Emeralds

[Neelie]

I would like to purchase an emerald. I would like to know what is the best color that I could choose. I want one that is the 'Higest quality' as far as color is concerned. I have seen one that is 12X12mm in size, square, and bottle green( lesser yellow tinge in it), not the fresh grassy green, that one of my cousin's has. I'm wonderning if this is a good color to purchase. Also how much should I consider as a fair price for it. The Emerald I want to purchase is one from 'Swat' in the norhtern part of Pakistan, where I belive some of the best Emeralds are found, is this correct?

 

[Justin_Cutter]

Muze, Colombia is generally considered the highest quality emerald available.

Here are some examples. Expect to pay thousands per carat for a muze emerald. There are to many variables to give you a exact price.





~Justin

 

[T L]

Emeralds do not photograph well at all and almost always never show their true beauty in a photograph. Even the above photos that Justin posted look flat to me, and do not at all convey the true beauty of a fine emerald, even though the photos are very pretty. A fine emerald in person is truly a breathtaking thing to behold. The finest emeralds in the world hail from the Muzo mines of Columbia as Justin said. The finest ones have a special glow that are caused by micro inclusions that are not found anywhere else on earth. The very best color is a very slightly bluish green with vivid saturation, and with a medium dark tone, and a special glow that makes them look like fine satin (it's hard to explain unless you've seen one in person).

Here is a very informative chapter about the finest emeralds from Muzo authored by an emerald expert who has been in the business for decates. I suggest you try to obtain this book and research it if you are on the market for a very fine and expensive emerald, or you may be duped into buying a synthetic. Any fine and expensive gemstone should have a highly reputable lab report from AGL or one of the top European labs like Gueblin, GRS, SSEF. I have heard that many synthetics are being passed off in the Middleast as fine emeralds. Be very careful, and also study about treatment on these gems, as synthetics are not the only thing you have to worry about. There are now irradiated emeralds, among the highly filled (clarity enhanced) material that is out there. Some synthetics also have inclusions that are made to fool buyers into thinking they're natural.

http://www.emeraldpassion.com/

http://www.emeraldpassion.com/sample.htm

"Grass green" and other descriptors like that are too subjective when describing fine quality. For example, to me grass green is a very slightly yellowish green with medium saturation and medium tone. Very slightly bluish green with vivid satuation and medium dark tone is what a gemologist would understand, and what you should try to look for. The finest emeralds can be at least 20K/ct, so depending on what you're looking for, you may need to understand variables such as cut, carat weight, origin (Muzo has a premium), saturation, hue, inclusions, type and amount of clarity enhancement, and other things when trying to price one.

Even though all photographs of emeralds are terrible, you can kind of see the glow in Elizabeth Taylor's Bulgari emerald here. The stone was evaulated by AGL and hails from Muzo Colombia. It has minimal inclusions and faint enhancement.

 

[Justin_Cutter]

AHHHHHH I misspelled Muzo!!!!! So sad lol!

Great Point TL, I have never seen a photograph do an Emerald justice.

~Justin

 

[Arkteia]

When I was young, we used "brilliant green" antiseptic liquid on scratches and minor wounds that kids would get so easily. Surely it exists in this country as well? To me the best emeralds have this tint..not just glow. "Sheen" is the best term. I had to view many stones, and I haven't bought a single one yet, but now I know how it should look, and why a tsavorite is still not a substitute.
Great photo, TL. Actually this photo almost managed to capture the true color.

 

[Neelie]

Thanks all you guys, now I know know what I need to look for in an Emerald. And TL, that pic you've posted is very close to the color of Emerald I wanted to purchase. Thanks once again!