How to Buy Emerald Jewelry
Emeralds are hard stones that are a form of beryl and chromium, the minerals that give the gem its green hue. The emerald is the birthstone of May and was used in ancient times to promote healing. Find out the main characteristics of a piece of emerald jewelry before you buy it. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Ask if the emerald has been treated. To enhance the surface of an emerald, oils are often placed on the stone. Your jeweler must tell you if the emerald has been treated, since it will affect the way you care for the jewelry.
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2
Look at the color. You want to buy emerald jewelry that has a pure green color to the stone. Lesser quality stones have a blue or yellow hue.
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Examine the emerald for inclusions. You want to find a piece that has the fewest inclusions, which are internal growths that give the gem a cloudy appearance.
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Check out the cut of the emerald. The exactness of the cut will affect the price of the emerald. A good cut has facets that meet proportionately.
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Inquire about the emerald jewelry's origin. Emeralds from Columbia are considered the highest quality, while good emeralds can also be mined from Zambia, Brazil and Nigeria.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't concentrate too much on the emerald's carat weight. Color, cut and clarity are more important in the determination of emerald jewelry.
Don't expect to find emerald jewelry that is completely free of inclusions. Due to the delicate nature of the gemstone, inclusion-free pieces are very rare.
