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May Birthstone - Emerald
Buying and Caring tips
Tips for Buying Emerald Jewelry
There is no firm boundary between emeralds with a heavy blue tint or aquamarine
with a heavy green tint and there is no firm boundary between the green to blue
green of emerald and the green of green beryl.
The low physical and optical
properties of emerald make it easy to separate from other gems such as peridot
(very strong double refraction); tourmaline (strong double refractions and
thready inclusions); tsavolite garnet (singly refractive); and glass (bubbles,
swirl marks, etc.). Separating synthetic from natural emeralds is a bit more
difficult. The synthetic will usually contain tiny crystals of the flux that was
used in the solution, or it may contain micro-phenakite crystals or micro-platinum
crystals. Inclusions that are wispy or cob-web like also are seen in many
synthetic emeralds. For a one-carat stone of average-to-good quality you can
expect to pay between $250 and $10,000 per carat. Of course, truly fine gems will
cost more.
Tips to take care of Emerald Jewelry
Clean with a soft, damp cloth, warm water and a soft brush. Do not use mechanical
cleaners. Avoid chemicals and heat that dissolve oils used during cutting and
processing to conceal inclusions. Although emerald is harder than quartz, its
crystal structure makes it brittle. Have a jeweler re-oil your emerald every few
years. Avoid impacts.
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