Diamond Flaws

by Shweta

Diamonds flaws could be described as inclusions that hinder the beauty same as the black image in beautiful full moon. These are inside as well as outside the gemstone and there presence always pinches because these flaws make the dazzling stone imperfect.

Why Diamonds Flaws are unwelcome

The flaws holds back the overall alluring look of the gemstone. Diamonds are known for its awe-inspiring sparkling when any ray of light passes through it. The light could be natural sunlight or incandescent light. The inclusions present in the gem obstruct its sparkle effect making it not so attractive. More the flaws in the stone less desirable it becomes therefore, flaws are always unwanted. Moreover, the monetary value of gem reduces if it has more number of blemishes.

Why Flaws Crop up?

Flaws appear due to the presence of impurities in the chemical composition of the gemstone. The most common impurity causing flaws in Diamond is Nitrogen. The total percentage of Nitrogen in the composition is 1% of the total mass. Also it can crop up at the time of gemstone processing.

Types of Flaws

– There are several types of inclusions found which can be divided into two broad categories viz. external and internal. External flaws are on the outer surface of the gem while the internal flaws are within the structure of the stone. External flaws can be natural or can be formed later but an internal flaw mostly exits naturally during the formation of the gemstone.

External Flaws

The different kind of external flaws are –

Scratches: These are referred to as thin lines on the surface. It is mostly formed when the stone undergoes the different steps of gemstone processing like cutting or polishing. There are very less chances that it happens naturally.

Fractures: Cracks within the stone structure that are unparallel to the cleavage plane are called as fractures. It makes by and large the appearance of the gem fragmented as it has no shape. These days with modern technique the cracks can be filled to improve the clarity but it is still visible.

Extra facets: These are formed when the raw stone is being processed at cutting stage. In order to remove the natural inclusions the stone is cut that result in the extra facets (sides). It is done to enhance the clarity. This external flaw does not spoil the clarity but due too many facets the look of Diamond is deteriorated.

Pits: These are referred to tiny gaps on the stone’s outer surface. Pits are very small and it can be seen with only magnifying glass. In spite of being undersized it devalues the stone’s clarity.

Carbons: The chemical composition of Diamond contains 100% carbon. Therefore, when at the time of natural formation the crystallization sometimes remains incomplete which results to some black carbon dots on the surface of the gemstone. These dots can be categorized as graphite, pyrrhotite and pentlandite. It affects the clarity to the large extent.

Cavity: It is formed when gemstone cutter cuts the raw stone too much to remove the big crystal inclusion. It looks like a deep opening in the stone.

Internal Flaws

: Diamonds possess more internal flaws than the external. These are visible less with the naked eyes. The different varieties of this category are –

Crystal and Mineral: Sometimes, during the natural occurrence small crystal or mineral lumps are left within the stone. These are so tiny that can’t be seen without enlargement through the magnifying glass. It impedes the clarity of the stone and also its value in the monetary terms.

Needles: The crystal or mineral inclusions in the shape of long thin needles are referred as needle flaws. In few cases, these can be of different colour that is clearly visible in the colourless Diamond. These affect the clarity but can also in special cases give a different attractive look to the gemstone. It is the only flaw which can be looked up because of its colour.

Pinpoint: These are the most commonly found Diamond flaws. These are the small crystals that occur during the natural formation. It is very difficult to remove these imperfections as it is very tiny. Too much cutting in order to remove this flaw variant might lead to the total loss of the stone.

Cloud: A different image is created when more than three pinpoint inclusions appear next to one another within Diamond. The image can look like a cloud, circle or any other formation. This is known as cloud inclusion. In the grading reports it is mentioned as tiny red dots.

Laser Lines: These are formed at the time of gemstone processing and are not natural. Lasers are used to remove the dark blemishes from the diamond and during the process few vapour like traces are left. These traces are the thin lines like thread hence called as laser line inclusion. Stone clarity is deeply affected by these lines.

Grain lines: These inclusion crops up in the diamond at the initial stage of formation. The reason is same as other inclusion that is improper crystallization. It can also appear at the time of polishing due to the disproportion in the hardness across the gemstone. It is very difficult to remove these lines during the cutting stage. If these flaws are colourless then it does not blots the clarity else the coloured grain lines certainly reduces the clarity.

