EMERALD INFORMATIONWhy are the 4 C’s (Cut, Carat, Color and Clarity) important to you?
The 4 C’s are used throughout the world as a standardized method of classifying the quality and value of gemstones. Originally developed for classifying diamonds, this standardized approach has subsequently been implemented in assessing the rarity and value of emeralds. Let us explain how…
The value of any given emerald is based on a combination of attributes under each rating of Cut, Carat, Color and Clarity. Please see the chart below for the various possible attributes associated with each rating. Naturally, the higher the attributes of an emerald, the higher its assessment of rarity and value. Colombian emeralds are known worldwide to be industry leaders, with the highest standards of quality. Some of the rarest and most expensive emeralds in the world come from such Colombian mines as Muzo and Chivor.
We are the only emerald company in the world using scales to define our Fixed Prices. Our scales are based on the GIA and AGL grading scales and allow you to buy our emeralds based on professional standards of quality, directly from the source and without inflated prices.
Rule of Thumb
In general, when judging an emerald’s value, color is of paramount importance: the deeper and more vivid the green, the more valuable the stone will be. Of course, there are also many attractive lighter green emeralds that are lively and vivid when set in jewelry, as well as darker green emeralds that make up for their lack of brightness in the richness of the color. Generally speaking, however, very light or very dark emeralds are less valuable. As far as clarity is concerned, unlike diamonds, a finely colored emerald is not significantly devalued by inclusions.
Inclusions
Most natural emeralds have inclusions, often called “jardines”, or gardens, which are regarded as the emerald’s natural birthmark. The fewer the fissures, the more expensive the emerald. Cut, natural emeralds of the highest quality weighing more than two carats are extremely rare and costly. A large, deep green emerald with minor blue or yellow secondary coloration that is relatively free of inclusions may cost up to tens of thousands of dollars per carat.
Emerald is a rich green gemstone that is a variety of mineral beryl. It owes its color to minute amounts of chromium in the crystals. Pure beryl is beryllium aluminum silicate. The value of an emerald lies in its color and its freedom from flaws and inclusions (other substances enclosed in the crystals). An emerald with blue tint is more valuable than one with a yellow tint. Most emerald crystals contain minute fractures, which are sometimes called veils, and various kinds of inclusions. Perfect emeralds are very rare and therefore may be more expensive than diamonds. Emeralds are harder than quartz, but not as hard as sapphire.
The world is full of a vast variety of beautiful things, but most of them are ephemeral. The dewdrop and daffodil, the rainbow and the butterfly last for a few moments or a few days and are gone, preserved only in memory or in lines written by a great poet.
Precious stones, more than any other things, which are lovely to the eye, endure, and in terms of human measurement are eternal.
The emerald, birthstone for May and talisman for Taurus and Gemini is believed by the ancients to empower the owner with foresight into the future. Those born in May are lucky in their birthstone; the emerald is regarded as an amulet for good fortune. Symbolizing rebirth, youth, fertility and the promise of a fresh green spring, long associated with beauty, health, and happiness and dedicated to Venus by early admirers, the emerald is a powerful symbol of love.
Also representing goodness and kindness, the emerald was Britain's Princess Diana's choice for an engagement ring. Cleopatra, ancient Queen of the Nile, was also an avid collector. Modern movie queen Elizabeth Taylor's exquisite taste in personal adornment is reflected by her suite of Colombian Emeralds. Steeped in history, legend and lore, the emerald's main allure continues to be its look: a deep, refreshing green to please the eye and soothe the soul.The design and faceting on the surface of a gemstone is known as the 'cut'. Cut is important to an emerald's overall appearance. Greater precision produces a greater life and sparkle. The best score and scale in the cut rating is a combination of a perfect gem cut (a clean, polished surface free of surface fissures) and an excellent faceted shape.
In all cases, a well cut emerald is symmetrical and reflects light evenly across its surface. A washed-out area in the center of the emerald is the result of a cut that is either too deep or too shallow. An emerald with a more saturated color, the best cut may be more shallow than average, permitting more light to penetrate the gemstone. While in a less saturated gemstone, the color may benefit from a deeper cut.
0 10 Ideal 1 9 Excellent 2 8,7 Very Good 3,4 6,5 Good 5,6,7 4,3 Fair 8,9,10 3,2,1 Poor
The shape of an emerald is generally determined by the raw material. Usually with colored gemstones there are many variations on the basic oval cut (e.g. cushion, antique and barrel), emerald cut (baguette and princess), among others. It is typically determined by rough material. In colored gemstones, there are many different variations of the basic shapes of ovals, (e.g. cushion, antique and barrel) emerald cut, (e.g. baguette, princess cut, cut corners), among many others.
Emeralds have a table, crown, girdle, pavilion, and culet.
Emeralds are frequently cut in a rectangular step cut - a cut used on emeralds so often it's usually referred to as an "emerald cut." The clipped-off corners protect the stone from breakage and provide places where prongs can grip securely.
