Gaming

Measuring the quality of emeralds: five important guidelines

Emeralds, the most famous of the green gems, have been sought after and coveted for thousands of years. From the times of the ancient pharaohs to the present, the charm of emeralds has captivated the mind and heart of man. However, not all emeralds are the same, there are certain characteristics that differentiate quality emeralds from less desirable stones. Whether it’s comparing the purchase of an emerald or just browsing through them, these five basic guidelines will help anyone gauge the quality of emeralds.

Before we cover the list of guidelines, let’s first take a look at what emeralds are. Emeralds are a rare form of the mineral beryl, but they are not alone in the beryl family. The name beryl is applied to several varieties of gemstones, all with similar chemical compositions. The word beryl comes from the Greek “beryllos”, which translates as “precious blue-green color”. Even so, not all beryl have this characteristic. Aquamarine is perhaps the closest of the beryl to emeralds, as it has a very light bluish-green color that resembles that of deep, clear water, hence its name. The red form of beryl is known as bixbite. While goshenite is the clear form of beryl. There is also heliodor and morganite which are yellow and pink respectively. Beryl colors vary due to slight differences in elemental influences. Each of these beryl is unique and, like emeralds, have different standards and levels of quality. With that said, let’s examine what sets emeralds apart and how to measure their quality.

Look at the color

The first and most important characteristic to measure the quality of emeralds is color. Colombia has been famous for exquisitely beautiful emeralds since the mid-16th century. The Muzo and Chivor mines are the most prominent in business circles and this can sometimes be misleading. Emerald traders often use the names Muzo and Chivor to describe the color of an emerald when, in fact, that may not be the origin. As a general rule, Muzo implies a herbaceous green, with yellow being the secondary color. While Chivor represents a deep pine green, with blue being the secondary color. Similarly with Brazilian emeralds, the name implies the color more than the mine or the country of emeralds. However, the value lies more in the color than in the origin. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” Emeralds are rare, as are all precious stones. However, emeralds are even rarer than diamonds, making Muzo and Chivor-type emeralds highly prized and often quite expensive.

Judge clarity

A close second to color in determining the quality of emeralds is clarity. The more opaque an emerald, the less it is worth. Emeralds are the most inclusive of all gemstones, which to some extent affects their clarity and certainly their value. A pretty emerald will have what is known as eye clarity, which basically means there are no very visible fissures or cracks. It will have a silky smooth appearance and the light will glow with fire throughout the stone. However, a quality emerald will also have magnifying glass clarity. A loupe is what is known as a jeweler’s loupe. The standard magnifying glass is 10x and less than that amount is not recommended as extremely fine cracks may not be seen extending the entire width of the stone. All emeralds are treated with special oils to reduce the visibility of inclusions. When buying an emerald, check the clarity with a magnifying glass if possible, if not, make sure to buy it from a reputable company. One sure way to know if a company is reputable is to check its customer satisfaction record and return policy. On a side note: beware of compound emeralds, these are emeralds that are assembled from fragments and held together with special bonding agents, a magnifying glass will easily distinguish them from real emeralds and are loathed by reputable merchants and jewelers .

Notice the cut

When most people envision emeralds, the classic emerald cut comes to mind, and for good reason. The staggered cuts and symmetry of the classic emerald cut allow for maximum reflection and refraction of light. That is not to say that other cuts are less valuable in any way. When it comes to cutting, precision determines value. For example, if a bright glow is not visible, the cut could be too pronounced and allow light to escape from the sides and cause a pale appearance. On the other hand, a cut too shallow and the emerald will look dark and dull. Due to inclusions, some emeralds need to be cut in a certain way, be it pear-shaped, heart-shaped, teardrop-shaped, or diamond-shaped. This is done to minimize the loss of raw glass during the cutting process. A precision cut regardless of the shape will only increase the value of the emerald.

Carat weight

The least important on the scale for measuring the quality of emeralds is the carat weight. That is not to say that the weight is not significant. Of course, a very light dark green emerald weighing 5 carats would be worth much more than a 2 carat emerald with exactly the same qualities. However, a 1 carat emerald could be worth much more than a 4 carat emerald of inferior color and clarity. Unlike diamonds where weight is focal, emeralds must always be calibrated for color and clarity, first, then cut, and finally weight.

Synthetic Vs Natural

A common misconception is that synthetic (lab-grown) emeralds are fake. The fact is, they are real beryl and they are emeralds. The difference is that they are artificial, not natural. Synthetic emeralds have telltale signatures on their inclusions that gemologists can easily recognize. The first attempts to grow emeralds in the laboratory failed due to their extreme clarity. The lack of inclusions led to its disappearance. However, modern technology and highly sophisticated equipment have been able to duplicate inclusions in laboratory-grown emeralds. In part because this FTC law requires jewelers to disclose the properties of the emeralds they trade if they are synthetic. All reputable merchants and jewelers subscribe to this policy as it protects both the market investor and the merchant. That said, it’s important to note that while they aren’t worth as much as natural gemstones, lab-grown emeralds are still quite valuable for the same reasons that natural emeralds are.

When shopping or looking for emeralds, whether it’s at a gem fair, jewelry store, or online. Following the five guidelines above will not only help you measure the quality of emeralds, but it will also help you earn the respect of reputable jewelers and merchants, as well as protect your interest.

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