Knots: The minuscule crystal lumps left back after the crystallization and reaches the outer façade of the gemstone then these are referred as knots. These are totally undesirable as it not only worsen the clarity but also the sturdiness of Diamond. Under the adequate light these knots are clearly visible.

Feathers: As the name suggests these inclusions are the referred to fissures that group together and looks like feather. It is usually seen in the gemstone. Normally, it would not disturb the clarity but if the length increases towards the stone’s surface then it might result in the breakage of Diamond as the hardness is affected badly.

Cleavage: These flaws are positioned parallel to the crystallographic planes of the gemstone. It is also a straight line inclusion. It does not emerge naturally rather a sturdy blow results in deep internal damage in the structure of the stone which leads to cleavage flaws. Diamonds with this imperfection should not be purchased in any case because it is sure to break along its length in future.

Intergrowths: This imperfection is formed when two or more other types of flaws are twisted together at the time of Diamond formation. For example pinpoint, needles, cloud or feathers form together leading to the formation of white band inside the stone. These are regular in fancy shaped Diamonds.

Girdle Fringes: These are also known as bearding or dig marks. It is formed when the raw stone is cut during the processing. These are thin lines like hair that assemble around the diamond’s girdle. Its presence is abided till less in number else more lines reduce Diamond’s brilliance.

These flaws are unquestionably not a positive feature of the gemstone but presence of few flaws is appreciated to some extent as they give a different look to the gem. When buying women’s best friend “Diamond” one has to be very cautious about these not-so friendly flaws. Be cautious, All the Best!!

Diamond Clarity Enhancement

by Shweta

Diamond clarity refers to the degree of transparency in the gemstone. If the number of flaws is less it indicates higher clarity and vice versa. Gems with more than 80% clarity are very rare in nature. Today, with new modern techniques it is possible to remove or reduce flaws and boost the clarity of natural diamonds. Mechanical treatments are widely used to enhance diamond clarity by removing the unwanted external and internal flaws from the stone.

Diamond Clarity Enhancement Treatments

Diamond clarity refers to the degree of transparency in the gemstone. If the number of flaws is less it indicates higher clarity and vice versa. Gems with more than 80% clarity are very rare in nature. Today, with new modern techniques it is possible to remove or reduce flaws and boost the clarity of natural diamonds. Mechanical treatments are widely used to enhance diamond clarity by removing the unwanted external and internal flaws from the stone.

Laser Drilling

This enhancement treatment technique has been found way back in 1980. Since then it has been successfully used for enhancing the clarity of diamonds. In this method, first a coating of amorphous carbon or any other energy-absorbent matter is applied on the stone’s surface. This is done because a diamond is transparent and with the help of this coating the laser beam passes through the stone easily. After the coating is applied, infrared laser having the wavelength of about 1060nm is inserted to drill tiny holes inside the gemstone. The size of these holes could be between 0.005-0.2 millimeters. The laser beam in these holes reaches the inclusion and burns it. The gemstone then is immersed in chemical solution to dissolve the flaws. The solution could be sulfuric acid or iron oxide. Once the imperfections are removed the holes are re-filled with the clear solution that makes the visibility of holes almost negligible.

Laser Drilling Leftover Marks

The holes made in the stone are so small that it has to be seen only through jeweler’s microscopic loupe. One can spot these holes as very small white dots on the gemstone’s surface.

Advantages of Laser Drilling

This method is widely used because it is permanent. The inclusions are removed forever and the durability and sturdiness of Diamond is maintained. The final look with respect to cut and shape does not change.

Fracture Filling

This treatment was also developed during the same time as Laser Drilling. It is used for filling the crack with the transparent glass-like solution. The solution used for concealing the flaws of the gemstone has a very low melting point and refractive index equal to that of diamond. The cracks do exist after the filling but due to the outer optical coating it becomes imperceptible to the normal glance. However, it can be easily noticed under the magnification.

Unfortunately this method is not permanent. The specially formulated glass filling can be eroded when the gemstone comes into direct contact with the hot sun. The ultraviolet rays emitted from the sunlight are powerful enough to eat away the filling. Even at the time of routine repairs the heat produced can also lead to glass filling worn out of the gem. The slight heat produced from the jeweler’s torch can also melt the filling. Also, cleaning of jewelry having the fracture filled might give the similar results. The glass filling melts at very low temperature.

