Emeralds part 2

Firstly a recap of part 1. Even God had an adoration for emeralds as it was one of the four precious stones God gave to King Solomon to ensure the kings power. The Egyptian Queen of the Nile Cleopatra loved them, as did Helen Hutton and Elizabeth Taylor.   And what are they?  Put simply emeralds are from the Beryl family of gemstones containing trace amounts of chromium, iron and sometimes vanadium, which give emeralds their vibrant ravishing colour.  

 

There are of course other green gemstones, like tourmalines and peridot, but nothing compares to “the emerald” in beauty, desirability, value, symbolism or folklore.  So lets continue!Emeralds over any other gemstone can be heavily included and this is never seen as a negative in emeralds.  Any other gemstone that is heavily included, might as well stay in the ground where it is, when a consumer is involved. But when taking to a Gem Nerd, a GNd, there is nothing we love more. 

 

So what are inclusions and why are they so important? Inclusions tell us more about gemstones than almost any other aspect of the stone. Inclusions separate the natural from the man-made and that is instrumental in determining the stone authenticity, value and price. Go figure! Man created is not too bad, but nature is creator extraordinaire.

 

Treating of emeralds has been carried out for about as long as the gemstone has been available. So lets continue! Treatments of gemstones are normally considered acceptable and must be disclosed to the consumer. Not in the case with emeralds. The professional GNd, gemmology laboratories, and the trade consider oiling an emerald as an acceptable treatment and even recommend that oiling take place over the emeralds life. Oil, with a refractive index (sorry GNd speak) the same as an emerald will help clarify any surface reaching fractures and fissuresand helps improve the colour. 

 

Emeralds, as if you did not know, are an excellent gemstone for most types of jewellery. But with its colour and beauty comes a short-coming as it is more fragile than other forms of beryl. This frailty is due to its naturally included and flawed formation. There’s also a high possibility that the gem may develop additional internal cracks, fractures, abrasions and chips if subjected to extreme temperature change or rough impact. So please, never muck out the stables wearing your emeralds, or in fact any other gemstone! 

Special care needs to taken with emeralds so here are some tips: 

 

1. Use a soft toothbrush and a very diluted amount of mild soap to clean the emerald, both top and back. Rinse under slightly warm water and pat dry. Only do this twice or three times a year. 

 

2. NEVER and I MEAN NEVER use a jewellery ultrasonic or stream cleaner, or ANY and I MEAN ANY harsh chemicals as this may lead to irrevocable damage. And, another NEVER is exposure to high heat or temperature.

 

3. And if in doubt ask a professional jeweller, gemmologist or a GNd for their help and guidance.

 

So… Just had the realisation that the subject of this spectacular gemstone needs a Part 3.  I have not had time nor touched on the subject of synthetic emeralds and we should really mention them, just in passing, as we all want and desire the natural.  So Part 3 is on its way.  Stay safe and stay happy.