The intensity of the verdant hues of an emerald have mesmerised the world since eons. Even a dainty high-quality emerald makes for a staggering presence. Read on to find out the things to keep in mind while selecting an emerald.

 

Colour

Emeralds get their beautiful green colour from the chromium, vanadium and iron present in the stone. The colour of the emerald is one of the biggest deciding factors in its pricing. Gemmologists base the value of a stone on a few properties.

First, its hue i.e. how close the stone is to its pure colour.

Second, the stones’ tone, which means how light and dark a stone is.

Last, the saturation, the intensity of the hue of the stone.

An example of a desirable emerald would be a stone with bluish-green to pure green hue and with vivid colour saturation. There is a misconception that the darker the colour of the emerald the more valued it is. Very dark and deep emeralds can look dull.

 

Clarity

Inclusions in emeralds are easily visible. A flawless emerald is a sign that it could be a lab-made stone. Emeralds go through clarity enhancements to disguise cracks, hide flaws and intensify colour. A good quality emerald would have slight intrusions but will still be transparent.

 

Cut

Cutting an emerald is a technical process because the stones are brittle and fragile. For an emerald, step-cut or emerald-cut is the usual cutting practice. This cut helps keep the weight of the stone and reduces the loss of raw material. The cut of the stone also influences its colour. For fancy cuts, consider the light play of the stone, its symmetry, durability, and of course, your personal preference.

 

Carat

Carat of an emerald means the size of the stone. An increase in size greatly increases the price of the gem. Very large emeralds are extremely rare and would be highly priced.

 

Origin

Emeralds found in granites, pegmatites, schists and alluvial deposits, are truly a natural delight. For their vivid colours and rarity, Columbian emeralds are highly coveted. Zimbabwe (we normally call Zambian )  and Brazil also produce spectacular emeralds.

 

We, at Kahn High Jewellery, procure high-quality ethically sourced and certified Columbian/ Zambian emeralds. You can get in touch with us if you have any queries regarding emeralds or any other gemstone.