium, vanadium or iron (or any combination of those three elements).
What are the spiritual benefits of Emerald?
The religious texts of ancient India, dating back well over 2000 years, say this about the Stone of Successful Love, 'Emeralds bring good luck and enhance well-being'. A few of their other powers and virtues include:
- Truth and Love
- Re-birth and New Beginnings
- Prophecy and Intuition
- Vitality and Fertility
See our detailed article on emerald meaning and uses
Emerald and the Chakras
In keeping with its reputation of being a stone of love, the emerald has a special connection to the Heart Chakra in the traditional Hindu philosophy of influential energy centers.
Find more details on Chakra gemstones here
Emerald Price
The top factor in the value of an emerald is its color.
The best emeralds will be pure green with no additional color undertones such as blue or yellow. The tone will be deep and vivid - not too light or too dark and the stone will be evenly saturated throughout.
Personal preference is always the most important consideration when buying any gemstone and you may like emeralds with a light tone or ones with a bluish tint.
Emeralds, perhaps more than any other expensive gemstone, are almost certain to have some internal flaws or inclusions. These imperfections can actually soften the coloring or create a special charm not found in other gemstones.
Emeralds with a perfect color and no inclusions should raise a few suspicions as they are likely to be lab created.
Carat Weight
The weight and size of an emerald will obviously be a major factor in its value. Take two gemstones with very similar coloring and clarity, the larger stone will always fetch a higher price.
Large emeralds are very rare so the price will rise exponentially. A 3 carat gem will be about 6 times the price of a single carat stone not just 3 times the price.
It can be tricky to provide an accurate price guide for emeralds as they can vary so widely according to color, clarity and size. Smaller stones can be anything from $80 to $1500 per carat while gemstones over 2 carats in weight can reach $3500 per carat or even more.
The highest price that we are aware of was for an 18 carat beauty that went for over $300,000 per carat a few years ago.
Treatments
Unlike many other colored gemstones, emeralds are very rarely, if ever, heat treated to enhance their appearance however they are very often 'oiled' to improve the clarity.
The oiling process usually involves low heat and a bit of pressure to force oil - traditionally cedar oil - into the naturally occurring cracks and fissures found in emeralds.
This treatment is generally accepted among gemstone traders and is considered a 'stable' but not permanent process meaning that eventually an emerald may need to be re-oiled if it has become dull in color.
Emerald History
I am not sure if there is a gemstone with a longer history than emeralds. Perhaps pearls but they stretch back nearly 10,000 years and were probably discovered by accident when someone crunched down on one while eating an oyster!
Emeralds were written about in the world's oldest book, the 4000 year old, Papyrus Prisse, and they are known to have been mined in Egypt and the South American Andes 2 or 3 thousand years ago.
Where are Emerald found?
Emeralds can be found across the world but three dominant sources provide the majority of quality gemstones.
Colombia is known for the finest emeralds and produces around 70 - 90% of the gemstones for the global market.
Nearby Brazil is also a major producer.
Zambia in Africa is fast becoming a real rival for Colombia with some great emeralds found in this central African country.
What jewelry is Emerald suitable for?
Emeralds have a rating of 7.5 to 8 on Mohs hardness scale. This makes emeralds among the most durable of gemstones, just behind rubies and sapphires, and can be made into all types of jewelry items.
Emeralds do have more inclusions and fissures than many other gemstones and this can weaken a gemstone. If your emerald has surface reaching fractures we would suggest not using it as daily wear jewelry.
Birthstones and Anniversaries
Emerald is the birthstone of May and makes a perfect gift for anyone who has a birthday in that month.
The emerald is the traditional gemstone gift for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries
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