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The
score of shape is based on the symmetry of the emerald form,
the presence of windows and the irregular shape of the
stone. The brilliance of a stone refers only to faceted gemstones. When a gemstone is properly cut and the material is translucent and crystalline, the play of light and reflection emanating from the gem is commonly referred to as its 'brilliance'. Collectors enjoy seeing their gem's vibrant sparkle under a variety of lighting conditions. |
Polish describes how smoothly the facets of an emerald have been polished, whether any marks are visible from the polishing wheel, and how defined the edges of each facet are. Since these characteristics are rarely visible to the unaided eye, for an excellent value, look for a polish grade of very good or good, though the higher grades of ideal and excellent are also recommended. Avoid emeralds with polish grades of fair or poor, as the quality of their polish may affect the brilliance of the emerald. The polish of an emerald should be smooth, without any nicks or scratches.
The term "carat" is universally accepted for most gemstones as a measure of weight. (Jade is sometimes an exception as it has been traded for centuries by size). Not to be confused
with Karat, which refers to the purity of gold.
Carat is also often confused with size, even though it is actually a measure of weight. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. One carat can also be divided into 100 'points'. A .75 carat emerald is the same as a 75-points or 3/4 carat emerald.
A 1-carat emerald costs exactly twice the price of a half-carat emerald, right? Wrong! Since larger emeralds are found less frequently in nature, which places them at the rarest level of the Emerald Quality Pyramid, a 1-carat emerald will cost more than twice a 1/2-carat emerald (assuming color, clarity and cut remain constant).
Since gems are comprised of different chemical elements, they do not all weigh the same, therefore, gemologists use weight as one means of identification. With emeralds you get a bigger jewel for the same weight as other major gems. Cut and mounting can make a Emerald appear larger (or smaller) than its actual weight. So shop around and talk to your jeweler to find the right emerald!
It is worth noting that clean emeralds over 3 carats, with good quality get the best prices of the market, sometimes EVEN MORE THAN DIAMONDS!
DIMENSIONS
A gemstone is commonly measured in millimeters, based on the following formula: Length x Width x Depth. Experts are always looking at the dependent relationship between weight, dimension and shape.MATERIAL:
Due the exceptional formation of emeralds, in Colombia, Muzo, Chivor, Coscuez and La pitamines produce emeralds with different specific gravity. The finest emeralds contain the purest matter which results in bigger dimensions than other emeralds with the same carat weight, and when cut are smaller for in relation to their mass. The purity of the emerald does not influence the stone, only the weight of the stone, therefore we take this variable into consideration when valuing our stones.
Emeralds are predominately composed of 3 scales of matter, mainly found in the corresponding mines below:
Light - Chivor mine, Gachala.
Custom - Coscuez, La pita mine, and surrounding areas.
Heavy - Muzo mine
The clarity of emeralds differs from other gems like rubies, diamonds or sapphires. As Type III gems, emeralds are the only major gemstone expected to have visible inclusions; in fact, any specimen without them is immediately suspect as a synthetic or an imitation.
Clarity is measured using a jeweler's loupe (a small magnifying glass used to view gemstones) under 10-power magnification. Because each emerald forms under its own, unique circumstances, each individual gemstone is comprised of a combination of trace minerals, which lend a precise color as well as unique identifying marks or inclusions.
"Jardin" or "gardens" are natural inclusions you will see in all the emeralds, with the naked eye or with magnification. This allows emeralds to display the mystery and beauty of one of the most desirable gemstone in history. These wonderful gardens are the birthmark of emeralds, and the defining characteristic which make natural emeralds different from synthetic emeralds. There is no two emerald internal gardens that are the same. Every emerald is a unique specimen.
The best clarity for emeralds is VVS or I1, minute inclusions to 10x and fine emeralds which can start with SI1 or I4 clarity scale. See table below for clarity definitions.
F N/A Flawless, Do not exist in emeralds IF i0 Internal Flawless VVS1 i1 Very, very slightly included - Minor inclusion to 10x (Best clarity for emerald) VSI i2 Very slightly includes - Noticiable to 10x (Lightly Included) VS2 i3 Eye Clean (minor inclusions to naked eye) SI1 i4 Slightly included - Ovious to prominent to 10x SI2 i5 Ovious inclusions to eye naked I1 i6 Prominent inlcusion to eye naked I2 i7 Decease - Prominent (moderate affect durability or apparence) The higher the clarity, the more brilliance and liveliness that is exubed by the emerald. Clarity is the most significant factor in emerald quality. An emerald with good color, cut, and carat weight needs good clarity to bring life and fire - Without this the stone will appear very opaque to the eye. This poor clarity could represent durability problems, and one must be careful of fissures, or inclusions that reach the surface of the stone, mainly in the table of the Emerald. If the polishing of a stone is poor, the emerald will generally be of poor quality.
What is it Clarity Enhancement?Clarity enhancement is the use of cedar oil or resin filling, which is acceptable practice used in all emeralds for centuries.
The color balance of an emerald is the most significant characteristic of the stone. Emeralds come in a wide range of colors, and the best quality is a combination of color, tone and hue. The grade of color ranges in scale from poor to exceptional!
The best color emerald is pure green from the color spectrum.
Tone is how dark or light a color appears. It represents the depth of color, ranging from colorless to black. Medium dark green and deep intense are the best one tones. However a dark green tone does not mean it will be of the highest quality, since it may not show brilliance or be crystallinity.
Hue describes the emerald's basic color, The most valuable and beautiful emeralds exhibit an "intense bluish" hue in addition to their basic green color.
