Emerald comes from the Beryl gemstone type similar to aquamarine. Emerald gets its vivid green colour from traces of chromium / vanadium / iron. Emerald was a favourite among royalty too being particularly special to Cleopatra. Hollywood royalty Elizabeth Taylor was also known for her love of this beautiful stone. One of the largest uncut emeralds in the world is the Duke of Devonshire Emerald weighing approximately 1,384 carats.
Colombia is the prime source of emeralds the world over. Mines in Muzo, Chivor and Coscuez produce some of the world’s finest emeralds and represent the gold standard in emeralds. Emeralds are also mined in Brazil, Africa, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Different mines are famous for different colour variations of emeralds ranging from lighter to darker tones of green.
Emerald is a 7.5 – 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness implying it is more prone to scratches by stones with hardness greater than 8 such as a diamond.
Emeralds are often treated to improve colour and clarity and as such require special care. Exposure to high temperatures, harsh chemicals and air pressure can cause damage to this gemstone. Cleaning should be done with warm soapy water and a soft brush to remove residue and oils from the environment of the wearer.
Colour varies from bluish green to vivid green. Transparent emeralds with uniform colour distribution are highly coveted. Colombian emeralds usually have a warm intense green colour whereas Zambian emeralds have a cooler green colour.
Emeralds usually contain inclusions visible to the naked eye. Emeralds that have no visible inclusions are quite rare and valuable.
Cut is very important to showcase the brilliance of this sparkly gem keeping in mind the inclusions and the various hues. Most standard cuts are suitable.
Comes in a variety of sizes from very small to as large as hundreds of carats.The price of emeralds can drastically rise as the size increases.
Emerald is a derivation of the Greek word smaragdos meaning green gem. The luscious green colour steals all hearts and calms the body as it is a reminder of all things nature and rejuvenation. It is one of the most coveted stones as it is a stone of inspiration, intelligence, intuition and revival. Emerald is also known to help the wearer develop patience and welcome abundance into their life. Emerald along with ruby and sapphire holds the title of the Big Three gemstones due to their popularity and enchanting beauty.