Fracture Filling Leftover Marks

While filling the cracks with the glass-like solution there are some air bubbles that get trapped because glass is transparent. These bubbles are either seen individually or it gets grouped near by one another creating the cloud image. This is the most common left over sign of fracture filling clarity enhancement treatment. Secondly there are some flow lines within the glass. These lines are also called as flashes as they produce flash effects. These are referred to as such because the lines contain some light colours and it creates the effect when the gemstone is rotated. The colour varies from yellow, orange to electric blue or purple. The colour depends on the lighting conditions.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) suggests to look in for the unfilled cracks on the gemstone’s surface from the perpendicular angle to the fracture’s plane while the cracks filled after the enhancement process are more clearly visible when viewed from the parallel perspective to the filled fracture’s plane. This treatment is only recommended for stones of higher carat weight as the glass filling lasts longer. The small gemstone may not have fruitful results of this treatment.

The clarity enhancement processes might be picking up with the passage of time but are not completely certified from GIA. The Diamonds that under go any of these two treatments are referred as “clarity enhanced Diamonds” or “fracture filled Diamonds”. The price of these enhanced stones is much less than the natural untreated diamonds. Among the two processes the laser drilled gems are priced higher than the fracture filled diamonds as first treatment is permanent and second is temporary.

The acceptance of the diamonds that undergo these treatments is growing but problem creeps in when untruthful jewelers sell these clarity enhanced gemstone at the price of original diamonds to the innocent buyers. It is buyer’s duty to be careful while buying but jewelers must also maintain some ethics. The buyer should be informed which treatment has been used for the clarity enhancement of the gem and must be asked for the appropriate price.

The market is full of numerous attractive diamonds. Depending upon one’s pocket the decision could be taken whether to go in for the natural flawless diamond, gemstone with natural flaws or stones with enhanced clarity. It all comes with a price difference. The gem that has been processed to remove the flaws certainly looks of higher quality unless it is seen under magnifying loupe. Once it is mounted in the jewelry it is hard to tell the difference with the naked eyes. It can be a good option if it is priced accordingly and the jeweler is truthful and reputable. Enhanced or natural, a diamond is precious and to own it gives one great satisfaction and happiness. So the choice is yours!!

Tanzanite Mining

by Neelanjana

The Mererani or the Merelani Hills of Tanzania are the sole Tanzanite hub of the world. The sensationally attractive and new born mineral in the world of gemstones owes its birthplace to Tanzania where it was discovered way back in the 1960’s. The Merelani Hill area located just 16 kms south of Kilimanjaro Airport is another 70kms south-east from the district of Arusha, situated at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Some also have the idea that Tanzanite was discovered in 1967 in the Umba Valley located in the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania.

This rare mineral was christened as Tanzanite in the year 1968 by Tiffany & Co. and its rarity has played a major role in its popularity in the market today. Infact the considerably large square mile area in the Merelani Hills is the only source of Tanzanite, and unfortunately this mineral is limited to this area alone. This tri-colored mineral with brilliant hues of Blue, violet and purple was discovered some 30 years back by the Masai tribesmen.

According to a local myth, the escorted a gentleman called Manuel D’Souza, a tailor by profession to this area enriched with blue stones, who was on a trip in search of Sapphires in Tanzania. It is claimed that a brush fire which was caused due to lightning, spread over a considerable area of land at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, caused brown zoisite crystals to transform to a deep blue purple due to the emerging heat from the fire that burnt them. However, though the discovery of open Tanzanite mines seemed like a jackpot to the tailor D’Souza, he was unable to hold on to this treasure. This was because the government of Tanzania took possession of the mines in 1971 and later handed them over to the State Mining Corporation in the year 1976.

