Emerald: A Fragile Treasure

Emerald, a captivating gem from the beryl family, has been cherished for centuries for its lush green colour and bewitching appeal. Nicknamed the “Gem of Spring”, emerald is revered for its association with nature, renewal and love.

Join us on a fascinating adventure to discover the geological formation, historical significance and mystical properties of this exquisite gem.

Emerald: Table of contents

• Emerald Geological Formation
• Rough Emerald – Raw Beauty
• Sources – The Global Scope of Emerald
• Historical Significance of the Emerald – Through the Ages
• Metaphysical Properties of Emerald – Illuminating energies
• Emerald Varieties
• Emerald Colors
• Durability and Wearability of Emerald
• Emerald Enhancements – Preserving Natural Beauty
• Synthetic Emerald – Nature in the Laboratory
• Imitations of the Emerald – Discerning the Authentic
• Emerald Stones Size
• Emerald Care – Preserving Natural Beauty

Emerald Geological Formation

Emerald, a member of the beryl family, forms under geological conditions that involve the interaction of minerals under high pressure and temperature. They are generally found in metamorphic or hydrothermal rocks.

The main difference between an emerald and a lesser-known green beryl is their coloring agent. Green beryl is colored with iron, while emerald is colored with chromium or vanadium.

Note: this definition is still the subject of debate among gemologists.

Rough Emerald – Raw Beauty

The appeal of raw emerald crystals lies in their unique hexagonal prismatic shapes and captivating green coloration.

Sources – The Global Scope of Emerald

Emeralds are widely distributed around the world, with major sources in Colombia, Brazil, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Each region contributes unique variations in color and clarity, making emeralds prized gems for high-quality jewellery.

Historical Significance of the Emerald – Through the Ages

Emeralds have a rich historical significance dating back thousands of years. Throughout various civilisations, emeralds have been highly prized and revered for their captivating shades of green and mystical appeal. Here are some key points highlighting the historical significance of emeralds:

Ancient Egypt :

Emeralds were cherished by the ancient Egyptians, who associated the gem with fertility, rebirth and eternal youth. Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian queen, was particularly famous for her love of emeralds and adorned herself with emerald jewellery to display her power and wealth.

Inca Empire :

In South America, the Inca civilisation held emeralds in high esteem. The Incas believed that emeralds were the tears of their goddess of love and fertility, symbolising prosperity and abundance. The emerald mines in what is now Colombia were once part of the territory of the Inca Empire.

Spanish conquest :

When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in South America in the 16th century, they discovered the region’s wealth of emeralds, particularly in Colombia. The emeralds they brought back from the New World became highly sought-after gems by European nobility and royalty.

Mughal Empire :

In India, emeralds became the symbol of luxury and royalty during the Mughal Empire. Mughal emperors and aristocrats adorned themselves with magnificent emerald jewellery, believing that the gem brought protection and good fortune.

Mughal emerald :

One of the most famous emeralds in history is the “Mughal Emerald”. This extraordinary 217.80-carat emerald was engraved with Islamic prayers and dates from the 17th century. It is considered to be one of the largest and most beautiful emeralds in the world and has been in the hands of various sovereigns and collectors.

Victorian era :

In the 19th century, emeralds enjoyed a resurgence in popularity during the Victorian era. Queen Victoria herself wore emerald jewellery, and the gem became a favourite choice for mourning jewellery, symbolising eternal love and remembrance.

Hollywood glamour:

In the 20th century, emeralds gained in popularity because of their association with Hollywood glamour. Iconic actresses such as Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly were known for their love of emerald jewellery, contributing to the gem’s enduring appeal in popular culture.

May birthstone :

Today, emerald is the birthstone of May and is associated with spring and renewal.

It is a popular choice for engagement rings and other high-quality jewellery, symbolising love, harmony and growth.

Metaphysical Properties of Emerald – Illuminating energies

In metaphysical beliefs, emerald is considered to be a stone of love and harmony. It is thought to improve emotional well-being, foster understanding and nurture deep bonds in relationships.

Emerald is associated with the heart chakra, facilitating the expression of sincere emotions and fostering a sense of compassion and empathy.

Emerald Varieties

Emerald, a captivating gem from the beryl family, has a small range of color variations and captivating inclusions, but no specific variety to mention.

Note: Trapiche emeralds can be considered a variety of emerald. Trapiche emeralds are formed from carbon impurities that enter the stone at the time of formation. the result when seen in cross-section or in certain cabochons: an emerald crossed by a black star with a hexagonal emerald crystal in the centre. These emeralds are very rare and there are unfortunately many imitations of them.

Emerald Colors

Emerald bewitches with its enchanting shades of green, ranging from deep green to light green and even bluish green. Each emerald hue has its own unique charm, making it a prized gem for exquisite jewellery pieces and cherished gem collections.

Over and above its shades of green, Emerald is known for its ‘Garden’, a multitude of fractures or inclusions that create a magnificent landscape within the stone.

Durability and Wearability of Emerald

Emerald has a good hardness, ranging from 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, making it suitable for different types of jewellery. However, as a gem with inherent inclusions and natural fissures, emeralds must be treated with care to preserve their lasting beauty.

The famous Emerald cut was created for this stone, guaranteeing that all corners would not be pointed but cut straight to avoid any impact or damage to the stone.

Emeralds are best worn as jewellery, such as a necklace, to avoid most shocks. Emerald rings require the most care.

Emerald Enhancements – Preserving Natural Beauty

Emeralds are usually oiled or treated with colorless oils or resins to improve their appearance and sparkle. This industry standard practice celebrates the natural beauty of emeralds while minimising the visibility of cracks and inclusions that reach the surface.

Some emeralds are dyed to enhance or create a color that is missing. In this case, the dye may be visible in the cracks because it will be concentrated there.

In the case of trapped emeralds, it is common to see them oiled or filled with epoxy.

Note: emeralds can be oiled at home.

Synthetic Emerald – Nature in the Laboratory

Synthetic emeralds are created in the laboratory using hydrothermal or flux methods, mimicking the crystal’s natural growth conditions, structure and appearance.

These synthetic gems are numerous and most of them will be fairly pure, without fractures and with light inclusions, such as veils.

However, some synthetic laboratories are trying to recreate the internal structure inherent in emeralds by creating forced fractures and internal stresses, which requires caution.

Imitations of the Emerald – Discerning the Authentic

Due to its popularity as a valued member of the gemstone family, emerald is often imitated or misrepresented by anything green, including but not limited to green glass, green tourmaline, glass garnets and tinted quartz.

In the case of a trapiche emerald, imitations can range from resin to plastic-coated quartz or beryl.

As with all gemstones, but especially with the four recognised gemstones – diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires – buyers need to be careful to ensure that they are buying genuine emeralds and not imitations or simulants.

Buying from reputable and certified gem jewellers is essential to ensure the authenticity of the stone.

Emerald Stones Size

Emerald stones are available in different sizes, offering versatility for different jewellery designs.

However, the internal fragility of natural emeralds limits the average size of emeralds used in jewellery, ranging from 0.5 to 3 carats.

Emerald Care – Preserving Natural Beauty

Caring for emerald jewellery ensures that its timeless beauty will last.

Avoid exposing emeralds to aggressive chemicals or sudden changes in temperature.

Clean the stone gently using mild soapy water and a soft brush.

Store emerald jewellery separately from other precious stones to avoid scratches and protect the stone from knocks.

Never use mechanical cleaning on an emerald as it may crack.

It could also cause any resin or oil to come out and be replaced by dirty ultrasonic water, resulting in a loss of brilliance and clarity.