Emerald cabochon - does this inclusion pose structural problems?

[mellowyellowgirl]

@Pomelo that is what I’ve found to be the going price of Zambians. Give or take a few hundred depending on a particular shade. I don’t think they are particularly “high end” but there are some super glowy ones to be had at reasonable prices. Great if you want a giant bauble that looks good to wear on the metro

My Zambian photographs very badly. The camera makes it yellow and kills the glow. Was sold to me by a seller that I trust who insisted I should buy it but they were super sketchy about photos and videos. Haha after I received the stone I too sent them hideous photos of my ring with an apology attached: Sorry your ring looks so ugly I love it in real life, to which they responded “Now you understand why I wasn’t forthcoming with videos”

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

@Crimson I asked for a cab big pink hoping that it would be cheaper and make my search easier and got laughed at (not unkindly just in a “oh my sweet summer child there are no big pinks around in any form” kind of way).

 

[Pomelo]

I’ll have to look for that post . Here are few of most helpful lessons I learnt. Numbers 1-3 are courtesy of Alexander Laut who was very kind to me.
1. No oil doesn’t mean no resin.
2. Always get an emerald re-tested before you buy it, If the cert is just a few months old, that might be OK but anything older is not acceptable. This is related to point 3.
3. Emeralds can be cleaned of oil, tested and treated with oil or resin post testing.
4. Ideally, you should compare your shortlisted emerald with other emeralds, side by side. Don’t buy it standalone unless you are very confident of your judgment.
5. Training one's eyes is vital. I learnt to tell the difference between Vivid Green (Muzo) and regular Vivid Green.

Just for comparison with the Bayco stone, here is an Columbian emerald cab pendant that was part of my education. Nice colour, evenly distributed but with low translucency and very little glow. The supplier told me, “This is big, but lower quality.” They were smart to make it a pendant.

Thanks Crimson!
Would you say you’re colour sensitive by nature or its accrued through experience?

The reason I ask is, I have looked at diamonds for years but I find it difficult to see colour in them! Side by side I can just about tell the difference between a D and an I.

Plus, I’m always in awe of people who look at a colour and point to the undertones, talk about saturation etc.

Btw I love cabochons. Don’t let anyone tell you that cabs are inferior or expect that they must cost less than faceted stones . They have ruled for ages and have a timeless appeal.

Cabochons: A Love Affair

Renowned high jewellery, rare gems specialist - yellow diamonds, fancy colour diamonds, vintage, bridal, gentlemen’s jewels. Guardians of family legacies for half a century, creating timeless pieces worthy of collection. Discover our collections.

www.ronaldabram.com

Also on Ronald Abram - two emeralds, one cab and one faceted. About the same size, about the same price.-

Wow that sugar loaf is stunning! I think cabs just have an unbelievable glow!

 

[pomo_juice]

2. Always get an emerald re-tested before you buy it, If the cert is just a few months old, that might be OK but anything older is not acceptable. This is related to point 3.

Yup, esp. for no-oil emeralds! Usually, vendors won't certify unless you are sure to buy to make sure everything is without a doubt clear, and from what I've experienced, you choose one lab to guarantee the no-oil since it's actually a (slightly) different standard across labs. I've had vendors help arrange straight from lab to my house to make sure nothing is in doubt. It puts a lot of things at ease.

the 9ct Zambian can I showed earlier (photo reattached) is around 3.5k USD for minor oil

I hate to say this... pls don't come after me... but Zambian emeralds are priced much more affordably due to a lot of supply & darker body (no Colombian glow, which is wonderful on cabs). I'm thinking this might be the case here.

 

[Pomelo]

Yup, esp. for no-oil emeralds! Usually, vendors won't certify unless you are sure to buy to make sure everything is without a doubt clear, and from what I've experienced, you choose one lab to guarantee the no-oil since it's actually a (slightly) different standard across labs. I've had vendors help arrange straight from lab to my house to make sure nothing is in doubt. It puts a lot of things at ease.



I hate to say this... pls don't come after me... but Zambian emeralds are priced much more affordably due to a lot of supply & darker body (no Colombian glow, which is wonderful on cabs). I'm thinking this might be the case here.

Thank you! I’m looking forward to comparing them at the HK show!

 

[Crimson]

Thanks Crimson!
Would you say you’re colour sensitive by nature or its accrued through experience?

The reason I ask is, I have looked at diamonds for years but I find it difficult to see colour in them! Side by side I can just about tell the difference between a D and an I.

Plus, I’m always in awe of people who look at a colour and point to the undertones, talk about saturation etc.



Wow that sugar loaf is stunning! I think cabs just have an unbelievable glow!

Colourless or near colourless diamonds are colour graded with the stone face down. It is easier to differentiate upside down because the flashes and scintillation don’t get in the way of colour perception. That is why it isn’t as easy to tell face-up and also why with colourless diamonds, especially when set, it is often fine not to buy D or E as long as the cut is excellent. So there is nothing wrong with your perception!

https://www.gia.edu/gia-about/4cs-color

I am more sensitive to colour, light, sound etc. Just built that way. I think it is possible for most people to learn to improve their ability to differentiate tones and hues. However, for my friends who are colour blind, coloured stones present an interesting challenge.

 

[Odyssey44]

I’ll have to look for that post . Here are few of most helpful lessons I learnt. Numbers 1-3 are courtesy of Alexander Laut who was very kind to me.
1. No oil doesn’t mean no resin.
2. Always get an emerald re-tested before you buy it, If the cert is just a few months old, that might be OK but anything older is not acceptable. This is related to point 3.
3. Emeralds can be cleaned of oil, tested and treated with oil or resin post testing.
4. Ideally, you should compare your shortlisted emerald with other emeralds, side by side. Don’t buy it standalone unless you are very confident of your judgment.
5. Training one's eyes is vital. I learnt to tell the difference between Vivid Green (Muzo) and regular Vivid Green.

Just for comparison with the Bayco stone, here is an Columbian emerald cab pendant that was part of my education. Nice colour, evenly distributed but with low translucency and very little glow. The supplier told me, “This is big, but lower quality.” They were smart to make it a pendant.

Super helpful as always Crimson! I have my learner permit only for emeralds.
I posted the Bayco stone for fun. Besides the quality issues, I thought I had finally found something too big to wear in a ring. Maybe not though!

 

[Crimson]

Super helpful as always Crimson! I have my learner permit only for emeralds.
I posted the Bayco stone for fun. Besides the quality issues, I thought I had finally found something too big to wear in a ring. Maybe not though!

Haha, it was fun!
In China, as @Pomelo knows, cabochons are called “egg shapes” and there are different egg sizes - like quail’s egg, pigeon’s egg and this - well, almost a hen’s egg.

 

[pomo_juice]

forward to comparing them at the HK show

Nice! I hope you have a lot of fun and see some drool worthy stuff. I'm hoping to go to the March 2026 show if work permits

 

[Pomelo]

Haha, it was fun!
In China, as @Pomelo knows, cabochons are called “egg shapes” and there are different egg sizes - like quail’s egg, pigeon’s egg and this - well, almost a hen’s egg.

Just for fun - I’m travelling in Urumqi (Xinjiang, China) at the moment and found a baked swan’s egg!

Now this is an egg that I think is too big… maybe

 

[Odyssey44]

Haha, it was fun!
In China, as @Pomelo knows, cabochons are called “egg shapes” and there are different egg sizes - like quail’s egg, pigeon’s egg and this - well, almost a hen’s egg.

Ohhh, I did not realize egg shape was cabochon. It should have dawned on me after seeing that lavender jadeite ring that was advertised as egg-shaped. I was thinking it just meant big and roundish.