Emerald Value: Understand How to Get The Most When Selling Emerald Jewelry

Before we explore the valuation process, let’s take a moment to understand the key factors that influence an emerald’s value.

These factors include color, clarity, cut, carat weight, origin, and treatment. Each element plays a vital role in determining the overall worth of your emerald.

Color and its effect on emerald value:

Emeralds are prized for their mesmerizing green hues. To assess an emerald’s color, you need to consider three key aspects: hue, saturation, and tone.

• Hue: The hue refers to the primary and secondary colors observed in the emerald. The most desirable hue is a pure green with no noticeable yellow or blue undertones. However, secondary hues can impact the value positively or negatively, depending on their intensity and balance. For instance, a subtle bluish-green hue can enhance the value, while a strong yellowish-green hue may diminish it.
• Saturation: Saturation refers to the intensity or vividness of the emerald’s color. The most valuable emeralds exhibit a high saturation, which gives them a vibrant and lively appearance. On the other hand, emeralds with low saturation may appear dull or washed out, leading to a decrease in value.
• Tone: The tone represents the lightness or darkness of the emerald’s color. Ideally, emeralds with a medium to medium-dark tone are preferred, as they allow the saturation to shine through. If the tone is too light or too dark, it can negatively impact the emerald’s value and overall appeal.

To help you understand the range of emerald colors and their corresponding values, here are a few examples.

• A vivid green Colombian emerald, free from significant inclusions and with excellent saturation and tone, could be valued at around $5,000 per carat or more.
• A Zambian emerald with a rich green color, good saturation, and minimal inclusions may have a value of approximately $2,000 to $3,000 per carat.
• Brazilian emeralds, often exhibiting a slightly yellowish-green hue, can offer a more affordable option. Prices for Brazilian emeralds can range from $500 to $1,500 per carat, depending on the overall quality.

These are approximate price ranges and can vary based on market conditions, specific gem characteristics, and other factors. It’s crucial to consult with a reputable gemologist or jeweler to obtain an accurate valuation for your emerald.

By understanding the different hues, saturations, and tones of emeralds, you can begin to assess the color quality of your own emerald and gain insights into its potential value.

Emerald Clarity:

Clarity refers to the presence or absence of inclusions (internal flaws) and blemishes (external flaws) within your emerald.

Unlike diamonds, which are known for their exceptional clarity, emeralds almost have some inclusions to some degree, and they’re considered part of their natural beauty and character.

Inclusions can take various forms, such as cracks, bubbles, crystals, or other foreign materials that affect the transparency and brilliance of the emerald. Blemishes, on the other hand, can appear as scratches, chips, nicks, or pits on the surface of the gem.

While it is expected for emeralds to have inclusions, their impact on value depends on several factors. Large, numerous, visible, or structurally damaging inclusions can decrease an emerald’s value. Inclusions that reach the surface may also make the emerald more prone to breaking or chipping, affecting its durability.

Emeralds can be categorized into three types based on their level of inclusion:

• Type 1: These emeralds are generally free of inclusions or have an extremely low presence of inclusions. They are exceptionally rare and are typically associated with laboratory-grown emeralds. However, even in lab-grown emeralds, some minor inclusions may be observable under magnification.
• Type 2: These emeralds typically have inclusions, although they are not severe or overly prominent. Inclusions are commonly observed in this type but do not significantly impact the gem’s beauty or transparency.
• Type 3: These emeralds are characterized by a high likelihood of inclusions, and many of them can be severe or highly visible. Type 3 emeralds almost always exhibit a noticeable presence of inclusions, which may have a significant impact on their overall appearance and transparency.

Cut and its effect on Emerald Price

Cut refers to the shape, proportions, symmetry, and polish of the gemstone.

While emeralds can be cut into various shapes, including round, oval, pear, marquise, cushion, square, rectangular, or triangular, the most common and popular shape for emeralds is the rectangular step cut, also known as the emerald cut.

This cut showcases the emerald’s color and clarity exceptionally well.

Unlike diamonds, emeralds aren’t usually graded for cut quality by an independent organisation like GIA.

Nevertheless, different emeralds at the same carat weight can look very different sizes due to differences in surface area when viewed from the top, which can affect their desirability and their value.

Carat weight and its effect on Emerald value

Carat weight is a crucial factor in determining the value of an emerald. It refers to the measure of how much the emerald weighs, not necessarily how big it appears. One carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams or 0.007 ounces. The carat weight of an emerald significantly impacts its value because larger emeralds are generally more rare and desirable than smaller ones.

One thing to know is that emerald prices increase exponentially with carat weight. This means that a 2-carat emerald will not simply be twice as expensive as a 1-carat emerald but significantly more valuable.

However, it’s important to consider that emerald prices vary depending on the quality of other factors such as color, clarity, and cut. In some cases, a smaller emerald of higher quality may hold greater value than a larger emerald with lower quality.

How Origin affects the value of an Emerald

The origin of an emerald refers to the geographic location where it was mined. Certain origins are renowned for producing emeralds of exceptional quality and are highly sought after in the market.

