Emerald Cut Diamond Ring-The Classic Choice

An emerald cut diamond ring is one of the most striking stone combinations. The beautiful emerald green colored stone resting between two diamonds is a perfect setting. Tradition sets the emerald as the gemstone for those who were born in May. It has also been considered, in some cultures, a proper 55th wedding anniversary gift. Other cultures consider it the traditional stone for the 20th and the 35th wedding anniversaries.

An emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl that due to its high chromium content is green. Like most precious stones, emeralds are graded using the four basic parameters of color, cut, clarity and crystal (which actually symbolizes the transparency.) These are terms you should familiarize yourself with when picking an emerald cut diamond ring.

The color is the most important for emeralds and they should range from yellow green to blue green. The most pronounced color should be green. A true emerald should have a medium to dark green tone. Even if an emerald has some inclusions, if it possesses a deep, beautiful dark green color it will be very highly valued over one with less inclusions but paler in color.

The transparency or crystal grade of the emerald is almost as important. The finest quality emeralds will not only have a very pure green hue but be graded very high in transparency.

When grading the clarity, unlike diamonds, emeralds tend to have numerous inclusions. Diamonds are checked very carefully with 10X magnification but emeralds are graded solely by the naked eye. An emerald with no visible inclusions is considered flawless.

Most emeralds are treated with oils to improve their clarity. When you are shopping for an emerald cut diamond ring it is important to insist upon a treatment report. The treatment grading levels range from none, minor, moderate all the way to highly treated. Thus, an emerald that is graded with a treatment level of none would be much more expensive than one that is graded moderate.

Because emeralds tend to have many fissures or inclusions it can make cutting and setting difficult. Gem cutters have developed a special cut for this stone referred to as the emerald cut. It is a rectangular or square cut with beveled edges or corners which not only enhances the emerald’s natural beauty but also protects it from the strain that can occur during the cutting process.

Emeralds are quite rare which has spawned an industry that produces or creates synthetic emeralds. There are very strict regulations for what can or cannot be called a synthetic stone. The stones can be tested under ultraviolet light as most, but not all, emeralds are inert to the uv light. Most reliable gemologists use modern examination techniques to determine whether a gem is natural or synsthetic.

Before purchasing an emerald cut diamond ring it is important to find a dealer you can trust. Get referrals from friends or relatives and read consumer’s reviews. Always ask for testing reports and certificates of authenticity. This can be a very costly investment and you need to be sure you are getting what you are being promised.