Looking for a custom emerald engagement ring?
Book a Free Appointment below to get started! Design Your Ring! As Leatrice Eiseman said in her own wise words; “The most abundant hue in nature, the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum it has throughout history, multifaceted emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate.” Throughout the years, emeralds have always been symbolic of clarity, rejuvenation and an overall renewal in life.
Here at The Diamond Reserve, we are not limited to Diamonds specifically. We think that Emerald Engagement Rings are a lovely way to symbolize your love in a stunning, deep green gem that sparkles from all angles. Here is our take on incorporating Emeralds into your jewelry and the pros and cons to the gemstone route and the quality factors that can drive the price in either direction.
Emerald Color Scale and Clarity
Emeralds can have so many different special qualities, but according to GIA.edu, emeralds are all about color, color, color! Emeralds can be graded by color, tone and hue. With colors ranging from 1 to 10, 1-2 is considered light, 3-4 is fair, 5-6 is good, 7-8 is very good and 9-10 is exceptional. The tone can range from light, dark green, medium, medium-dark to deep-intense. Regarding hue, it starts at light yellow green, light bluish green, bluish green, strong yellow green, strong bluish green to intense bluish green.
The most desired emerald colors are bluish green to pure green. You want an emerald that is within the happy-medium range where it’s not too dark nor too light. The color should be evenly distributed throughout the gem with no visible differences throughout its entirety. With inclusions that are typically visible to the naked eye, an eye-clean emerald with no “jardin” is considered rare and valuable. On the contrary, these eye-visible inclusions can have a negative effect on the transparency and clarity of the emerald.
The overall value and cost of the gemstone can vary massively depending on the color varieties. Color is driven by trace elements such as Chromium, Vanadium and Iron. The varied presence or absence of these elements are what dictate the color varieties in these beautiful gems.
Cut
Just like Diamonds, the cut of an emerald is very important and has four factors leading into the specified cut of the gem. Significant fractures, (or fissures) make an emerald slightly difficult to cut. On the Moh’s scale, emeralds are rated at a 7.5 to 8, compared to Diamonds being rated at a 10. With that being said, emeralds are slightly softer which is a very important driving factor behind the cut of the stone. These fissures make the gemstone more susceptible to being damaged during polishing and cutting. They can be easily damaged and need extra preventative care just to be safe.
During the cutting process, color can easily be adjusted due to the many proportions and number of facets that emeralds encompass. This means that the cutter can darken a paler stone with a deeper cut and vice versa.
Carat Weight
Bigger is not always better when it comes to emeralds. Carat weight will obviously have an effect on the pricing of the emerald, but we recommend focusing more on the color and clarity rather than the true carat weight. As always, you pay for higher quality. Emeralds can be cheaper than diamonds depending on the quality and carat weight you are seeking but can also be more reasonable if you’re willing to explore different options. Emeralds come in a wide range of sizes, and at the Diamond Reserve, we are able to hunt for the exact emerald you are looking for.
Pros & Cons
As mentioned earlier, emeralds are ranked lower on Moh’s scale of Mineral Hardness. Coming in at roughly 7.5-8 on a scale of 1-10, this means you will need to be extra careful with your precious stone. Emeralds are slightly less durable than a diamond, which means they are more susceptible to daily wear and tear. This is very important to keep in mind for engagement rings since you will likely be wearing it on a daily basis. Also, as mentioned previously, emeralds typically have more inclusions to the naked eye. This is not necessarily a bad thing but can have an impact aesthetically and on the price tag as well.
On a positive note, emeralds are so gorgeous and incredibly unique. Finishing up 2020 and going into the New Year, we predicted that there will be a jump in unique engagement rings. For those that are seeking options besides diamond engagement rings, emeralds are a great route to go. The gorgeous, deep green color is a pro on its own. This hue is stunning and is sure to make your ring stand out in a crowd.
Overall, we believe in providing you with whatever options you are seeking for your engagement ring or fashion-statement jewelry. We work mainly with Diamonds, but also have the ability to work with all sorts of gemstones such as Emeralds, Rubies, Sapphires, Topaz, Aquamarine, Opal, etc.
Please reach out to us directly with any questions at 303-385-8440 or click here to schedule your appointment!
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