EMERALD FACTS
- Emerald is one of the three precious gemstones along with Sapphire and Ruby.
- COLOR - Emerald is a member of the beryl family like aquamarine and morganite. Emerald is valued and loved for its distinct earthy intense green color, which is due to chromium, iron and vanadium. Natural gemstones with bluish green color are considered the best. The unique color makes it a popular choice for Engagement rings, necklaces and stud earrings.
- Emerald is the May Birthstone that symbolizes good health, growth and prosperity. The soothing color of emerald harbors good luck and vitality.
- It is the anniversary stone for the 20th and 55th years of marriage.
- EMERALD CLARITY & GRADING - Emeralds are notorious for being included and low clarity. In fact emeralds typically have inclusions; it is very rare to find emeralds without any visible inclusions. Thus emerald clarity is graded eye-clean unlike loop clean in other gemstones.
- Emerald is a reasonably tough gemstone measuring 7.5 - 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness.
- Loose emerald stone are Cut in clean straight facets like Elongated Step Cut/ Rectangular Step Cut also called as Emerald-cut. The emerald cut loose gemstones make for a stunning engagement ring especially when set along diamonds.
- Emeralds can also be created in the laboratories within weeks. These gems are flawless, have uniform color and can cost 70% less than the natural emeralds.
- Lab Created emeralds are as real as natural emeralds but they cannot be termed as natural.
- Colombia and Brazil are the major sources of emeralds. Colombian emeralds have a most coveted deep green color.
- Oiling or fracture filling are the common treatments used to enhance the color of the emeralds.
DO LAB CREATED AND NATURAL EMERALDS HAVE THE SAME PROPERTIES?
Yes lab created emeralds and natural gemstones have the same physical and chemical properties. It is just that the lab created gems are made under the controlled environment in the labs within weeks unlike the natural gems that are formed inside the earth’s belly over millions of years. Lab gems are inclusion free, have uniform color, better clarity and are less expensive.
DO NATURAL AND LAB CREATED EMERALDS LOOK THE SAME?
No! Unlike other lab created gemstone or diamonds lab created emeralds do not look like natural emeralds. The major difference is the inclusions; natural emeralds always have inclusions however the lab created emeralds do not have inclusions. The color too is uniformly deep green unlike the natural emeralds that have subdued hues.
