In this colorful world, colored gemstones with their unique charm make us fall in love with and be fascinated by them. They are nature's poems and a soot to our souls. Let's embark on this wonderful journey of colored gemstones, and feel the endless charm and mystery!
It's May, and emerald happens to be the birthstone of May, do you want to know more about emerald?
Emerald is a gemstone that has a green color due to its presence of trace amounts of chromium, and it has a hardness of 8-8.5 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamonds and ruby sapphires. Most emeralds have more inclusions and cracks in the process of gemstone formation, so its toughness is relatively poor.
Emerald is a precious gemstone, known for its green hue in both traditional and contemporary jewelry, and it is also recognized as one of the top five gemstones.
When choosing emeralds, how do we make an informed choice? First of all, we must understand that the value of an emerald cannot be evaluated based on a single criterion, but needs to consider a number of aspects:
1. Color is key: We need to focus on the three essential elements of color – hue, lightness, and saturation. Ideally, an emerald should have a well-balanced hue, a sharp saturation, and good brilliance. When choosing a color grade, look for gemstones that are described as "vivid green". It is worth mentioning that the two grades of Muzo and Verdant represent the top color level, of which the name Muzo is only used by GRS laboratories to identify high-quality emeralds from Colombia, while Verdant is named by the GUILD agency and does not limit the place of origin.
2. Clarity is also an important factor: although emeralds are naturally cracked and inclusions, and we should have a certain tolerance mentality, too many intrinsic characteristics can seriously affect their appearance and value. It is recommended to choose gemstones with fewer inclusions or glassy.
3. Origin consideration: Although the origin is a consideration, there is no need to be overly obsessed. Gemstones of varying quality can be produced everywhere. Colombia is recognized as the top producer, but prices are usually higher due to the scarcity of resources. Zambia is a major producer, with consistent yields, high hardness, and excellent color and clarity. For lesser-known origins such as Swat and Pakistan, there is no in-depth discussion here due to political and production issues.
4. Optimization and treatment: Due to the many cracks in the rough emerald, in order to make it look better, it is common to use the method of injecting organic oil into the crystal cracks to hide these imperfections, which is internationally recognized and most emeralds have undergone this treatment. However, chemical injection or dyeing treatments are not recommended and should be avoided when purchasing. The international certificate will be marked with the oil grade, and it is recommended to choose a gemstone with a "micro oil" grade or higher.
5. Choice of cut: When it comes to color-focused gemstones, there is no strict grading of cut. Emeralds don't need a complex brilliant cut to enhance the fire, and simple cuts such as an octagonal or plain sugar tower can make the color more intense. High-quality gemstones are generally not cut in a shoddy way, and the shape of the gemstone is largely a matter of personal preference.
6. The importance of certificates: No matter how rich our knowledge is, it cannot be compared to the precision of testing in a professional laboratory. Therefore, be sure to look at the certificates that come with them when buying gemstones. Common certification bodies include GRS, GUILD, AIGS, GRC, GUBELIN, SSEF, GIC, TGL, EGL, CGLRGL, and LOTUS, among others.
To sum up, when choosing an emerald, you need to consider factors such as color, clarity, origin, treatment, cut and certification to find the true value.
Time flies, and today's sharing is coming to an end. I hope that these stories and knowledge about classic luxury jewelry will bring you a feast for the eyes and souls. The charm of jewelry lies in its eternity and heritage, let us cherish each brilliant gemstone and feel the beautiful meaning they convey. In the coming days, we will continue to bring you more wonderful content about jewelry, so stay tuned! Thank you for your company, and may our life always be full of beauty and luxury!