Does Anyone Know Anything About Buying Emeralds!?

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#16
hellokatiegirl said:
I started researching emeralds, hoping that like diamonds there would be a set system for identifying their value. Obviously there are standards such as the color and how clear the stone is, but these qualities are not certified in a set way like diamonds are with very specific specs for each stone.
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If this is a significant investment for you, you can (and in my opinion, you *should*) get a certificate for your emerald. GIA provides certificates for emeralds.

The earlier posts gave good questions you should ask the jeweler about any possible enhancements. Fyi, apart from fillings and oilings on emeralds, some jewelers today use resin or wax. (Personally, I would only buy 100% natural stones but that is a very personal preference.)

You may also want to ask where the emerald is from. Although color is the most important factor, the origin will determine the "fair" price of the stone with Colombian emeralds being the most expensive (the most beautiful natural ones will glow from within.)

In terms of price, commercially sold synthetic emeralds cost about 10% vs. its natural counterpart.
Just as benchmark: if you go to a good jeweler in Colombia and buy an excellent natural emerald, prices generally start at USD5,000-8,000 per carat.
 
#17
Leah said:
If this is a significant investment for you, you can (and in my opinion, you *should*) get a certificate for your emerald. GIA provides certificates for emeralds.

The earlier posts gave good questions you should ask the jeweler about any possible enhancements. Fyi, apart from fillings and oilings on emeralds, some jewelers today use resin or wax. (Personally, I would only buy 100% natural stones but that is a very personal preference.)

You may also want to ask where the emerald is from. Although color is the most important factor, the origin will determine the "fair" price of the stone with Colombian emeralds being the most expensive (the most beautiful natural ones will glow from within.)

In terms of price, commercially sold synthetic emeralds cost about 10% vs. its natural counterpart.
Just as benchmark: if you go to a good jeweler in Colombia and buy an excellent natural emerald, prices generally start at USD5,000-8,000 per carat.
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Thanks for all the great information!

I would definitely be opposed to purchasing a gemstone that is not GIA certified. I wish there was more of a set documentation system for each stone that specifies color, cut, clarity etc. like diamonds. It seems that gemstones such as emeralds are judged more on how they look to the naked eye as opposed to under a loop. This makes determining the quality slightly more "subjective" I suppose.

In terms of price I am happy to find out what the different levels are per carat depending on the quality of the stone. My research also said that a "extra fine"/ natural stone is about in the range that you mention here. Are these emeralds very hard to find? It seems like 99.9% of stones are oiled, which isn't a bad thing, but I would like to compare the difference between the two.

I am searching through Pricescope.com right now which seems to have some info on it. My husband already has an account with them when he was searching for my engagement ring a while back!:D
 
#18
hellokatiegirl said:
In terms of price I am happy to find out what the different levels are per carat depending on the quality of the stone. My research also said that a "extra fine"/ natural stone is about in the range that you mention here. Are these emeralds very hard to find? It seems like 99.9% of stones are oiled, which isn't a bad thing, but I would like to compare the difference between the two.
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Yes about 99.9% of emeralds sold commercially in the market today are oiled, that is generally acceptable industry practice, and I don't mean to imply that oiling makes the stone unnatural.

But there are varying levels and different types of "treatment" - I would personally not buy an emerald that used colored oil or resin. Most people are comfortable with a bit of oiling with cedarwood oil as this is considered standard practice but for some collectors, this would already constitute "enhancement". Ultimately you need to decide what is more important - a beautiful stone or one that is completely untreated (of course, you can have both and pay significantly more $$$$$ and wait years as this is very rare.)

A very experienced jeweler can provide a GIA report that will certify the extent of the "enhancement" done on your stone (you will have to pay extra for such a detailed report however.) Note that emeralds are never graded IF, even the most rare will have jardins of some sort so beware of any promises of flawless emeralds, that is undoubtedly synthetic.
 
#19
If you buy one, make sure that they give you in writing exactly what the stone is and what treatments were used. Then, take it to an independent gemologist for an appraisal. If it does not match up, then you could take it back as misrepresented and get a refund.
 
#20
AmberLeBon said:
hmm im glad to read this advice, im sorry to be off topic, but does the same apply to rubies/sapphires ? emeralds are sounding more delicate than I thought, don't want the thread to digress just wondering....
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No, it doesn't. Sapphires and rubies are actually the same stone, corundum. when gem quality corundum is red, they call it a ruby, when it is anything else (including pink) they call it a sapphire. Sapphires are very hard (though not as hard as diamonds) and durable. they do not have the inclusions (jardin) that emeralds have that cause the need for oiling. Again, the color is the most important thing in the price of these stones. With sapphires, the value is higher if they are natural--most sapphires nowadays are treated with heating, which is okay, if the jeweller discloses that it was done and the price is lowered accordingly.

Here is a good source for natural sapphires

Thenaturalsapphirecompany.com

Again, I would discuss major (expensive) purchases with the experts at Pricescope.com in the 'Colored Gemstone' section. It is just so much harder to choose a good stone than with diamonds, which are so much more organized and also more easily available in good quality (at least in the US). I love colored gemstones but they are harder to buy and you need to be informed.
 
#21
A friend of mine just got married to a Colombian girl and so made lots of trips to Colombia, where he bought emeralds for another friend. (Earrings and a stone to put in a ring). They are all pretty stones but are a paler green and look more like what one thinks of as peridots than emeralds to me. I think he got these lighter ones because the darker green are so expensive there.

I don't know where my emeralds are from, but the price was right and I liked the colors. Here's my pendant. I don't have a photo of my ring.If I remember correctly, the center stone in my pendant is an oval, about 8 x 6 mm. It's set in yellow gold.
all the stones are emeralds, including the dangling beads.
 

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#22
I had emerald studs, but gave them away because I thought the green was too dark. I gave them to a friend who is 'winter' in color seasons (I am an autumn) and I am always shocked at how great they look on her. the green doesn't look dark at all in her ears, its very strange. On me they always looked so cheap (which they were not)--on her they look incredible and expensive.

I gave away some lovely aquamarine earrings another time, same problem.

I think another reason a lot of people don't do colored stones is because with them, you have to pay attention to if the color flatters you or not,which you don't with diamonds. with diamonds, the color of the gold they are set in makes a difference but they suit all women because you don't see a color, you just see sparkle.
 
#24
Toto too said:
If you buy one, make sure that they give you in writing exactly what the stone is and what treatments were used. Then, take it to an independent gemologist for an appraisal. If it does not match up, then you could take it back as misrepresented and get a refund.
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Thanks! This is good advice. I looked at some emerald websites recommended by people on Pricescope.com and the treatments used, level of treatment and country of origin are identified for many of the stones which I think is important.

I went to to look at Cartier, Tiffany's and some other jewelers today at SCP and was pretty disappointed in the selection. The sales woman at Tiffany's told me that they are having trouble getting emeralds. I am not sure what that means, but I will admit that most places did not have much of an emerald selection. One jeweler said that they could order stones, but I would like to inspect the stone in person before purchasing it. Since the color and radiance of the stone are most important when buying an emerald and you really need to see this in person.
 
#25
I was wandering past an estate jeweller this morning and saw some really beautiful art deco pieces including a lovely diamond ring with what looks like a very small but very clear and bright green emerald - made me think of this thread!
 
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