opinions on this emerald please

[fantapanda]

hi all, i’ve been reading the emerald threads and have always wanted one just because it’s both mine and my husband’s birth stone. what are your thoughts on these 2 emeralds? they both call out to me, particularly the smaller one although both seem the same to me.

 

[Sunstorm]

I personally really like the smaller stone. I too have a soft spot for emeralds.

 

[GeliL]

Definitely the smaller stone. It is slightly darker and has more facets.

 

[dk168]

The smaller one would be my choice too, as its colour is more intense and appears to have no obvious window.

DK

 

[voce]

From these photos, I like neither one. The larger one looks like it could have a window, and the smaller one is a better color, but the first photo makes it look not a step cut, and if not a step cut, I consider the light return not as good as what I would want it to be.

 

[T L]

The enormous window rules put the larger one for me. I like the smaller one. How is the clarity on it?

 

[fantapanda]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

That’s a good point @voce!

@T L - the clarity looks good to me but I haven’t seen very close up shots. Here’s a video of it if it helps? [video]

 

[MollyMalone]

Do either/both of them have lab reports from GIA or AGL?

 

[Rad_Fan]

Agreed with the above comments. Liking the colors of both when I first looked at them on my phone. Both are 5.1mm deep, and over 75% depth, is that pretty common?

 

[voce]

Both are 5.1mm deep, and over 75% depth, is that pretty common?

Yes. With colored gems, the saturation and depth both contribute to a deeper color. So a very saturated crystal can theoretically be cut with 60% depth and look the same color face up as a less saturated crystal cut with say, 90% depth. Unheated Ceylon sapphires, for example can range in the 90%-100% for depth, which means that they're cut for the best face up color, but a lot of ct weight is in the round belly pavilion. I haven't really considered this for emerald, but the other colored gems I know about range from 60%-80% for depth as ideal. Anything less than 60%, and you see a window 99% of the time.