Description

Emerald are a type of gemstone that belong to the beryl family, which has the chemical formula Be3Al2(SiO3)6. They are valued for their intense green color, which is caused by trace amounts of Chromium, Vanadium, and Iron. They are known for their beautiful green color, which ranges from a deep forest green to a light, almost translucent green.

Historically, emeralds have been highly prized and were worn by royalty and the wealthy elite. They were believed to have healing powers and were often used in medicinal treatments. Today, emeralds are still highly valued and are used in fine jewelry such as necklaces, earrings, and rings.

Emerald is the green to bluish green variety of beryl, a mineral species that also includes aquamarine as well as beryls in other colors.

Gem experts differ on the degree of green that makes one stone an emerald and another stone a less-expensive green beryl. Some people in the trade tend to give the name emerald to any green beryl colored by chromium. But to most gemologists, gemological laboratories, and colored stone dealers, it is more correct to call a stone green beryl when its color is "too light" for it to be classified as emerald. Even among that group, however, there's a difference of opinion about what's considered "too light."
GIA uses lab-graded comparison stones to determine if the green color is dark enough and saturated enough to be called emerald.

Emerald has been synonymous with the color green since ancient times. A fine emerald is a truly breathtaking sight, and this member of the beryl family deserves its placement among the traditional “Big Four” gems along with diamond, ruby, and sapphire. Colombian emeralds command the highest prices – sometimes $100,000 a carat or more depending on size and color – while recent emerald discoveries in Ethiopia and Brazil are also seeing high prices.

The world of precious emeralds is a captivating one.  Known as the Stone of Venus and discovered in Cleopatra’s Mines in Egypt in 1600 BC they hold a special fascination for most gemstone lovers. Legend has professed that the Roman Emperor Nero wore glasses with the lens made of emeralds to watch the gladiators fight.  It was believed that the color green was very soothing and very easy on the eyes.  This belief holds true today.  A gemstone can have great value and this value is determined by the 4C’s – color, clarity, cut and carat weight.  When evaluating any Emerald the most important of these factors is color.

Emerald History

Emerald’s lush green has soothed souls and excited imaginations since antiquity. Its name comes from the ancient Greek word for green, “smaragdus.” Rome’s Pliny the Elder described emerald in his Natural History, published in the first century AD: “…nothing greens greener” was his verdict. He described the use of emerald by early lapidaries, who “have no better method of restoring their eyes than by looking at the emerald, its soft, green color comforting and removing their weariness and lassitude.” Even today, the color green is known to relieve stress and eye strain.
There are other green gems, like tourmaline and peridot, but emerald is the one that’s always associated with the lushest landscapes and the richest greens. Ireland is the Emerald Isle. Seattle, in the US state of Washington, is the Emerald City. Thailand’s most sacred religious icon is called the Emerald Buddha, even though it’s carved from green jadeite.
The first known emerald mines were in Egypt, dating from at least 330 BC into the 1700s. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emerald, and used it in her royal adornments.
Emeralds from what is now Colombia were part of the plunder when sixteenth-century Spanish explorers invaded the New World. The Incas had already been using emeralds in their jewelry and religious ceremonies for 500 years. The Spanish, who treasured gold and silver far more than gems, traded emeralds for precious metals. Their trades opened the eyes of European and Asian royalty to emerald’s majesty.
Emerald is the most famous member of the beryl family. Legends endowed the wearer with the ability to foresee the future when emerald was placed under the tongue, as well as to reveal truth and be protected against evil spells. Emerald was once also believed to cure diseases like cholera and malaria. Wearing an emerald was believed to reveal the truth or falseness of a lover’s oath as well as make one an eloquent speaker.
Legend also states that emerald was one of the four precious stones given by God to King Solomon. These four stones were said to have endowed the king with power over all creation.
Its color reflects new spring growth, which makes it the perfect choice of a birthstone for the month of May. It’s also the gemstone for twentieth and thirty-fifth wedding anniversaries.

Emerald Birthstone Meaning & History

From Egyptian pharaohs to Inca emperors, emerald has enchanted royalty. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emerald and used it in her royal adornments. The legendary Crown of the Andes, fashioned in colonial South America, is one example of how the Spanish revered the May birthstone. According to lore, its largest stone—now called the Atahualpa emerald—was taken from the last Inca emperor, Atahualpa, by conquistador Francisco Pizarro. The emerald and gold treasures recovered from the sunken 17^th century Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha represent a small fraction of the colonial riches sent to Spain from the New World.

The word “emerald” comes from smaragdos, ancient Greek for a green gem. Roman author Pliny the Elder, who died in the 79 CE eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, wrote in his encyclopedic Natural History that “nothing greens greener.” He also stated that the May birthstone had therapeutic properties that helped gem cutters: “(they) have no better method of restoring their eyes than by looking at the emerald, its soft, green color comforting and removing their weariness and lassitude.” Science now proves this belief: The color green relieves stress and eye strain.The green birthstone was also thought to have magical powers. By placing it under the tongue, one could see into the future. Some believed it made one an eloquent speaker and exposed lovers who made false promises.

Where Are Emeralds Found?