In Tanzania, this gemstone is mined in four areas which are categorized under A, B, C and D blocks respectively. The B and D blocks are where the local mining takes place, whereas the remaining A and C blocks are restricted to foreign investments. The “Wana-Apollo” is a local term for small scale Tanzanite miners in Tanzania and they employ hundreds of local tribes in the mining process of Tanzanite. These tribes carry out extensive excavations to locate Tanzanite from their respective blocks. On location of a Tanzanite vein, the miners implement a process called ‘Bing’ and the groups of Wana – Apollo jointly put in the effort to exploit the discovered vein. There are a total of 430 plots and the small-scale miners of the Merelani township utilize local hands for Tanzanite mining in these plots. Merelani Hills are basically a township for small scale Tanzanite miners.

A tragedy hit the Tanzanite mines on the sacred day of Good Friday in the year 1998, when a torrential downpour of rain flooded the region for days together. The water from El Nino blanketed the entire area, taking the lives of more than 160 miners. Water engulfed regions in the mines up to 1000 feet deep, outside the Mbuguni township, located in the Merelani Hills, around 25 miles south-east of Arusha. Several safety measures have been implemented in the mines post this tragic flood incident and around 14 new regulations were set up. Roofs have been constructed in place of mine tailings in the entrance areas. The usage of modern amenities to mine has also been enhanced as compared to the past. Tanzanite is believed to have been mined with very primitive concepts and methodologies and though the use of safety equipment has been increased, there seems to be a lot of scope for further improvement.

In 2005 a foreign private company called “Tanzanite One Ltd”, took over the C block for Tanzanite mining and earned themselves repute in the trade, just like the “De Beers” who earns the brand name with diamond mining. The C block is infact the largest Tanzanite mine amongst the four blocks. The miners representing the foreign company, Tanzanite One Ltd have already excavated to a depth of 1000 feet and there is a concern is building up about the drying out of resources of this precious gemstone in the future decades.

However, parallel with this fear Tanzanite has indeed been a great discovery in terms of beauty and as well as utility in the fascinating world of gemstones.

Tanzanite Properties

by Neelanjana Ghosh

The gemstone Tanzanite ranges in blue, violet and lavender shades and is a form of the mineral Zoisite which is a calcium aluminium silicate. The colour of Zoisite ranges from shades of greyish brown to white. In its raw stage Tanzanite is usually found brownish and very rarely, blue, violet or deep brown irregular sized crystals, often with broken ends.

The Masai herdsmen are considered to be the first collectors of Tanzanite, the most newly evolved and popular gemstone in terms of beauty and rarity. This newly discovered gemstone came into the limelight way back in the year 1967 and ever since it has mesmerized the world with its beauty. It is considered as a birthstone for the month of December and is believed to have immense healing effects. In the Moh’s scale Tanzanite has a hardness of 6.5 to 7.

The gemstone Tanzanite ranges in blue, violet and lavender shades and is a form of the mineral Zoisite which is a calcium aluminium silicate. The colour of Zoisite ranges from shades of greyish brown to white. In its raw stage Tanzanite is usually found brownish and very rarely, blue, violet or deep brown irregular sized crystals, often with broken ends. However, on application of heat, the gemstone transforms into the hues of breathtaking violet-blue. One can apply heat to these crystals up to a range of 300-400 degrees Celsius. The heat changes the colour of these raw crystals to a deep violet-blue which is the most sought after colour for Tanzanite. The gemstones inherit the different shades of blue due to the presence of the mineral vanadium in it. If the Tanzanite is of superior quality the colour often ranges from blue to purple and further down to a reddish pink shade.

The gemstone emanates different colours when viewed from different directions or one can say that the effect is different from the different angles. The hues are blue, violet or brown. The brown colour is more predominant when the gemstone is in its raw stage. Usually the gemstone has a dominance of the blue and lavender shades, though the stones which are more towards the blue shade are categorized under the higher price bracket especially in the Asian market. The breathtaking aura of blue with a tinge of purple radiates elegance and grandeur which fascinates the eye. The rich velvety shades of blue in a Tanzanite can be equated with the grace of a blue sapphire at any point of time. The cut of Tanzanite, as of any gemstone is also considered to be of great importance as the supreme quality of cut always emphasizes the true colour, lustre and brilliance of the gemstone in the best possible manner. Tanzanite is cut in different classical shapes starting from round to various other fancy cuts that emphasize the brilliance and colour of this amazing gemstone. However, it is experienced that Tanzanite can be at its best form in terms of colour and cut when it is anywhere above 10 carats. The lesser weighed Tanzanite usually has the paler shades of blue.

