Emerald rings have long been a popular choice of engagement jewellery, and for a good reason. The striking green hue of the emerald is thought to symbolise luck and hope, and when used as an engagement ring, it represents love, luck, hope, peace and new beginnings.
Along with its inherent beauty and deep symbolism, there are other factors that make the emerald such a popular gemstone. For one, it has a relatively low density — considerably lower than that of the diamond. This means that although they share the same weight, a one-carat weight emerald is noticeably larger than a one-carat diamond.
In this post, we take a look at what constitutes a quality emerald and importantly, how you can best choose a quality emerald ring. Let’s dive in!
Types of emeralds
Today, the highest quality and most sought-after emeralds are mined in Colombia, Brazil and Zambia. Emeralds from each of these regions have different qualities,
though generally speaking, the origin of an emerald isn’t a huge factor in its value. Here’s a breakdown of each emerald type:
-
Colombian Emeralds — Emeralds have been mined in Colombia for centuries, and Colombian emerald mines are considered the chief source of high-quality emeralds to this day.
These emeralds are known for their rich, warm, pure green colour and are highly valued for both their rarity and their beauty. Colombia has produced some of the
finest and most famous emeralds in the world.
-
Brazilian Emeralds — Brazil has been a large-scale emerald producer since the 1960s. Brazilian emeralds are often a lighter green than those from other countries,
including Colombia, which can negatively impact their value.
However, they are also often larger than other emerald types and contain fewer inclusions, which can increase their market demand.
-
Zambian Emeralds — Although emeralds were first discovered in Zambia in the 1920s, widespread emerald mining didn’t commence in the region until the 1970s.
Zambian emeralds are usually a darker colour than their Colombian and Brazilian counterparts, and they may also carry a yellowish or bluish-green tint.
Although they may have visible inclusions, Zambian emeralds often have exceptional clarity and are considered a viable and popular alternative to pricier Colombian emeralds.
Choosing a quality emerald ring
When it comes to choosing an emerald ring, as with any fine piece of jewellery, personal preference and taste will be major contributing factors.
Emerald rings are available in a variety of styles, shapes and settings.
Importantly, there is also emerald quality to consider. Here’s what to look for when choosing an emerald ring:
-
Emerald Shape — Emeralds come in a range of shapes, including round, oval and emerald-cut. For engagement rings, the classic emerald cut tends to be a favoured shape.
The step-cut faceting and attractive, elongated appearance of the emerald cut gives the gem a truly stunning level of sparkle and depth.
No matter the shape, all emeralds look stunning, whether in a solitaire setting or surrounded by smaller diamonds in a halo setting.
-
Emerald Setting — Emerald rings also come in a variety of settings. Generally, the most popular setting, particularly for emerald engagement rings, is the halo setting.
The brilliance of the diamonds surrounding the centre emerald helps to both lighten up and draw attention to the emerald.
It also offers a gorgeous vintage appeal that complements the classic beauty of the stone.
-
Emerald Colour — Colour is one of the most important factors when it comes to assessing emerald quality.
This is in part due to the fact that our eyes can see more shades of the colour green than any other colour on the spectrum! As a rule,
the emerald colour will vary depending on its country of origin — experts can usually decipher where an emerald is from by assessing it on colour alone.
Intense bluish-green and pure green, with medium to vivid colour saturation, are considered the most desirable emerald colours.
-
Emerald Cut — As well as the shape, the cut refers to the depth, width and faceting of an emerald.
A good cutter will strive to maximise the brilliance and colour of a particular emerald — using each cut to bring out the stone’s unique natural beauty.
When assessing an emerald, check for brilliance or sparkle that radiates evenly across the entire gem, with no lifeless or dull areas.
-
Emerald Clarity — It is common for emeralds to have visible inclusions — these are the result of the natural formation process, and many consider these to be part of the emerald’s natural beauty.
Yet, too many surface inclusions may threaten the stone’s structural integrity. Emerald quality is graded from entry-level quality (A) through to better quality (AA) and highest quality (AAA).
Naturally, you can expect to pay more for an AAA-graded emerald.
