Emerald Guide

Gemstone color is often the most important aspect of a gemstone. The telling green color range of an emerald range varies in saturation intensity. Emeralds with a brilliant, bluish-green or pure-green hue are generally the rarest, most desirable and most expensive of these stones.

The cut of a gemstone highlights its special features. Emeralds are more brittle than other gemstones, so special care is taken when cutting emerald crystals. Our high quality emeralds are cut to minimize their natural fractures and protect against damage. Although emeralds come in a variety of cuts, the most common is its namesake—the emerald cut—which is a rectangular, stepped cut that maximizes color and saturation and makes a statement any time you wear this striking gemstone.

All natural gemstones contain inclusions, which are visible (and sometimes invisible) “flaws” resulting from materials like gas bubbles, liquid or other minerals that were trapped in the stone as it was being formed. When it comes to gemstone clarity, emeralds tend to have more inclusions than other gemstones, making eye-clean emeralds especially valuable. Inclusions in emeralds often appear mossy, and these are called “jardin,” which is French for “garden.” Many emerald lovers prefer jardin for their lush, textural beauty.

Since gemstone size ranges in weight and density, their size is not generally measured in carats, but rather by diameter in millimeters. But more than the size of the stone, emeralds are typically valued more for their color, cut and clarity. Most emeralds weigh less than 1.5 carats, with larger stones being more rare.

Most emeralds sold on the market today, like most gemstones, are enhanced, which means they’re treated with heat or infusion to improve color and clarity. Our emeralds undergo rigorous internal inspections and are of the highest quality.