A gemstone is always considered as a most prized possession for an individual and for a consumer owning a Tanzanite has always been a very special experience. It is not only for its beauty but also for its rare exclusivity that makes this gemstone so very special. After all, one should not forget that Tanzanite is many times rarer than diamonds. It is also the youngest member in the world of gemstones discovered in the 20th century and is available only in one particular area in the whole world that is Tanzania – from where it derives its name.

Gem Mining in Sri Lanka

by Neelanjana Ghosh

Sri Lanka very rightly known as the “Jewel Box” in the Indian Ocean is a treasure trove of unending collection of precious gems, and is one of the major hubs of gem mining in the world. The beautiful island in the shape of a pear is also famous for its tea and rubber plantations as well as for gem mines and alluvial gem gravels that have been producing the best quality gems for centuries.

According to geological history, gemstones were discovered in this charming island not prior to 500 B.C. During this period the Buddhists who traveled to Sri Lanka from Northern India found some precious gems while taking their bath in the streams and rivers of this island. The erosion of the rocks resulted to elongated placer deposits laden with precious gemstones in the beds of the flowing streams in the valleys which were located in the lower altitudes. The monks set these attractive colorful stones in their rings and other forms of jewellery like bracelets and armlets frequently worn during those days. During the course of their travels they traded these stones in the different markets of Asia and Europe. In this manner the gemstones reached new destinations in different parts of the globe.

Actually gemstones in Sri Lanka originated from the Highland Series, which is a broad belt that cuts across the centre of this pear shaped island. This belt has its edges in the shape of a trough and is bordered by mountain peaks. The trough which has components of crystalline metamorphosed rock along with schist, marble, pegmatite and quartzite deposits erodes and results in the formation of gemstones along the beds of rivers and streams in the valleys through which they flow. Miners soon came to know about the rich blue and yellow clay ‘illiam’ which was underneath the surface of the lush green farmlands. Excavating to a depth of 30 meters, ancient streams rich with gemstones could be discovered. However, mining caused some damage to the agriculture of Sri Lanka as most of the ancient streams were beneath cultivated fields, causing a conflict between miners and farmers in those early days.

As time passed, new mining methods were discovered which did not hamper the cultivation of crops and the farmlands remained untouched. With advanced technology a vertical shaft was protruded until it reached the illiam. Feeder tunnels were built and were supported by timbers of wood and bamboo. The miners dug the tunnels and loaded their knapsacks with the precious gravel as made their way to the surface. Pumps operated full-time to keep the tunnels water free. The process of washing, screening and sorting took place on the surface, once the miner climbed up.

Interesting mythical stories state that King Solomon was so impressed with the gems of Ceylon, that he gifted Queen of Sheba these gemstones to woo her. It is also known that the Imperial Treasury of the Soviet Union prides itself of a beautiful red spinel from Sri Lanka, weighing around 400 carats. A giant oval-cut spinel also known as the “Black Prince’s ruby” is studded in the British Imperial Crown. The Ceylonese sapphires are also randomly featured in the Crowns which are there in the Green Vaults of Dresden.

Many more precious and beautiful gems await discovery in this charming island country and it is expected that the jewel trove of Sri Lanka will gift the world of gemstones with many more wonders in the years to come.

Quartz Pictures

by Mark

Gallery of Quartz Pictures.

Quartz (named after a Slavic word for ‘Hard’) is the name for a group of minerals of the same chemical composition (SiO₂) and similar physical properties. Different names are given to quartz based on microstructure of the mineral and color. Few of the common quartz varieties are Rock Crystal, Smoky Quartz, Amethyst, Citrine, Prasiolite, Rose Quartz, Aventurine, Prase, Blue Quartz, Cat’s Eye, Hawk’s eye, Tiger’s eye, Chalcedony, Carnelian, Sard, Chrysoprase, Bloodstone, Dendritic Agate, Moss Agate, Agate, Jasper.

Rock Crystal

Clear and color less stone, found in Brazil, Madagascar, the United States and the Alps. Rock crystals weighing many tons have been found many times. Can be confused with colorless gems as well as glass. Used for creating costume jewelry, delicate bowls, gift items and also to imitate diamonds.