The largest producer of emeralds in the world is Colombia, although they are also found in other countries such as Brazil, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Emeralds are considered to be a relatively hard gemstone, with a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, making them suitable for everyday wear. However, they can be brittle and may be more prone to cracking or chipping than other gemstones. Colombia has been the source of the finest emeralds for more than 500 years, and Colombian emeralds are the standard by which all others are measured. Three mining sites in Colombia are particularly noteworthy: Muzo, Chivor and Coscuez. Each locality produces a range of colors but, generally speaking, darker tones of pure green emeralds come from Muzo. Emeralds that are lighter in tone and slightly bluish green are associated with Chivor. Slightly yellowish green emeralds are unearthed in Coscuez.

The May birthstone is also found in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. One of the most productive sites for the green birthstone is the sophisticated Belmont mine. Capoeirana is another important locality, a rugged region worked largely by independent miners and small-scale operations.The May birthstone can also be found in Africa. Zambia is a major source, and mines in the Ndola Rural Restricted Area are known for producing emeralds that are bluish green and darker in tone. Pakistan and Afghanistan are important producers as well.

Emerald Birthstone Care & Cleaning

Emerald is a 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so it is more susceptible to scratching than a diamond, which ranks 10 on the scale. The May birthstone is often treated to improve its color or clarity. Common treatment methods include:

1. Dyeing: Paler emeralds with multiple fractures may be dyed green to enhance their color.
2. Fracture Filling: Oils, waxes, and artificial resins are often used to fill surface-reaching fractures in emeralds. The goal is to reduce the visibility of the fractures and improve the apparent clarity. The volume of filler material present can range from minor to significant; the different substances have varying degrees of stability.
The emerald birthstone requires some special care: Avoid exposure to heat, changes in air pressure (such as in an airline cabin) and harsh chemicals. Never put an emerald in an ultrasonic cleaner, as the vibrations and heat can cause the filler to sweat out of fractures. Filled emeralds can also be damaged by exposure to hot water used for washing dishes. The safest way to clean emeralds is to gently scrub them with a soft brush and warm, soapy water.

Physical characteristics of Emeralds

Emeralds are a unique and valuable gemstone with a distinctive set of physical characteristics. Some of the key physical characteristics of emeralds include:

• Color: Emeralds are most well-known for their intense green color, which can range from a pale, almost translucent green to a deep forest green. The color is caused by trace amounts of chromium, vanadium, and iron in the crystal structure.
• Clarity: Like other gemstones, emeralds can have inclusions or imperfections within the stone. These inclusions can vary in size and shape and may be visible to the naked eye or require magnification to be seen.
• Cut: The way that an emerald is cut can affect its appearance and value. The most common cut for emeralds is the emerald cut, which is a rectangular shape with truncated corners. Other popular cuts include oval, pear, and round.
• Hardness: Emeralds have a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, which makes them relatively durable and suitable for use in jewelry. However, they can be brittle and may be more prone to cracking or chipping than other gemstones.
• Density: The density of emeralds can vary depending on the specific composition of the stone, but in general, they have a density of around 2.7 to 2.8 grams per cubic centimeter.
• Refractive index: Emeralds have a refractive index of around 1.57 to 1.60, which means that they bend and reflect light in a specific way that creates their unique appearance

Chemical composition and crystal structure

Emeralds are a variety of the mineral beryl, which has the chemical formula Be3Al2(SiO3)6. The chemical composition of emeralds is very similar to other varieties of beryl, but with the addition of trace amounts of chromium, vanadium, and iron, which give the stones their characteristic green color.

The crystal structure of emeralds is hexagonal, with a six-sided prism shape and a flat, hexagonal base. The individual beryl crystals that make up emeralds are typically elongated, with parallel lines or striations along their length. These striations are thought to be caused by variations in the growth of the crystal over time.

Within the crystal structure, the chromium, vanadium, and iron ions are incorporated into the beryl lattice in place of aluminum ions. This substitution changes the way that the crystal interacts with light, causing the green color that is characteristic of emeralds.Overall, the chemical composition and crystal structure of emeralds are similar to other varieties of beryl, but with the addition of trace amounts of chromium, vanadium, and iron that give them their unique green color. The hexagonal crystal structure of emeralds, combined with their hardness and density, make them an ideal choice for use in fine jewelry.

Treatment of Emeralds

Cutting and polishing of emeralds is a highly skilled and delicate process that requires specialized equipment and expertise. The following are some of the key steps involved in cutting and polishing emeralds:

1. Planning: Before cutting and polishing begins, the rough emerald is examined and a plan is developed to determine the best way to cut and shape the stone.
2. Cleaving: The emerald is usually cleaved along its natural planes to create the rough shape of the stone.
3. Shaping: The rough emerald is then shaped using a variety of cutting tools, such as diamond saws, to create the desired shape and size.
4. Faceting: Once the stone has been shaped, the facets are cut into the surface of the stone. This is done using specialized equipment and can take many hours to complete.
5. Polishing: Finally, the emerald is polished to remove any scratches and to enhance its luster and brilliance.

In addition to cutting and polishing, some emeralds may undergo treatment to enhance their color and clarity. The following are some of the most common treatments used on emeralds:

1. Oil treatment: Emeralds are often treated with colorless oils, such as cedarwood oil, to fill small cracks and enhance their clarity.
2. Resin treatment: This involves filling the cracks and cavities in the emerald with a resin to improve its clarity and color.
3. Heat treatment: This process involves heating the emerald to a high temperature to improve its color and clarity.

It is important to note that treated emeralds are generally less valuable than untreated stones, and it is important to disclose any treatments that have been used when selling or purchasing an emerald.