Emerald is the most precious member of the beryl family and is one of the four major precious gemstones. Emerald jewelry has been cherished throughout history. Over time, this beautiful green gemstone has not only become the birthstone for May but also the traditional gemstone for 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries, giving emerald jewelry even deeper meaning.
So, what should we consider when purchasing emerald jewelry? In this article, we will explore “how to choose high-quality emerald jewelry” to help you find the perfect piece! and tips for caring for your emerald jewelry will also be included to keep your emerald jewelry timelessly beautiful!
Emerald’s “Profile”
Before we begin, let’s take a look at some basic information about emeralds:
Mineral Family: Beryl
Chemical Formula: Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆
Color: Bluish-green to green
Mohs Hardness: 7.5-8
Refractive Index: Birefringence; nω = 1.564–1.595, nε = 1.568–1.602
Popular Emerald Jewelry
Emerald Rings: Emerald rings are a classic choice of emerald jewelry with a rich history. Emeralds are popular for engagement rings based on their beauty and good durability. Whether set in platinum or gold, they exude a noble and elegant charm.
Emerald Necklaces: Emerald necklaces come in various styles, from simple solitaire pendants to luxurious custom designs. Elegant and noble, emerald necklaces can easily become the center of attention, especially for formal occasions.
Emerald Bracelets: An emerald bracelet adds a touch of green to your wrist. The emerald tennis bracelet, with multiple emeralds set in a refined design, offers both simplicity and luxury.
Emerald Earrings: Emerald studs or drop earrings—what’s your style? Accentuating your ears with vibrant emeralds is a fantastic choice. The green hue of emeralds pairs well with all skin tones, adding a touch of elegance and mystery, making you stand out in a crowd.
Types of Emeralds in Emerald Jewelry
Are there different types of emeralds? Absolutely! Emeralds can be classified by quality grades, which we’ll discuss later. Here, we’ll talk about another distinction: natural emeralds vs. lab emeralds.
Today, the use of lab-created emeralds in jewelry has become a trend. As a result, emerald jewelry can generally be divided into two categories: natural emerald jewelry and lab emerald jewelry. Understanding these two types is important, as it will be your first consideration when choosing emerald jewelry.
Natural Emeralds: Natural emeralds often contain more inclusions and fractures. While we might expect a flawless gemstone, emeralds’ inclusions, known as “jardin” (meaning garden in French), are considered a unique characteristic. These “imperfections” are not seen as detracting from the gem’s beauty but rather adding to its charm. Of course, they cost more!
Lab-Created Emeralds: Lab-created emeralds have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as natural emeralds. Since they are grown in controlled lab conditions, they usually lack inclusions and fractures. Lab-created emeralds are more affordable and avoid the environmental concerns associated with mining, making them a more ethical choice for jewelry lovers who prioritize sustainability.
How to Tell Natural Emeralds from Lab Emeralds?
The easiest way is to observe the inclusions. Natural emeralds typically have more inclusions and fractures, while lab-created emeralds are nearly flawless. Treated natural emeralds may have fewer inclusions, if you can’t distinguish them with the naked eye, it’s best to consult a professional gemologist for further testing using specialized equipment.
6 Things to Consider Before Buying Emerald Jewelry
We all know that the 4Cs are important in evaluating the value of gemstones, and emeralds are no exception. However, the 4Cs standards differ for each gemstone. Let’s now explore the 4Cs of emeralds and other important factors to better guide your emerald jewelry purchase.
1. Color (Hue, Tone, and Saturation)
Color is undoubtedly the most critical factor in evaluating high-quality gemstones, as it directly determines the appearance and value of the gem. When evaluating color in gemstones, it is divided into hue, tone, and saturation.
Hue: Simply put, hue is the basic color. Emerald hues range from yellow-green to bluish-green, but the dominant color is always green, with yellow or blue as secondary tones. The ideal emerald hue is pure green or bluish-green. (Yellow-green emeralds are more often considered green beryl and may have undergone heat or radiation treatment to deepen the color and qualify as emeralds.)
Tone: Tone refers to the lightness or darkness of the color. For instance, from light green to deep green, light green has high brightness, while deep green has low brightness, giving different visual effects. Emeralds typically have a lower brightness, with at least a medium to deep tone. Lighter tones are not considered emeralds but are categorized as green beryl. Note: Although darker-toned emeralds are highly sought after, overly dark tones that approach black can negatively impact the gem’s value by diminishing the characteristic “green” of the emerald.
