Categories 
Ques. 1 What is an emerald, and how is it formed?
Ans. Emerald, also known as Panna gemstone , is a precious gemstone that is naturally formed in Earth. It is a highly sought-after gemstone which is known all over the world and is desired because of its dark green colour.
This gemstone is historically significant, astrologically powerful and traditionally valuable.
The gem belongs to the beryl mineral family and gets its dark green colour because of the presence of chromium and vanadium in it.
Emeralds gemstones are formed naturally under the intense geological conditions, under extreme temperature and pressure deep within the Earth's Crust.
The gemstones are formed within the metamorphic and hydrothermal environments. The fluids that are rich in beryllium interact with minerals like chromium and vanadium.
Over millions of years, the beryl crystallises to make the world-famous emerald gemstone . They are formed inside the cracks and cavities of their rock host, such as granite.
Due to this complex formation process, the gemstones often contain natural fractures or flaws known as inclusions. These inclusions are unique according to the geological conditions, which makes the gems even more unique.
Also read - A Closer Look at Emerald Inclusions
Ans. There are several ways through which you can identify if your emerald stone is real or fake.
Here are some of the tests you can do to check if your Panna stone is real or not:
Examine the Inclusions - Natural Panna stone will always have inclusions in them; they are very common in these gemstones. If there are no visible inclusions, then the gem will be very expensive, it will cost in lakhs, but if it is not costly and has no inclusions, it is highly likely that it's a fake or synthetic.
Refractive Index Test - Panna stones have a refractive index of 1.57-1.58. You can check the refractive index of your stone through a refractive index meter, and if it doesn't match this number, then you should get your gemstone checked in a lab to ensure it's authentic.
Scratch Test - The gems have a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. You can do a scratch test with a knife or coin on the gem. The hardness of a coin or a knife is less than emeralds, so they won't scratch the gem easily. But if the stone gets scratched, it is likely not real.
Professional Certification - The best way to confirm that your gem is real is to purchase it from a renowned seller like Navratan, who provides a lab certificate with the gem that confirms the authenticity of the Panna stone . Also, ensure that the gemstones are certified by a reputable lab like IGI or GIA.
Read here how to cross-check your gemstone lab certificate - How to verify your gemological report?
Ans. Yes. Emeralds are indeed very valuable gemstones since they are rare gemstones and precious ones as well. These gems are prized for their rich green colour, which cannot be seen in any other gemstone. The emerald stone price ranges between INR 2,000 to 5,00,000, based on the quality of the gemstone.
What determines the price of the emerald gemstone is its quality, and the quality of a gemstone depends on the factors - cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. Additionally, the cost of gem also depends on the origin and treatments done on it.
Know how these factors determine the price of an emerald in detail here -
Emerald Stone Price Guide I
Ans. Yes. According to astrology, emeralds are one of the most powerful gemstones in the world. Astrologically, there are nine most powerful gemstones in the world, which are called the Navratans, and one of them is the emerald or panna gemstone.
As per expert astrologers, the emerald stone is ruled by the planet Mercury, which is also called the Vaani karaka, and when you wear the emerald gem, it will bring you the blessings of Mercury. That means it will enhance your communication skills and will boost your self-expression abilities as well.
Here are the many astrological benefits and healing properties of the emerald gemstone:
Read More - From Our Collection to a Celebrity's Celebration: Radhika Merchant's Emerald Necklace
Also Read - Are Emeralds More Expensive than Rubies?
