Did you know that Emerald is derived from various languages, including Old French, Middle English, Latin, Ancient Greek, and from a semantic language? Talk about confusion.
Like other gemstones, genuine emeralds are graded using the 4-C’s; colour, clarity, carat, and cut. But unlike diamonds, which everyone is familiar with, the most critical grading criteria for emeralds is colour with clarity a close second.
This is why when people purchase a piece of jewellery with an emerald, they expect the green colour of the stone to be a verdant green.
So, you ask, what exactly is a verdant green? Verdant green is derived from the French word “verd”, meaning green and often used to describe the green colour of green fields, plants, and lawns.
Emeralds sold in the US are not recognized as emeralds in Europe or the UK. In 1960, the US jewellery industry changed the definition of emerald to include the green vanadium-bearing beryl. Beryl is a rare chemical found in emeralds.
Colour: Emeralds range in colour from yellow green to blue green, with the primary hue being green. Only gems that are medium to dark in tone are considered emeralds.
Clarity: Emeralds, unlike diamonds, are graded for clarity using the naked eye. Diamonds, on the other hand, use the loupe standard, which magnifies objects by 10 times.
Emerald was one of Cleopatra’s favourite gems. Fertility, rebirth, and love are associated with this beautiful gem. Ancient Romans dedicated this gem to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Today, emeralds signify wisdom, growth, and patience.
A word of caution: Always consult a reputable jeweller or a gemologist to ensure your emerald is not synthetic lab produced. Such emeralds have been in production since 1965. Don’t be fooled!
Call us about your emerald needs or any gemstone that you fancy. We’re here to help and guide you through the buying process.
This blog was written by Razi Mizrahi, a veteran in the field of precious stones. Razi has been buying and selling diamonds and other precious stones for over 30 years. No one knows jewellery better than Razi.