-
Emerald Carat Weight — As with all gemstones, emeralds come in various sizes. Being rarer, larger emeralds tend to come at a higher cost.
However, the cost of emeralds is mainly determined by their colour, cut and clarity — not their size.
Therefore, a smaller-sized emerald with brilliant colour is considered more valuable than a larger, poorly coloured stone.
Most popular emerald ring styles
As we’ve discussed when it comes to emerald engagement rings, the most popular style tends to be the classic emerald cut in a halo setting.
Side stone styles, where a large centre emerald is offset by smaller stones, such as diamonds on either side, are also popular for emerald engagement rings.
Both the halo and side stone styles give an emerald ring a classic, timeless appeal.
As with classic diamond rings, emerald solitaire rings are also a popular choice of engagement ring.
Along with the traditional emerald cut, solitaire emerald rings look stunning with round and oval-shaped emeralds.
When deciding on a style of emerald ring, the most important thing you can do is to go with the style and colour that most speak to you.
As a timeless, precious gemstone, the emerald makes a stunning diamond engagement ring alternative, no matter the style you ultimately choose to go with.
How to care for emerald rings
For best results, emerald jewellery should be cleaned with warm, soapy water and a microfibre cloth.
The natural inclusions in emeralds can make them prone to chipping, so care must be taken with both their cleaning and storage.
It is best to store your emerald ring in a padded container and not expose it to any form of pressure or high heat.
As such, you should avoid any form of machine or steam cleaning with your emerald ring, even from a qualified jeweller.
Further, it’s important to ensure that your emerald is removed from its setting before it undergoes any repairs or resizing.
Diamonds Factory — your home of exceptional quality emerald rings
At Diamonds Factory, we truly are your home of exceptional quality emerald diamonds and engagement rings.
All of our pieces are meticulously handcrafted by our expert jewellers and can be specially tailored to suit your unique tastes and needs. The best part?
By cutting out the middleman, we can offer unbeatable value on all of our exquisite jewellery pieces. Our customers pay up to 78% less than other jewellers.
Keen to get started finding your dream emerald ring? Check out our handy ring size guide, and view our entire emerald collection today!
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Emerald rings have long been a popular choice of engagement jewellery, and for a good reason. The striking green hue of the emerald is thought to symbolise luck and hope, and when used as an engagement ring, it represents love, luck, hope, peace and new beginnings.
Along with its inherent beauty and deep symbolism, there are other factors that make the emerald such a popular gemstone. For one, it has a relatively low density — considerably lower than that of the diamond. This means that although they share the same weight, a one-carat weight emerald is noticeably larger than a one-carat diamond.
In this post, we take a look at what constitutes a quality emerald and importantly, how you can best choose a quality emerald ring. Let’s dive in!
Types of emeralds
Today, the highest quality and most sought-after emeralds are mined in Colombia, Brazil and Zambia. Emeralds from each of these regions have different qualities, though generally speaking, the origin of an emerald isn’t a huge factor in its value. Here’s a breakdown of each emerald type:
Colombian Emeralds — Emeralds have been mined in Colombia for centuries, and Colombian emerald mines are considered the chief source of high-quality emeralds to this day. These emeralds are known for their rich, warm, pure green colour and are highly valued for both their rarity and their beauty. Colombia has produced some of the finest and most famous emeralds in the world.
Brazilian Emeralds — Brazil has been a large-scale emerald producer since the 1960s. Brazilian emeralds are often a lighter green than those from other countries, including Colombia, which can negatively impact their value. However, they are also often larger than other emerald types and contain fewer inclusions, which can increase their market demand.
Zambian Emeralds — Although emeralds were first discovered in Zambia in the 1920s, widespread emerald mining didn’t commence in the region until the 1970s. Zambian emeralds are usually a darker colour than their Colombian and Brazilian counterparts, and they may also carry a yellowish or bluish-green tint. Although they may have visible inclusions, Zambian emeralds often have exceptional clarity and are considered a viable and popular alternative to pricier Colombian emeralds.
