Emerald Gemstone Guide
"Explore everything about emerald gemstones—discover their properties, varieties, symbolism, origins, and how to clean and care for them."
What is an Emerald?
"Emeralds are the most famous gemstones in the beryl family, which also includes aquamarine and morganite. For a gemstone to be considered an emerald, it must exhibit a vibrant green to bluish-green color."
Emerald Meaning
"Emeralds symbolize truth, intuition, foresight, loyalty, and love. In ancient Greece and Rome, they were associated with the goddess Venus, who presided over love and hope."
Emerald Types
Natural Emeralds
Natural emeralds typically have more inclusions than most gemstones, with these unique internal features, known as “jardin” (French for garden), often being appreciated for their natural beauty.
Lab Grown Emeralds
Lab-grown emeralds share the same chemical composition as natural emeralds but lack the inclusions typically found in their natural counterparts.
Emerald Properties
Mohs Hardness
7.5 to 8
Mineral
Beryl is a mineral composed of beryllium and aluminum silicate.
Color
Emeralds fall within the blue-green range of beryl, featuring a medium to deep color intensity. Green beryl, on the other hand, has a paler hue.
Refractive Index
1.577 to 1.583
How to Choose an Emerald
When selecting an emerald, consider the color, saturation, and clarity, and explore the significance of its sourcing.
Cut
"Emeralds often form in six-sided prisms, making them ideal for the emerald cut, which uses rectangular step cuts to enhance durability. Given their delicate nature and the significance of color in determining value, emeralds must be expertly cut to optimize tone and saturation."
Color
"Color is the key factor in assessing emerald quality and value. The most prized emeralds exhibit a pure green to bluish-green hue with vibrant color saturation."
Clarity
"The majority of emeralds are not eye-clean, typically containing visible inclusions. These inclusions are viewed as distinctive, often enhancing the stone's charm and character."
Carat Weight and Size
"Due to their lower density compared to diamonds, a one-carat emerald will appear larger than a diamond of the same weight."
Price
"Sapphires are typically valued based on their rarity, color, saturation, clarity, size, and place of origin."
Treatment
"Sapphires can be untreated or heat-treated to enhance their color and clarity. Natural sapphires near thermal vents often achieve vibrant colors naturally, while experts can mimic this effect through controlled heating."
Origin
"Emeralds are commonly obtained from Colombia, Brazil, and Zambia. Brilliant Earth selects its natural emeralds exclusively from Colombia and Zambia."
Evaluation
"Emeralds are assessed based on cut, color, clarity, and transparency. Emeralds with outstanding clarity and vivid color are regarded as higher quality."
How to Clean Emeralds?
The safest way to clean emeralds is by gently washing them with a soft toothbrush and warm, chemical-free soap. Because many natural emeralds undergo fracture filling treatments, it's important to avoid using ultrasonic cleaners or hot steam.
Emerald FAQs
What month is the Emerald birthstone?
Known as the gem of spring, the emerald is the birthstone for May.
What methods can you use to verify if an emerald is authentic?
Emeralds usually display a bluish-green to pure green color, and the presence of inclusions is a common sign of a natural emerald. However, other gemstones can also fall within this color range. If you're unsure whether your stone is an emerald or another green gem, it's best to have a professional jeweler verify its authenticity.
How are Emerald formed?
Natural emeralds typically form when volcanic lava interacts with shale or limestone, which are metamorphic rocks, or within fractures and fissures in large granite formations.
How rare are Emerald?
Emeralds are rarer than diamonds and rank among the most scarce gemstones.
How much is a 1 carat Emerald worth?
The price of emeralds is determined by factors such as color, origin, clarity, and transparency. Because of their rarity, a 1-carat emerald can often be much more expensive than many other gemstones.
What is beryl?
Emeralds are derived from the mineral beryl, and their green color comes from the presence of chromium and vanadium within the beryl.
