Natural Beryl - Emerald
The best known gemstone of the beryl group, the stunning green Emerald color is caused by the trace elements of Chromium and Vanadium. In its pure from, Beryl is colorless. A trace of iron can turn the Beryl into an Aquamarine, whereas a bit of Manganese adds a pink color to the stone. Of all the Beryls, Emeralds are the most highly valued and have the longest history. Egyptians used Emeralds as early as 3500 BC, however most of them were pale, drab, and heavily included. It wasn’t until the 1500’s , when the Spanish came to the Americas, that Europeans discovered how beautiful Emeralds could be and vast quantities of Emeralds were brought to Europe by the conquistadors.
The name “Emerald” derives from the word smargus, which means “green gemstone” in Ancient Greek. Emeralds are seldom clear, but contain a miniature world of inclusions characteristic of certain minerals or patterns can be used find out the country of origin and also the mine that produced the gemstone. Emeralds are commonly oiled with polymers and epoxies to fill cracks and inclusions and enhance the color and appearance of the gemstone. This is considered an acceptable trade practice as long as it is disclosed to the buyer. Some fillers are more stable than others, but it’s usually not possible for salespeople to know exactly what an emerald has been filled with. Most Emeralds should be re-oiled every few years to preserve their color and should not be cleaned using ultrasonic cleaners.
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