The Best Quality Emeralds

There are many varieties of emeralds.

Emeralds are an ancient gemstone with a history ranging from the conquistadors conquest of America all the way back to ancient Egypt. Emeralds are most commonly known for their deep and radiant green hue, although emeralds can also be more yellowish, bluish or even deep red. When selecting an emerald, it is important to have a way to judge the quality and value of the gem.

Red Emerald

Red emerald is among the rarest gems in the world. It is only found in Utah's Wah Wah Mountain. Consisting of beryl like most emeralds, the presence of manganese gives it its red hue. Highest quality red emeralds have a deep ruby color, free of discoloration or cloudiness.

Colombian Emerald

Colombia is home to the most sought-after emeralds. Although quality varies within different varieties of emerald, it is the Colombian emerald that is the most coveted emerald for its shade of green. The best Colombian emeralds are a pure deep apple-green shade, free of discoloration or cloudiness.

Brazilian Emerald

Brazilian emeralds are lighter and more yellowish than Colombian emeralds and are, therefore, not as prized as the Colombian stones. Brazilian emeralds vary from mediocre to good, depending on the quality of the stone. A clear, crack-free emerald of a pure shade of green is a quality Brazilian emerald.

African Emerald

African emeralds are of generally lower quality than other emeralds due to a high percentage of iron, blunting the color and giving it a slightly grayish tinge. Higher quality African emeralds will appear green and not blue, and will lack cloudy discoloration.

References

• Jewel Info 4 U: Emerald Gemstone Varieties