The origin of an emerald can impact its value due to its influence on the gemstone’s color, clarity, and rarity:

• Colombian Emeralds: Colombian emeralds are esteemed for their vivid green hue with a slight bluish tint. They are highly valued for their exceptional color and transparency.
• Brazilian Emeralds: Brazilian emeralds often exhibit a slightly yellowish-green hue. While they may not possess the same vibrant color as Colombian emeralds, they still offer unique beauty and can provide a more budget-friendly option.
• Zambian Emeralds: Zambian emeralds are renowned for their deep green hue with a slight grayish tint. They are admired for their rich color and are often sought after for their unique appearance.
• Ethiopian Emeralds: Ethiopian emeralds are relatively new to the market but have gained attention for their striking green color and transparency.

Emerald Treatments:

Treatment refers to the process of enhancing or altering the appearance or durability of an emerald and the type of treatment used can significantly impact the gemstone’s value.

One of the most common treatments is oiling, wherein oils, resins, or waxes are applied to fill tiny fissures in the stone’s surface, thereby improving the clarity and overall appearance. However, oiling is a temporary solution and needs to be reapplied over time, so it can somewhat lower the value of the stone due to its impermanence.

Another popular treatment is the use of green-tinted oil or resin, which serves to enhance an emerald’s color and clarity simultaneously. This method is less accepted in the market because it alters the natural color of the gemstone, and as such, it can significantly decrease the emerald’s value.

A more invasive, yet permanent treatment is the use of polymer resins, like Opticon, which are used to fill fractures and improve an emerald’s durability. This treatment tends to maintain the gemstone’s natural color better than green-tinted oil. However, because it is more difficult to detect and heavily alters the natural state of the gemstone, this treatment is viewed skeptically in the market and can considerably reduce an emerald’s value.

Heat treatment is also used on emeralds but is less common due to the risk of damaging the gemstone. This process enhances the color by reducing the presence of some inclusions or yellow hues. Gemstones that undergo this treatment might achieve a higher price if the color improvement is significant and the process does not damage the gemstone.

Overall, untreated emeralds are the most prized in the market, as their natural state represents rarity and authenticity. The type and level of treatment, transparency about such treatments, and the final appearance of the emerald are all factors that greatly influence the gemstone’s final market value.

Certification

Certification refers to the documentation provided by an independent and reputable gemological laboratory that verifies the authenticity and quality of the emerald. A certified emerald comes with an official report that outlines its characteristics, including the 4Cs, origin, and any treatments applied.

Certification helps identify any treatments or enhancements applied to the emerald. It ensures transparency in the gemstone’s history, allowing informed decisions for buyers and sellers, adding credibility to the transaction and offering peace of mind.

Not all emeralds will be accompanied by a certificate, but those that are often have a price premium attached to them due to the additional peace of mind that they give the buyer or seller.

1 Carat Emerald Value:

The value of a 1 carat emerald will be influenced by all the factors we’ve discussed so far – color, clarity, cut, and origin, and more. The value of a 1 carat emerald can range from $300 to $10,000 or more, depending on these factors.

Some examples of different 1 carat emerald values:

• A 1 carat emerald with a light green hue, low saturation, light tone, moderate inclusions, poor cut, and unknown origin may have a value in the range of $300 to $500. These emeralds may exhibit more affordable prices due to their lower quality characteristics.
• A 1 carat emerald with a medium green hue, medium saturation, medium tone, slight inclusions, good cut, and Brazilian origin may have a value in the range of $1,000 to $2,000. These emeralds offer a balance between quality and affordability.
• A 1 carat emerald with a vivid green hue, high saturation, medium-dark tone, very slight inclusions, excellent cut, and Colombian origin may have a value in the range of $5,000 to $10,000 or more. These emeralds exhibit exceptional color and quality, making them highly sought after and commanding higher prices.

These are just examples, and actual values may vary based on market demand and supply, the type and extent of any treatment applied to the emerald, and the certification and appraisal of the gemstone.

2 Carat Emerald Value:

Similar to 1 carat emeralds, the value of a 2 carat emerald is determined by the quality of factors such as color, clarity, cut, and origin. These elements collectively contribute to the gemstone’s overall desirability and, subsequently, its value. The value of a 2 carat emerald can range from $600 to $20,000 or more:

• A 2 carat emerald with a light green hue, low saturation, light tone, moderate inclusions, poor cut, and unknown origin may have a value in the range of $600 to $1,000. These emeralds, with their lower quality characteristics, typically offer more affordable pricing.
• A 2 carat emerald with a medium green hue, medium saturation, medium tone, slight inclusions, good cut, and Brazilian origin may have a value in the range of $2,000 to $4,000. These emeralds strike a balance between quality and affordability, making them an attractive option for buyers.
• A 2 carat emerald with a vivid green hue, high saturation, medium-dark tone, very slight inclusions, excellent cut, and Colombian origin may have a value in the range of $10,000 to $20,000 or more. These emeralds, exhibiting exceptional color and quality, are highly sought after and command premium prices.

Again, these are just examples – to obtain an accurate valuation of your specific 2 carat emerald, it is recommended to consult with a reputable gemologist or jeweler.