Choosing a quality emerald ring
When it comes to choosing an emerald ring, as with any fine piece of jewellery, personal preference and taste will be major contributing factors. Emerald rings are available in a variety of styles, shapes and settings. Importantly, there is also emerald quality to consider. Here’s what to look for when choosing an emerald ring:
Emerald Shape — Emeralds come in a range of shapes, including round, oval and emerald-cut. For engagement rings, the classic emerald cut tends to be a favoured shape. The step-cut faceting and attractive, elongated appearance of the emerald cut gives the gem a truly stunning level of sparkle and depth. No matter the shape, all emeralds look stunning, whether in a solitaire setting or surrounded by smaller diamonds in a halo setting.
Emerald Setting — Emerald rings also come in a variety of settings. Generally, the most popular setting, particularly for emerald engagement rings, is the halo setting. The brilliance of the diamonds surrounding the centre emerald helps to both lighten up and draw attention to the emerald. It also offers a gorgeous vintage appeal that complements the classic beauty of the stone.
Emerald Colour — Colour is one of the most important factors when it comes to assessing emerald quality. This is in part due to the fact that our eyes can see more shades of the colour green than any other colour on the spectrum! As a rule, the emerald colour will vary depending on its country of origin — experts can usually decipher where an emerald is from by assessing it on colour alone. Intense bluish-green and pure green, with medium to vivid colour saturation, are considered the most desirable emerald colours.
Emerald Cut — As well as the shape, the cut refers to the depth, width and faceting of an emerald. A good cutter will strive to maximise the brilliance and colour of a particular emerald — using each cut to bring out the stone’s unique natural beauty. When assessing an emerald, check for brilliance or sparkle that radiates evenly across the entire gem, with no lifeless or dull areas.
Emerald Clarity — It is common for emeralds to have visible inclusions — these are the result of the natural formation process, and many consider these to be part of the emerald’s natural beauty. Yet, too many surface inclusions may threaten the stone’s structural integrity. Emerald quality is graded from entry-level quality (A) through to better quality (AA) and highest quality (AAA). Naturally, you can expect to pay more for an AAA-graded emerald.
Emerald Carat Weight — As with all gemstones, emeralds come in various sizes. Being rarer, larger emeralds tend to come at a higher cost. However, the cost of emeralds is mainly determined by their colour, cut and clarity — not their size. Therefore, a smaller-sized emerald with brilliant colour is considered more valuable than a larger, poorly coloured stone.
Most popular emerald ring styles
As we’ve discussed when it comes to emerald engagement rings, the most popular style tends to be the classic emerald cut in a halo setting. Side stone styles, where a large centre emerald is offset by smaller stones, such as diamonds on either side, are also popular for emerald engagement rings. Both the halo and side stone styles give an emerald ring a classic, timeless appeal.
As with classic diamond rings, emerald solitaire rings are also a popular choice of engagement ring. Along with the traditional emerald cut, solitaire emerald rings look stunning with round and oval-shaped emeralds.
When deciding on a style of emerald ring, the most important thing you can do is to go with the style and colour that most speak to you. As a timeless, precious gemstone, the emerald makes a stunning diamond engagement ring alternative, no matter the style you ultimately choose to go with.
How to care for emerald rings
For best results, emerald jewellery should be cleaned with warm, soapy water and a microfibre cloth. The natural inclusions in emeralds can make them prone to chipping, so care must be taken with both their cleaning and storage.
It is best to store your emerald ring in a padded container and not expose it to any form of pressure or high heat. As such, you should avoid any form of machine or steam cleaning with your emerald ring, even from a qualified jeweller. Further, it’s important to ensure that your emerald is removed from its setting before it undergoes any repairs or resizing.
Diamonds Factory — your home of exceptional quality emerald rings
At Diamonds Factory, we truly are your home of exceptional quality emerald diamonds and engagement rings. All of our pieces are meticulously handcrafted by our expert jewellers and can be specially tailored to suit your unique tastes and needs. The best part? By cutting out the middleman, we can offer unbeatable value on all of our exquisite jewellery pieces. Our customers pay up to 78% less than other jewellers.
Keen to get started finding your dream emerald ring? Check out our handy ring size guide, and view our entire emerald collection today!