Everything You Need to Know About Emerald

Of all green gemstones, emeralds are the only precious ones that make an incredible presence in history. From Cleopatra’s obsession with emerald stone to top models embracing it for red-carpet glow, this gem has long been admired for its powerful energy and timeless beauty. 

Beyond fashion and royalty, these stones hold significance in Western and Indian astrology. Green signifies prosperity and abundance, and so are these gems. Owing to its unmatched traits, modern brides are adding it to their jewelry collections. Does the beauty of the emerald stone enchant you? Let's know more about them.    

What is Emerald Stone

Referred to as panna stone in Hindi, emerald is a precious stone whose primary colour is only green. However, these stones have been mined long before these gems, and they continue to captivate us with their beauty and benefits.

Obtained from the beryl mineral family, emerald stone is good for enhancing business and professional growth. This stone is widely used in astrology as a Mercury stone to overcome the ill effects of the planet. In Western astrology, it is the birthstone of May. Emerald is widely used in high-end jewelry and is often considered an heirloom gem, treasured and passed down through generations.

Read More: Top 5 FAQs About Emerald

How Emerald is Formed

Like all natural gemstones, panna forms at Earth's surface under conditions of heat and pressure. It is believed that it takes 10,000 years to form emeralds. The presence of trace elements such as chromium and vanadium gives emeralds their green color. 

The color varies with the origin of the gemstones. The amount of these trace elements also determines the color's concentration. So you know why some emerald gemstones are darker while others are lighter. Beryllium is another element present in these stones. The combination of all these elements makes the emerald formula Be3Al2(SiO3)6. 

10 Facts About Emeralds 

Here are 10 interesting facts about emerald stone that reveal what makes this gemstone truly extraordinary.

• Premium-quality panna stones are rarer than diamonds because of their vibrant, natural green color reminiscent of nature.  Hence, these are one of the best gemstones to invest in. 
• The first emeralds were originally from Egyptian mines. Today, these are found in Colombia, Zambia, Afghanistan, India, Brazil, Russia, and Zimbabwe. 
• Emeralds were the favorite of the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. She used to wear them to various events, flaunting her status and wealth. 
• Obtained from colorless beryl, this stone gets its color from trace elements like Chromium and Vanadium. 
• The oldest emeralds were found nearly 3 billion years ago. 
• A lesser-known fact about emerald is that around 99% of emeralds available in the market undergo treatment to reduce visible inclusions.
• All natural panna stones are included. The inclusions, called “jardin,” make the stone look like a mossy garden from the inside. 
• The best emerald origin is Colombia. Gemstones from this origin feature vivid green color with a bluish tint. 
• Emerald cut, or step cut, is named after this gemstone. This is because it was explicitly designed to exude the brilliance of these gems. 
• A strange fact about emerald is that one can see the future with their powerful energy.

A Buyer’s Guide to the 4 C’s of Emerald

Emerald Colour	Primary Hue	Secondary Tone	Description
Vivide Green	Green	Slight Blue	Most valuable
Bluish Green	Green	Blue	Present in Zambian panna
Yellowish Green	Green	Yellow	Lower value, color tone present in Brazilian emeralds
Light Green	Green	Minimal	Less saturated
Dark Green	Green	Blue and Black	Less brilliance

Grade	Color Quality	Clarity	Remarks
AAAA	Vivid green with slight blue undertone	No inclusions	Rare, top quality emerald stone
AAA	Well saturated green color	Few inclusions	Good quality stones
AA	Medium green	Included	Average quality
A	Light green color	Visible inclusions	Affordable

• Cut: These green emerald gemstones look good in every cut. The round cut is the best cut for emeralds. This cut allows the gemstone to sparkle the most.     
• Carat Weight: High carat weight gemstone has a higher price. For instance, a vivid colored green emerald stone with high clarity, precise cut, and high carat weight fetches more price than a pale colored stone with more inclusions and low carat weight. Emerald stone price starts from INR 3,000 to INR 1 lakh and more depending upon the quality.  
• Read Here: Emerald Stone Price Guide II    
• Origin: Colombian emerald  and those obtained from Zambia and Brazil are considered the best gemstones.   
• Treatment: No oil emerald stone is considered rare. They are natural stones without any oil treatment given from outside. These are premium quality gemstones free from oil or resin, generally added to make panna stone get artificial shine and enhanced color.