Saturation: Color saturation refers to the intensity or purity of the color. High saturation makes the color appear vivid and intense, while low saturation results in softer and more subdued hues. High-quality emeralds usually have high saturation, meaning the green is rich and vibrant.
Emeralds with a blue-green or pure green hue, moderate tone, and high saturation without noticeable gray tones and with uniform color distribution are considered the finest.
2. Clarity
Emeralds often contain more inclusions and fissures, which is characteristic of the beryl family. While these “flaws” are seen as part of the emerald’s unique beauty and resemble a “delicate garden,” emeralds with fewer inclusions are valued much higher.
3. Cut
Although colored gemstones do not rely on cuts to enhance their brilliance like diamonds, a well-executed cut enhances a gemstone’s beauty by improving its transparency and brightness. Therefore, when buying emerald jewelry, it is essential to consider the cutting style and the jeweler’s craftsmanship. So, what is the best cut for emeralds?
Emerald Cut: This cut is specifically designed for emeralds. The emerald cut is a step-cut, rectangular shape with large facets that beautifully display the inclusions, known as “jardin.” It also maximizes the stone’s size and ensures optimal light reflection, making it neither too deep nor too shallow. This makes the emerald cut the most popular choice for emeralds.
4. Carat Weight
As with any gemstone, the value of an emerald increases with size, assuming other qualities are equal. If the quality differs, a more thorough analysis is needed! Generally, carat weight and price are directly related—the larger the emerald, the rarer and more expensive it becomes.
5. Emerald Treatments
Many people overlook whether an emerald has undergone treatments when purchasing. Some jewelers may claim treated emeralds are natural to secure higher profits. Treating emeralds to enhance their appearance is widely accepted, and selling them at fair market prices is not frowned upon. Therefore, before buying, you should check whether the emerald has been treated to assess better whether the price is reasonable.
There are two common treatments for emeralds:
- Color Enhancement: Radiation and heat treatments are often used to enhance an emerald’s color. Some emeralds with lighter shades undergo heating or radiation to increase their saturation or improve tone, making them look more uniform and beautiful. Note: These methods are not permanent and will eventually revert to their original appearance over time.
- Clarity Enhancement: Due to the high number of inclusions and fissures in emeralds, oil treatment is commonly used to enhance clarity. (99% of emeralds are treated before being sold. ) The principle is to introduce oil into the cracks of the emerald under a vacuum, reducing the cracks and improving the clarity of the emerald by filling it with oil. In addition, the oil treatment increases the hardness of the emerald and enhances its durability.
6. Certification
Certification assures buyers and is an important consideration. Reputable jewelers offer professional gemstone certificates, such as those from GIA or IGI, when selling emerald jewelry. The certificate details the emerald’s weight, grade, and whether it has undergone treatment, providing peace of mind, especially for gem beginners.
Remember: Whether it’s a natural or lab-grown emerald, both can be certified!
Caring for Emerald Jewelry Tips
Proper care can help emeralds maintain their luster for a long time. Here are some tips for maintaining emerald jewelry:
- Avoid High Temperatures and Rapid Temperature Changes: Since 99% of emeralds have been oil treatment to fill the cracks and imperfections within the emerald. High temperatures can dry out the oil in the stone, which can cause the cracks and imperfections to resurface, affecting its clarity and luster. Additionally, emeralds that have been heat-treated to improve their color may suffer from sudden temperature changes that affect their color stability.
- Avoid Contact with Chemicals: This rule applies to all gemstones and jewelry, as chemicals can cause damage. Always avoid exposing emeralds to chemicals when wearing jewelry.
- Avoid Impact and Friction: Although emeralds have a relatively high hardness (7.5-8 on the Mohs scale), their many internal fissures make them more brittle. Collisions can create cracks, so it’s best to avoid impact.
- Regular Cleaning, Maintenance, and Inspection: Regular cleaning, maintenance, and inspection are standard care practices that help maintain an emerald’s beauty and brilliance. Regular cleaning and maintenance will maintain the luster and beauty of your emeralds. And regular inspections ensure that your emerald jewelry is in perfect condition!
Final Thoughts
Emerald jewelry is not just an accessory but a work of art, with an irresistible charm. If you want a piece of emerald jewelry of your own, visit MollyJewelryUS and pick it out for yourself! We have high-quality and affordable lab emerald rings and lab emerald necklaces with IGI certificates of authenticity to protect your purchase!