Emerald

May Birthstone

Emerald is the most legendary green gemstone in the beryl family. Its name derives from the Latin "Smaragdus," meaning "green gem." As one of the four most precious gemstones, it is renowned worldwide for its profound color, rarity, and cultural significance.

Color

"Wharton Green" or "Muzo Green" from Colombia are considered the highest grades. High-quality gemstones over 5 carats can fetch tens of thousands of dollars per carat.

Clarity

Natural emeralds commonly contain inclusions. GIA categorizes clarity into four levels: none, slightly oily (F1), medium oily (F2), and heavily oily (F3). Oil-free emeralds are extremely rare and highly valued.

Weight

Large gemstones (over 5 carats) are extremely scarce, and their price increases exponentially with carat weight.

Cut

The emerald cut (step cut) best showcases color uniformity, while exotic cuts (such as the pear) have become increasingly popular in recent years.

01.

Sustainability Demand

Consumers prefer gemstones with traceable origins. Companies like Gemfields are using nanoparticle tagging technology to achieve full traceability.

02.

Design Innovation

Non-traditional cuts (such as cabochons and carvings) and 3D printing and setting techniques are gaining popularity. Brands like Tiffany and Bulgari have launched emerald-themed high-end jewelry collections.

03.

Laboratory-Grown

While synthetic emerald technology (such as CVD) is mature, natural emeralds still dominate the high-end market, with cultivated emeralds costing only 20%-30% of their natural counterparts.

Optimized Treatments

 

  • Oil Filling: This is widely accepted in the industry, with GIA categorizing it as lightly oiled (F1) to heavily oiled (F3), and this must be noted on the certificate.
  • Filling: Fractures are filled with resin or glass. This requires professional testing and identification, and is less valuable than natural emeralds.
  • Dyeing and Irradiation: These are treatments that can result in uneven color distribution or a high risk of fading.