Emerald Rings: What To Know Before You Buy

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Let’s face it, emerald rings are gorgeous.  There’s no denying that fact.  That beautiful green color reminds you of springtime, new life, fresh green grass, warm summer days, a canopy of green leaves swaying in the breeze over your head…yes, all of those good things.  Now that you have decided that you just can’t live without one for another minute, STOP!  Read this first, because there are some important things you should know about emeralds in general before you buy an emerald ring.

What’s in an Emerald Ring?

Emeralds are mostly comprised of the mineral beryl, which is a colorless mineral.  Their beautiful rich green color comes from trace amounts of chromium, and also sometimes vanadium.  The darker the color of an emerald, the more valuable it is.  Many emeralds today are treated with colorless oils which enhance their color and clarity.  This is an acceptable trade practice, but when an emerald has been treated with oil, extra care needs to be taken when cleaning the stone.  They should never be immersed in commercial jewelry cleaner or water that has any type of harsh cleaner in it, because the oils will be removed, and the stone will then take on a very matte appearance.  To clean emeralds, wash them water that has a drop of mild soap in it, rinse with clear water, and dry with a soft cloth.  Also, because of they may crack easily due to their inclusions, emerald cut engagement rings (or any other emerald ring, for that matter) should never be put into an ultrasonic bath to be cleaned.

Rare and Precious Emeralds

Emeralds are very rare.  A top quality emerald will be worth more than a diamond, in fact.  All emeralds contain inclusions, but are still considered top quality if they are of a rich, deep bluish green color, and they are considered flawless if there are no inclusions visible to the naked eye.  Emeralds are very hard, rating a 7.5 to an 8 on the Mohs scale.  They are prone to surface fractures and breakage however, due to their natural inclusions.  Care should be taken when wearing emerald rings not to hit or bang them on any hard surfaces.

American jewelers began calling stones comprised of vanadium and containing some beryl “emeralds” in the 1960’s.  These are commonly called Vanadium Emeralds today.  They are not recognized outside of the U.S. as being true emeralds.  True emeralds consisting of mostly beryl with some chromium or vanadium are commonly referred to as “Columbian Emeralds”, because 75% of the emeralds mined come from the South American country Columbia.

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Always Get a Certificate for Any Emerald

Always purchase emeralds of any size from a reputable dealer, and always ask to see the American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) report before you buy an emerald ring.  AGL reports are an industry standard, so make sure any emerald engagement rings or other jewelry containing an emerald has an AGL report before you buy.  In fact, beware of buying any “certified emerald” that does not come with a report from the AGL, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), or the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA).

The Emerald Cut

The beautiful cut that most emeralds are shaped into is known as the “emerald cut”.  It has been developed over the years to make the most of the emerald’s beautiful color, and the shape of the cut also helps to strengthen the emerald and keep cracks to a minimum.  The emerald cut has also become popular in recent years, and many emerald cut diamond rings are available.  They are often combined with emeralds for a breathtaking combination.  “Created” emeralds have also become popular in the last few years.  Make sure you know if the emerald you are buying is a created or natural emerald!  A reputable dealer will disclose this to you before you buy.

Top quality emeralds are pricey, and you can expect to pay $500 or more for a 1 carat emerald ring.  If you will keep in mind all of the above information, you should be able to shop with confidence for beautiful emerald engagement rings, pendants, or earrings.  And if you care for your beautiful emerald jewelry correctly, it will give you a lifetime of eternally green summers!

You may also like to learn more about cubic zirconia rings or aquamarine engagement rings here on Pearl’s Jewelry Junction.

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Happy Shopping!