The emerald has been one of the most sought after gems for over 4000 years. Many historians associate it with Queen Cleopatra, the last Egyptian pharaoh. Cleopatra was so obsessed with this stone that she often used it to adorn dresses, jewels and to set it in crowns. The emerald is about 20 times rarer than the diamond and is of great value. Even if you are hardly looking for an emerald to put on a crown, you can still think about probing the market to buy or sell a quality gem. It is important to know all the elements that contribute to the value of an emerald before buying or selling one.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Evaluating Clarity, Cut and Size
Step 1. Look for inclusions
These consist of all materials (such as gas bubbles or small crystals) that were trapped inside the stone during its formation. Almost 99% of emeralds have inclusions, which are visible to the naked eye or with a jeweler's magnifying glass.
- The prevalence of inclusions makes the emerald a type 3 gem, which means that foreign bodies are almost always found that can be seen with the naked eye.
- An emerald that has too many inclusions that reduce its transparency and clarity is worth less than one that has less.
- Be wary of a stone with inclusions present on the surface of the jewel, as they can cause the gem to fracture.
Step 2. Examine the emerald cut
It is a rather difficult stone to cut due to the prevalence of inclusions that make it easily subject to fractures during processing. So this green gem is often cut into a rectangular shape (known as a "step-cut" or "emerald cut") which helps it maintain a uniform color.
- Cutting the emerald should help protect it from potential damage from daily wear.
- If the cut is done perfectly, it is able to enhance the green color, tone and saturation of the stone. A good cut allows you to make it sparkle and give it a pleasant color; while if the cut is of low quality, the gem may also have a beautiful color, but appear dull.
Step 3. Know that emeralds come in different formats
Like most gems, these stones too can have measurements ranging from 0.02 to 0.5 carats (1-5 mm) for the contour gems, up to 1-5 carats (7-12 mm) for those that are set in the center of rings and necklaces.
Step 4. Do not equate the value for size only
It is true that larger stones are more precious than small ones; however, be aware that quality is just as important and large emeralds are more likely to have large or visible inclusions which can affect their clarity. A smaller, higher quality stone is likely to have a greater value than a larger but lower quality one. Also, keep in mind that color also has a significant impact on value.
Part 2 of 3: Evaluating the Color
Step 1. Understand the importance of color
Emeralds are commercially available in a varied range of colors. This is one of the most important factors in determining its value. The variety of colors is due to the different amounts of chromium, vanadium and iron present in the environment in which they are formed. The color can be divided according to the categories of hue, tone and saturation.
Step 2. Recognize the hue (or tint) of an emerald
This probably refers to what you think when you hear the word "color". The hue of an emerald is its specific type of green.
- The hue of this gem can vary from bluish-green to a more yellow-green color.
- For example, Zambian emeralds are characterized by a deep bluish-green, while Brazilian and Colombian emeralds often take on a more intense and pure green hue.
Step 3. Check the tone of the emerald
With this term we want to indicate how light or dark the green of the stone is; in fact the emeralds can be very different in tone and with a range that goes from very light green to a very dark one. Correlating the tone to the value of the gems is a rather complex matter; usually the darker ones are also considered the most valuable ones, but if an emerald becomes too dark, it also becomes less valuable.
- The stones with medium or medium-dark tones are the most valuable on the market.
- Emeralds with pure green or blue-green tones are the most sought after, in part because the green-blue ones are associated with the famous and highly prized Muzo emerald in Colombia.
- Keep in mind that those that are too yellow or too blue cannot be considered true emeralds and therefore are much less valuable.
Step 4. Evaluate the saturation of the emerald
This is related to the transparency of the gem. Stones with high saturation (therefore very transparent) have greater value than those with low saturation.
Saturation may depend in part on both inclusion and tone; gems with many inclusions may appear less transparent. Likewise, very dark green emeralds also don't absorb much light, so they appear duller than lighter ones
Part 3 of 3: Purchase an Emerald
Step 1. Contact a jeweler who is absolutely trustworthy
Buy your precious gems only from a reputable source; make sure the store you go to has a solid reputation. Your best bet is to find a jeweler who is willing to take back products without a clear description of clarity and quality.
Step 2. Get the stone evaluated
It is always a good idea to have very expensive gems (or those that are at least 3 carats or larger) evaluated by a third party who can impartially estimate their true value. You can find several reliable experts by doing an online search, but perhaps the best thing is to contact an expert from the Italian Gemological Institute (IGI), the most serious and reliable center that has been operating for over 40 years and is recognized by the Presidency of the Republic. To have your stone analyzed, take the following measures:
- Do an online search to find a gemologist expert or click directly here if you want to contact the IGI.
- “Book your analysis today” by choosing this option from the “Services” window to get the details on the procedure to follow.
- If you are unable to go to the Institute in person, please follow the instructions for the "Delivery Procedures" under the "Laboratory" window.
- The site illustrates in detail all the procedures and methods of analysis that are carried out. For any doubt you can contact the office by sending your requests in the form provided on the site.
Step 3. Request that you be issued a report from the gemological laboratory
In order to properly evaluate the value of the emerald you are thinking of buying, you can request a report from the laboratory that describes in detail the type, size, cut, clarity, color and origin of the green emerald you are buying.
This report will give you some degree of confidence regarding the quality and value of your jewelry, even before getting a third-party appraisal
Step 4. Know the prices
Before buying an emerald, you should be sure that you are getting good quality jewelry for the amount of money you are spending. The report you can get from the expert allows you to have a fixed point from which to start, but keep in mind that the expert will still not be able to tell you the precise market value (often the prices indicated in the reports are inflated). If you want to get a better feeling of getting fair prices, you should consider making different purchases from different jewelers and making notes about the color, cut and quality of each gem you are evaluating.
Be aware however that ultimately the price of a stone is subjective, so it is not possible to find a specific "formula" to determine the exact value of a gem
Step 5. Learn about the lubrication process
Often emeralds are treated with oil to improve their appearance and make them brighter. Oiling is a widespread practice and is considered a minimal improvement to the appearance of the gem.
Find out if the emerald has undergone any minor, moderate or significant changes. Minor improvements, such as lubrication, are quite common, but other major processes, such as treatment with resin or adding a tint to change the appearance of the stone, can mask its true value
Advice
- Be sure to check whether the emerald is a real mined jewel or a laboratory imitation. Gems that are very clear and bright green in color, with almost no inclusions, may be "too perfect"; this may mean that it is a high quality imitation made in the laboratory.
- Have the jewel appraised before or immediately after the purchase by an independent person and not linked to your seller. If the jewelry is not authentic or is being sold to you with false information about its quality, return to the jeweler with the appraisal for a refund or replacement.
