Emerald History and Buying Guide

History

Emeralds have been known and loved for at least 5000 years.  From Egyptian Pharaohs to the Aztecs and Incas of pre Colombia Emeralds have dazzled the t hearts of rulers through out History.  The first know avid collector of Emeralds was Cleopatra. Remains of "Cleopatra's Emerald Mines" were discovered about 1817, along Red Sea coast. 

Shah Jahan, the builder of the beautiful Taj Mahal, loved emeralds so much he inscribed them with sacred text and wore them as talismans to bring luck and word off evil. If you read the history of Shah Jahan you know this did not work well for him. 

 Islamic Emerald Tablet 

When last Inca king of Peru was taken prisoner in 1532, his crown set with some 453 emeralds, which weighted approximately 1,523 carats was taken as a prize.  Sadly crown was sold to an American syndicate in the 1940s. The crown was broken up and sold off in pieces.

In 1747 Ottoman Padishah Mahmud commissioned the stunning Emerald a gold dagger as a gift for Nadir Shah of Iran, unfortunately the Shah of Iran was assassinated before the dagger was delivered.

Emerald and gold dagger

Shah of Iran Nasseridin Shah (1848-1896) Love gems so much he commissioned and elaborate jewel incrusted Globe.  At a height of 110 cm and a diameter of 45 cm, the globe is covered with more than 51,000 gemstones, and its wood base is covered with a layer of pure gold weighing some 35 kgs. Seas and oceans are shown as emeralds, while land masses are shown as Diamonds, Rubies and Spinels. The largest emerald used in the globe is approximately 175 carats.

The Jeweled Globe

In 1958 Harry Winston designed an Elegant Emerald tiara for the Marriage of Empress Farah to Reza Shah Pahlevi. The tiara holds seven large emeralds across its top varying from 65 carats to 10 carats.

Queen Elizabeth II a well known gem coinsurer owns many fabulous Emeralds.

Other famous Emeralds

The Chalk Emerald weighing 37.82-carat surrounded by 15 carats of Diamonds. Even with many inclusions this gems is considered to be one of the finest Columbia Emeralds in the world.

The Guinness Emerald Crystal. An uncut Emerald crystal showing great color. It is a staggering 1759 carats!

The Mackay Emerald Necklace.  This Emerald and Diamond necklace at in platinum was designed by Cartier in 1931

The Hooker Emerald Brooch a 75.47-carat emerald surrounded by Diamonds.

Maximillian Emerald Ring contains a 21.04-carat step-cut emerald

 The Chalk Emerald     

The Mackay Emerald Necklace

The Hooker Emerald Brooch

Unfortunately the vast majority of us will never be able to own anything as fabulous as the jewels shown above.  But that doesn't mean we can't have a little treasure in our lives.   If you do your home work your can still find a great deal now a then on a really gorgeous  Emerald.

What to look for when buying an Emerald.

• Cut: Due to their crystalline structure Emeralds are most commonly cut in Square and Octagon shapes. Round and Ovals cuts are also widely available. Fancy cut are very uncommon in Emeralds.  
• Color: Emeralds occur in a variety of green colors, from a light luminescent blue/green to deep rich emerald green. Chromium and Vanadium are what give Emeralds their extraordinary color.
  Valuable
• Clarity: Emeralds should have inclusions. Specks of carbon, fractures, cloudiness and silk inclusions are all common and should be seen in a natural minded from the earth Emerald.  Silk inclusion can not be created in a lab and is an excellent sign the Emerald you are looking at is the real thing.  An Emerald that is large, very green and has no flaws is highly suspicious.
• Cost: Small light Emeralds can be purchases for just a few dollars.  Large Emerald can cost many thousands of dollars!
• Care: Emeralds should be cleaned with a soft, dry cloth. You should never clean an emerald with an ultrasonic cleaner. Ultrasonic cleaners can easily damage you gem.  Emeralds are heat sensitive, avoid sudden temperature changes as emeralds can lose their color when strongly heated. Do not wash Emeralds in hot soapy water, this can dry them out.
• Treatment: Oiling,  the oils seep into the breaks and fissures in the gemstone to  'soften' the appearance of  flaws.  This is done to nearly all Emerals.

3.8 carat emerald showing wispy silk inclusions and 2 tiny specks of carbon.  This is considered a VERY clean Emerald. Appraised at just under $8,000

Source:

1. The Best: known Mines are Muzo, Coscuez and Chivor in Colombia South America
2. Good: USA, Brazil, Zambia, and Austria
3. Fair: Norway and Russia

Other information on Emeralds

Birthstone for the month of May.

Wedding Anniversary: Emerald is the anniversary gemstone for the 20th, 35th and 55th year of marriage.

Healing properties:
Emerald with its bright green color, is another of the heart stones that can help you love yourself, breath easier and bring bliss into your life. It quiets the emotions, bringing peace and harmony into your thoughts and actions.

Mystical power: It is said to drive away evil spirits, and to preserve the chastity of the wearer. Emerald is said to bring wisdom. Believed by the ancients to empower the owner with foresight into the future, an emerald is regarded as an amulet for good fortune.

Poor quality Emerald, opaque with noticeable dark crystal inclusions. Worth about $10.00

Excellent quality Columbian Emerald

Excellent example of a Emerald from Zambia

Even with visible inclusions this is considered a very good Emerald.  

VARIETY INFORMATION:

• VARIETY OF: Beryl , Be3 Al2 Si6 O18 .
• USES: Gemstone.
• BIRTHSTONE FOR: May 
• COLOR: various shades of green. 
• INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.57 - 1.60
• BIREFRINGENCE: 0.004 - 0.008 
• HARDNESS: 7.5 - 8 
• CLEAVAGE: one direction, poor.
• CRYSTAL SYSTEM: hexagonal 
• Pleochroic: weak

Emerald Crystal Rough