Emerald Gemstone Overview

What is an Emerald?

As one of the most widely known gemstones, Emerald is a variety of Beryl, which also includes Blue Aquamarine, Pink Morganite, Golden Heliodor, and Pale Green Beryl. By trace amounts of chromium or vanadium, Emerald has an attractive green hue, which captivates people for thousands of years.

Emerald ranks among the traditional "Big 4" gemstones along with Diamond, Ruby, and Sapphire. Known as the four main precious stones, they have been loved by jewelry collectors for centuries. Let's learn more about this attractive gemstone and its properties, symbolic meaning, and mining locations.

Emerald Properties

• Mineral: Beryl
• Crystal habit: Massive to well Crystalline
• Color: Bluish green, green, to yellowish green
• Refractive Index: 1.577 to 1.583
• Birefringence: 0.005 to 0.009
• Specific Gravity: 2.76
• Mohs Hardness: 7.5 to 8

Natural V.S. Synthetic

Due to the high price and limited supply of fine Emeralds, labs started growing synthetic Emeralds. Synthetic gemstones are grown by man in a laboratory and have essentially the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as natural gemstones. It explains why they have similar texture, durability, and other properties. Although they are both real Emeralds, there are still some differences. For example, earth mined Emeralds are distinguished and have inclusions and flaws due to their unique formation process, whereas lab-grown Emerald tends to be more uniform and consistent in quality.

In the late 1930s, scientists finally grew synthetic Emeralds with flux-growth synthetics. Hydrothermal synthetic Emeralds for jewelry came on the scene in 1960. Although lab-grown Emeralds are relatively available, they also command a significant premium, because creating synthetic Emeralds is a complex and money-consuming process. 

Besides, it's also an option favored for environmental protection and ethical concerns, partly due to issues associated with certain mines. Therefore, synthetic gemstones not only broaden the range of available gemstones but also bring into focus important questions about sustainability, ethics, and value. As technology advances, the distinction between natural and synthetic Emeralds becomes less apparent, providing consumers with diverse choices for varying preferences and budgets. This shift towards synthetic gems is not just about the stones themselves; it's about the values they represent as well.

Symbolic Meaning of Emerald

• Emerald serves as the May birthstone and 20th, 35th, and 55th wedding anniversary gemstone.
• It is the gemstone for spring and the astrological sign of Taurus, symbolizing renewal, patience, understanding, and foresight.
• As "The Stone of Successful Love", Emerald symbolizes enduring love and deep connection between couples as well.
• Being called "The Jewel of Kings", Emerald was always related to royalty in the past because of its preciousness and mystery.
• In ancient Egypt, Emerald was believed to be associated with regeneration and eternal youth, therefore it was even buried with pharaohs to ensure their immortality in the afterlife.

Price of Emerald

The price of Emerald also depends on 4Cs, including color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. Color is the key factor when we evaluate Emerald gemstones. The most desirable Emerald color varies from bluish green to pure green hue, with vivid color saturation. Only gemstones that are medium to dark in tone are considered Emeralds, while light-toned gemstones are known instead by the species name Green Beryl.

In the grading of emeralds, clarity is considered a close second. A fine emerald must possess not only a pure verdant green hue as described before but also a high degree of transparency to be considered a top gemstone. Due to the crystal shape emeralds are commonly cut as rectangular step cuts called emerald cuts. The price of Emerald does not increase at a fixed rate, but doubles with every carat increase.

Besides, in Emerald people expect to see inclusions that dealers like to call "Jardin", or garden. These moss-like inclusions are also very usually in Emerald. There is also an effect called "Gota de Aceite" or "Efecto Aleta de Mariposa" in many top-level Emerald gemstones, which is the phenomenon of crystal layers on top of each other, presenting the texture of velvet.

Mining Locations of Emerald

It is believed that Emerald was discovered and mined in Egypt as early as 500 BC. Among the gemstones, the oldest Emerald is 2.97 billion years old. Queen Cleopatra is perhaps the most famous historical figure to cherish Emerald gemstones. She even claimed ownership of all emerald mines in Egypt during her reign. The Egyptian mines were exploited on an industrial scale by the Roman and Byzantine Empires, and later by Islamic conquerors. Until the 19th century, the Emerald mines in Egypt were nearly exhausted.

Now, Colombia is by far the world's largest producer of Emeralds. Rare "Trapiche" Emerald is found in Colombia and is distinguished by ray-like spokes of dark impurities. Zambia produces excellent Emerald crystals in a beautiful, deep green, with excellent transparency. The color is mostly darker than that of Colombian Emerald and often has a fine, slightly bluish undertone.

Besides, Emeralds are also found all over the world in countries such as Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, the United States, and Zimbabwe.

LUO's Emerald Jewelry

LUO Jewelry offers customers synthetic Emerald rings, earrings, and necklaces, which have high quality and clarity. Welcome to contact us if you want to have a piece of unique jewelry customized for you.