Smoky Quartz

Brown or smoky grey colored stone, caused by gamma rays. Found in Madagascar, brazil, Russia, Scotland, Switzerland, and usually confused with tourmaline.

Amethyst

Highly valued stone in quartz group, available in purple, violet, and transparent colors. Heat treatment of amethyst produces different colored varieties. Found in US, Madagascar, India, Mexico, Burma, Namibia, Russia and SriLanka.

Rose Quartz

Pink in color, due to presence of titanium, can be confused with topaz.

Quartz Cat’s Eye

Quartz cat’s eye is a variety of quartz in which numerous fiber-like inclusions of rutile create chatoyancy effect (like a cat’s eye). Can be confused with Chrysoberyl cat’s eye, but the name cat’s eye (with out the word quartz) referred only for Chrysoberyl cat’s eye. Found in SriLanka, brazil and India.

Blue Quartz

This is coarse grained blue colored quartz, the inclusions of crocidolite fibres causes this color. Deposits found in Australia, Scandinavia, south Africa, and Virginia; can be confused for lapis lazuli.

Dendritic Agate

It is colorless or whitish grey. Found in Brazil, United states and India. Also called Mocha stone because the Indian stones earlier came via the Arabian harbor of Mocha.

Sard

Red brown to brown variety of chalcedony. No strict separation from carnelian (darker and browner stones are usually called sard).

Chrysoprase

Green color variety of quartz and most valuable stone in chalcedony group. The color is due to presence of nickel in the stone. Color can fade due to sun light or when heated. Found in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and California.

Tiger’s eye

Gold yellow or gold brown colored quartz, the chatoyancy effect (Tiger’s eye) created due to oxidized iron from decomposed crocidolite to a brown color, keeping the fibrous structure.

Aventurine

Green colored quartz and some time with metallic glittery appearance caused by green mica. Can be confused with emerald sometimes.

Agate

Found in all colors, deposits are found as ball or almond shaped nodules with sizes ranging from a fraction of an inch to an circumference of several yards.

Carnelian

Carnelian is probably named after the color of the kornel cherry because of its color. It is brownish red to orange in color due to presence of iron. The color can be enhanced by heating; found in brazil, India and Uruguay.

Chalcedony

Bluish, white grey variety of quartz. Chalcedony also used as species name for all cryptocrystalline quartzes. Chalcedonies in natural state is waxy or dull. Used for cameos, arts, crafts and also in jewelry.

Jasper

Found in all color, mostly with striped or spotted. The name itself derived from Greek word which means spotted. Also it found along with agate or opal.

Bloodstone

Bloodstone is an opaque, dark green chalcedony with red spots and also called as heliotrope (in Greek ‘sun turner’). Presence of chlorite causes green color and red spots are caused by iron oxide.

Onyx

Onyx means finger nail in Greek and the name onyx is some time used for uncolored chalcedony (black onyx), other wise it is the name used for layered stones and onyx marble.

Emerald Facts and Buying Guide

by Sheweta Dhanuka

It is birthstone for those born in the month of May and anniversary stone for those completing 20th, 35th and 55th year of marriage. It is the ideal gift for someone you love provided you have a bulging pocket and the genuine instinct to buy a genuine stone, as the market is flooded with imitations, synthetic gems and simulators. To make the purchase of a true stone buyer needs awareness and information about this captivating gemstone.

Emerald, the name is derived from a French word ‘esmeraude’. This word had its origin from Latin and Greek word ‘smaragdos’ meaning green stone. It was discovered millions of years ago in the mines of Egypt known as Cleopatra Mines. Since then it is an important part of the jewelry. Every generation considered it as a valuable asset.

It is birthstone for those born in the month of May and anniversary stone for those completing 20th, 35th and 55th year of marriage. It is the ideal gift for someone you love provided you have a bulging pocket and the genuine instinct to buy a genuine stone, as the market is flooded with imitations, synthetic gems and simulators. To make the purchase of a true stone buyer needs awareness and information about this captivating gemstone. Thus, this article provides the required knowledge and facts that would also act as a buying guide for them. All the important characteristics of the gemstone are discussed here like four important Cs of gemstone, price, source, precautions etc.

