Emerald

Color: Emerald ranges in shades from light green to deep green. The most valuable emeralds have an intense, saturated green color. The color is caused by traces of chromium and/or vanadium in the crystal.

Hardness: 7.5 to 8 on the scale of Mohs. Emerald belongs, like aquamarine, to the beryl family. The stone is hard enough for daily wear jewelry, but must be handled carefully due to natural inclusions.

Location: Major sources include Colombia, Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, and Pakistan.

Types and Characteristics:

• Deep green emerald: The most valued variety; intense and saturated color.

• Light green emerald: Softer, lighter green shades; often used in jewelry where transparency is important.

Inclusions: Natural inclusions in emeralds give each stone its unique character and charm. Completely inclusion free emeralds are very rare, but emeralds with small characteristic inclusions are also highly valued for their natural beauty.

Cut: Emeralds are often cut in the special emerald cut, a rectangular or square shape without corners. This cut minimizes weak points that are present in emeralds with natural inclusions.

Value: The value of an emerald is determined by color intensity, clarity, size, and quality of the inclusions. Deep green, flawless stones are the most valuable