How to determine the value of an emerald

Video: How to tell the difference between natural and created emeralds in 6 seconds.

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 3: Assessing clarity, cut and size
Method 2 of 3: Assessing color
Method 3 of 3: Buying an emerald
Tips
Warnings

Emeralds are gemstones that have been in high demand for over 4,000 years. Many historians associate emeralds with Queen Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt. Cleopatra was so obsessed with emeralds that she often adorned her clothes, jewelry and crowns with them. Emeralds are nearly 20 times less common than diamonds and are highly prized. While you are probably not looking for an emerald to adorn your crown with, you can still hit the market to buy or sell a high quality gemstone. Before buying or selling an emerald, it is important to know the characteristics that affect its price.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Assessing clarity, cut and size

1 Check for inclusions. Inclusions are any material (such as gas bubbles or tiny crystals) that has been trapped inside the stone during its formation. Almost 99% of all emeralds contain inclusions that are visible to the naked eye or through a magnifying glass or a jeweler's magnifying glass.
- Due to the predominance of inclusions, emeralds are classified as type 3 gemstones, which means that inclusions visible to the naked eye are almost always present.
- An emerald with an excessive amount of inclusions that reduces the clarity or clarity of the stone costs less than an emerald with fewer inclusions.
- Be especially careful with inclusions near the surface of the stone, as they can break the stone.
2 Examine the cut of the emerald carefully. Cutting emeralds can be difficult, as the predominance of inclusions makes them vulnerable to breakage during the cutting process. Emeralds are often cut in a rectangular shape (known as a "straight edge" around the center or "emerald cut"), which makes the color of the stone appear the same.
- The cut of the emerald should protect the stone from potential damage from daily wear and tear.
- A high-quality cut of an emerald enhances its color, hue and saturation. A good cut will appear sparkling and have the desired color, while a poor cut may have a nice color but will look dull.
3 Keep in mind that emeralds come in a variety of sizes. Like most gemstones, emeralds can be found in a wide variety of sizes, from 0.02-0.5 carats (1 mm - 5 mm) accent stones to 1-5 (7 mm - 12 mm) carats center stones in rings or necklaces ...
4 Don't equate stone size with price. Indeed, larger stones are more expensive than smaller stones. However, quality is just as important as size, and large emeralds are much more likely to have large visible inclusions that reduce the transparency of the stone. Smaller but high quality stones and larger emeralds are more likely to have large or visible inclusions that reduce the clarity of the stone. The cost of a smaller, but higher quality stone is likely to be higher than the cost of a larger, lower quality stone. In addition, the color of the stone greatly affects its value.

Method 2 of 3: Assessing color

1 It is important to understand the meaning of color. The coloration of emeralds comprises a number of their inherent colors.Color is one of the most important factors in determining the value of an emerald. The variety of colors in emeralds is due to the different amounts of chromium, vanadium and iron in the environment in which the stones were formed. Color can be categorized into hue, hue, and saturation categories.
2 Determine the shade of the emerald. Hue is probably what you mean when you hear the word "color". The shade of an emerald is its special kind of green.
- Emerald shades range from blue-green to yellow-green.
- For example, Zambian emeralds are characterized by a deep bluish green color, while Brazilian and Colombian emeralds often take on a rich, pure green hue.
3 Take a look at the tone of the emerald. The tone indicates how light or dark the color of the emerald is. Emeralds range in tone from very light green to very dark green. The relationship between tone and price is quite complex. Dark emeralds are often considered more valuable, but if the emerald becomes too dark, its value decreases.
- Medium to medium-dark emeralds are considered the most valuable on the market.
- Emeralds in pure green or blue-green tones are the most coveted, in part because blue-green emeralds are associated with a very famous and highly regarded gem mine in Colombia called Muzo Mine.
- Keep in mind that emeralds that are too yellow or too blue may not qualify as real emeralds and are therefore much cheaper.
4 Estimate the saturation of the emerald. Saturation is related to the transparency of the gem. Emeralds with a high saturation level (which means they are very transparent) are valued more highly than emeralds with a low saturation level.
- Saturation can be related to both inclusions and hue; stones with very many inclusions may appear less transparent. Likewise, very dark green emeralds do not absorb much light, so they appear duller than lighter emeralds.

Method 3 of 3: Buying an emerald

1 Use the services of a reputable jeweler. Buy jewelry from a trusted supplier. Make sure the jeweler has a solid reputation. Your best bet would be to find a jeweler who practices return policies for products that are sold with an imprecise description of transparency and quality.
2 Seek an independent assessment of the stone. It is a good idea to have high value jewelry (jewelry of 3 carats or more) appraised by a third party. It is best to invite an appraiser who is a member of the National Society of Appraisers:
- Browse the website of the relevant National Society of Appraisers.
- Find an appraiser in your area.
- Contact a qualified appraiser in your area.
3 Ask for a report from a reputable gemological laboratory. To properly determine the value of the emerald you are considering purchasing, you can ask for an AHL report that indicates the type, size, cut, clarity, color and origin of the emerald you are purchasing.
- From this report, you will gain some confidence in the quality and value of your jewelry even before you receive a third-party peer review.
4 Examine the pricing calculation. Before you buy an emerald, you need to be sure that you are getting a good quality jewel for the money you spend. A gemological laboratory report will provide you with the point of view you need, but such laboratories usually cannot provide an accurate market price (prices presented in the report are often overpriced). To get a better sense of a fair price, you could go to a variety of jewelers and pawnshops to record the color, cut, and quality of each gem you are interested in pricing.
- Keep in mind that the pricing of a gem is a highly subjective process, so there is no specific “formula” for calculating the exact price of a stone.
5 Learn about the lubrication process. Emeralds are often treated with oil to enhance the clarity of the stone. Oiling is an established practice and is considered to be the minimum improvement in the appearance of a gem.
- Ask if the emerald has undergone any minor, moderate or significant changes. Minimal amelioration such as oiling is fairly common, while significant amelioration procedures (such as resin (rosin) or paint) alter the appearance of the stone and mask its true value.

Tips

Don't forget to find out if the emerald you are looking to purchase was mined or laboratory-obtained. Gems that are very transparent and bright green with almost no inclusions can be “too perfect”, indicating a high quality laboratory imitation.
Request an independent assessment of your stone from someone not affiliated with the person from whom you buy the stone, either before or shortly after you buy it. If the jewel is counterfeit and was sold to you using false quality information, return to the jeweler with that estimate and demand a refund or replacement.