Natural Emerald Gemstones
Emerald is the green variety of beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18), colored by traces of chromium and vanadium. With a Mohs hardness of 7.5 to 8 it is reasonably hard, but it is almost always included, so it needs more care in daily wear than ruby or sapphire. Its natural inclusions, known as the jardin, or garden, are part of its character, and with ruby, sapphire and diamond it is one of the classic "big four" gemstones.
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Gemstone guide
Natural Emerald Gemstones
About emerald
Emerald is the birthstone for May, and it was mined in ancient Egypt more than two thousand years ago. Colombia is the most famous source, while Zambia, Brazil, Nigeria and Afghanistan also produce fine material. Emerald is a sister of aquamarine and morganite: all three are beryl, colored differently by trace elements. Nearly all emerald on the market is treated with oil or resin to fill surface-reaching fractures and improve clarity, a long-standing and widely accepted practice in the trade.
What you'll find in this collection
Our emeralds come mainly from Nigeria, with a few from Zambia. You'll find faceted ovals, octagons (the classic emerald-cut shape), rounds, cushions and squares, mostly from about 0.4 to 3 carats, in greens from light to medium-deep. All are oiled, as is usual for emerald, and each listing says so. Because of that oiling, emerald suits pendants and earrings more readily than an everyday ring.
How to recognise emerald
Emerald's inclusions are its best-known feature: fine fractures, fluid pockets with tiny gas bubbles and small crystals that together look like a garden. Its green is often slightly bluish, and it shows weak dichroism in bluish green and yellowish green. Green tourmaline and tsavorite garnet can look similar, but tourmaline is strongly pleochroic, garnet is singly refractive, and both are usually cleaner than emerald.
Caring for emerald
Clean emerald only with lukewarm soapy water and a soft brush, then rinse and pat it dry. Never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners, hot water or solvents, which can remove the oil and make fractures more visible. Choose protective settings, such as bezels, and take emerald jewelry off for rough work.
Every emerald is natural, and each listing gives its weight, size, origin and treatment, with photos of the actual stone.