The Lighter Side of Emeralds: An Insiders Look at Gemstone Marketplace (Part 1)

On a recent trip to purchase emeralds, I brought along a good friend to give him some insight into the world of emeralds and a small taste of Colombia. We visited a vendor that I had met years before, but whom I hadn’t seen in some time. While I stood back and chatted with the owner, my friend browsed over the selection of loose emeralds and finished jewelry, asking an occasional question of the lovely young Colombian lady working there. When he came to some lighter colored emeralds that really caught his attention he interrupted us to get us involved. He, like most people, was confused about the wide variations in color and clarity he was seeing in some the emeralds.

There was one emerald in particular that we discussed at some length. This emerald was unusual for a couple of reasons. First, it was not cut in one of the typical emerald cuts. It was cut more like a brilliant diamond. Second, the stone was very clear and transparent, with little color at all. Only a hint of green let you know this was an emerald by looking at it. As it turns out, the cut was a perfect match for this stone as the clarity really let the brilliant sparkle come through. I had seen this before many times, but I went ahead and bought the stone anyway simply because it was such a remarkable stone. It doesn’t follow "the rules" when it comes to emerald color, but its beauty is undeniable. The stone actually helps illustrate something I often tell my customers- buying gemstones and jewelry is a subjective thing; If it makes you happy and you apreciate how it looks, why buy something else? You can use the ‘industry preferences’ as a guide, but in the end, yours is the only opinion that matters.

(To be continued...)

Healing Properties of Emeralds

Maybe there is something in the flash as it catches our eye, but for countless centuries we have been fascinated by something deep inside gemstones. Mystics and Mages long ago bestowed fantastic properties on precious stones such as rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.

It was said that the emerald possessed special healing abilities, able to restore both mental and physical health. It's possible that much of this stems from its deep green color, something we often associate with nature and peacefulness.

In particular, emeralds were said to aid in improving or restoring eyesight, though this may come from a legend in which the Roman Emperor Nero was said to wear a monocle made from emerald, in which he used to observe the athletic games.

Colombian Emeralds vs. Other Emeralds

Fact: It is undisputed in the gemstone and jewelry industry that the world's finest emeralds come from Colombia.

Often times the Muzo mine is mentioned by name. This is extraordinary compared to other precious gems. It is seldom the case for diamonds, sapphires, and rubies that one very specific source is so much more accepted for being superior gemstones, or is so much better known by name than the other mines or countries producing the same gem. Certainly, they have their famous names and their own acclaim, but it cannot be denied that Colombian emeralds stand out fare more when compared with their Brazilian and Zambian rivals.

On the average they are of higher quality, have better color, and are more sought after than other emeralds. Further, they are found in a more limited mining area which makes them even rarer and more highly valued.

Embassy Emeralds selects by hand each and every emerald you see on www.embassyemeralds.com from trusted suppliers in Muzo and other mines in Colombia.