Colour – It is green coloured beauty and is available in almost all shades of green. The variations in the green colour occur due to the change in the chromium content present in the chemical composition of the crystal. No two mines or deposits producing the gemstone would have exactly the same composition some changes are obvious so different shades come into existence. With the increase in the amount of chromium the colour becomes rich and dark.

The colour shade of the stone is a very important characteristic as it is a mode of judging the originality of the gemstone. With the colour of the stone, its producing country is determined. Stones from Columbia are deep green in colour while Russia offer patchy and pale green colour. Zimbabwe stones too possess rich green colour but are of small magnitude. Emeralds from the gemstones land Brazil are bright light green in colour. Gems mined from India are bluish green and at present are valued most. Stones from Zambia are known for its bright colour and clarity.

Clarity – This stone is never a clean stone. It occurs in thousands of years thus would certainly contain some blemishes or inclusions. The inclusions are considered as the part of the stone and are very well accepted in the gemstone industry. Absolutely clean and clear stone is impossible to be offered by the Mother Nature. However, number of flaws would vary from one stone to another. It also contains surface cavities that are filled during the initial gemstone processing.

Cut – Cutting is a very crucial aspect as a good cut enhances the colour of the stone and augments its worth in terms of money. It is a hard and tough stone but still cutting remains a challenging job for the cutter. However, with the modern techniques it can be cut in different shapes viz. round, pear, oval, marquise, cabochon, square, emerald cut, step cut and many more. The most preferred cut is emerald cut, as the colour of stone is best visible in this shape. This cut is actually rectangular step cut.
Carat Weight – It contains vitreous luster. It is transparent to translucent in nature. The beauty of the stone is enhanced in large sizes. The carat weight suitable for jewelry items is between 0.5 -4 ctw. Gems beyond 4 carat weight are rare and priced very high. Rough more than 10 carat weight seldom occurs.

Price – It is priced very high. This treasured stone is valued on the basis of colour, clarity and carat weight. More bright and intense the green colour more is the price. Similarly with the increase in the carat weight the cost of the stone would also increase and finally less flaws in the crystal more is the worth. Different permutations and combinations of these three Cs are available in the market, buyer can select any of them depending upon their pockets.

Occurrence – It is the green coloured variety of beryl mineral. It is found in mica schists between granitic rocks or pegmatites rocks. Sometimes eluvial and aluvial deposits also hold this stone. The crystallization process occurs in excessive heat and pressure. During the process, some geological disturbances always takes place which results in inclusions in form of cavities, fractures or bubbles. Thus, it is never found as a crystal clear gem.

Source – Finest quality of this precious gemstone is obtained from Zambia and Muzo, Coscuez and Chivor mines in Columbia. The difference in the stones from these countries lies in the stone size & inclusions. Smaller stones with few flaws are from Zambia while larger stones consisting many inclusions are from Columbia. This country also produces rare stone with cat eye effect or six-rayed star. Countries namely Russia, India and Austria have huge deposits of this extremely wonderful stone. It is also procured from Brazil, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Afghanistan, Norway, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, Nigeria and the United States of America.
Enhancement – Each and every single stone is enhanced by some method in order to improve the appearance of the stone. The cavities present within the crystal are filled with hard clourless substance. Later it is treated with colourless oil or wax to hide the surface fractures. Under this treatment, oil is applied all over the stone such that oil seeps inside the stone and covers the breaks or cracks making it look less prominent. This process need to be repeated again after few years as effect of colourless oil diminishes with the passage of time. Oiling is the oldest method used for enhancing the clarity. These days a new method has been discovered to improve the clarity. The stones are treated with clear natural resin known as opticon. It gives better results than colourless oil. These two methods are accepted worldwide but the treatment of stone with green dye is non-acceptable.

Imitations – Emerald being the precious stone fetches high price therefore synthetic gems are preferred by many people across the world. Aluminum oxide is mixed with chromium and is heated under high temperature and pressure to create synthetic gems. United States and France are the major producers of these man made gems. These laboratory created gems are accepted in the gemstone trade ethics when sold to the buyer specifying that it is a synthetic stone.

