May Birthstone - Emerald

Buying and Caring tips

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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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