There are few clever dealers who deceive the innocent buyer by selling stones that are even not properly created in the labs. They would merely join two pale green colour stones with bright green glue and irradiate with green dye. Later sell these nothing but fake stone at the price of genuine natural stones under the misleading names such as Biron Emerald, Chatham Emerald, Gilson Emerald, Kimberly Emerald, Lennix Emerald, Linde Emerald, Regency Emerald, Zerfass Emerald etc. These are only few names the list of such trade names is endless. Similarly glass dyed in green is also major simulator of this beautiful stone. Buyers need to be extra cautious while making the purchases of gems or its jewelry.

At the first glance it is very difficult to distinguish between the natural and synthetic gems. However, it is not impossible. Buyers can identify the original stone in two ways. First, check for the inclusions. Man made stones consist very thin inclusions as compared with the naturally occurred stones. Secondly, colour of the synthetic stones in ultraviolet light would appear reddish while the colour of genuine stones would remain same in every light source.

There are many other semi precious gemstones that are green in colour such as peridot, chrome diopside, tourmaline, zircon, hiddenite and green garnet. All these gems are unique in there respective characteristics and are priced accordingly. These stones have there own identification and value in the gemstone trade market. But unfortunately, few dealers sell them at the price of genuine Emeralds. Therefore, in order to avoid all the future shocks buyer should always prefer buying this most expensive gem from the reputable and authorized dealers only.

Uses – It is only used as a gemstone. It makes all sorts of jewelry items ranging from simple delicate rings, earrings and pendants to heavy necklaces. It is very well paired with diamonds. The jewelries are made up 18K or 22K yellow gold or white gold, platinum and sterling silver. Silver is relatively used less as it complements the precious stone less as compared with gold and platinum. Prong, bezel and bead setting can be used for making jewelries holding this marvelous gemstone. Out of these three types of setting, bezel setting is ideal for Emerald as it is protected from every corner. It is also cut and polished into cabochons and beads to make exquisite jewelry pieces.

Precautions – It is relatively a hard stone consisting the hardness of 7.5-8 Mohs. Inspite of having high on the hardness scale it requires special care and precautions. As it is treated with colourless oil to enhance the clarity, it should be protected from harsh chemicals and acids present in the cleaning solutions and cosmetics else the oil would be washed off. Also excessive heat and sudden temperature changes are harmful for the stone. It should be protected from sharp blows and scratches else some internal cracks can be developed inside the crystal.

It should neither be soaked in water or cleaned in home ultrasonic cleaner else the oiling would be damaged or removed from the stone and the inclusions would be clearly visible through the naked eyes. In the same way soapy water, steam, hot water or even the moisture is harmful for the stone as water can seep into the fractures and dissolve the oiling. Instead clean the stone with dry soft cloth and store in a separate jewelry box lined with soft cloth or cotton or velvet. Gems should be cleaned once in couple of years and not regularly. Repairing of the jewelry items holding this valuable gemstone should be done with an extra care. First the stone should be removed and then only the repairing work must be done. These precautions are too little effort as compared to the price paid to acquire this fascinating gemstone.

Belief – In ancient times, this amazing gemstone was associated with Venus, the Goddess of Love. Lovers wore the stone to know about the faithfulness and loyalty of their partners. It also symbolized wealth and financial power of royal families. This gem was widely used in Roman and Russian crown jewels. Indian kings and queens also admired its beauty and used it in their ornaments. Few emperors from India adored emerald so much that they would inscribe the religious text on the stone and wore it as talismans. Most beautiful women in universe Cleopatra used to treasure this stone a lot. It was said to improve the intellect and future instincts of the wearer. It was believed to cure and heal many chronic diseases.

Today, astrologers associate this incredible stone with good luck, growth and prosperity. It is a boon for businessmen as it offers them huge profits. It is believed to offer marital bliss as it develops mutual love and harmony among the partners. From the health purpose it is said to strengthen heart and kidney functioning. Also associated with curing the eyesight problems, circulatory and neurological disorders. It is even good for spiritual growth.
This unique stone with lovely green colour is full of hope, energy and love. Green colour represents harmony, beauty, joy and eternal love. It is a sacred stone that would certainly flourish its wearer with ample of wealth but to possess an Emerald, first the buyer have to pay a premium price!!

World Gemstone Map

by Mark

World Gemstone Map