Emeralds come in a wide variety of colors, ranging from light yellowish green to dark bluish green. The most prized and valuable emeralds are those that display a vivid green hue known as “grass green.” This bright, vibrant green signifies superior color saturation and is highly desired by gem collectors and emerald aficionados.
What Makes Green Emeralds Most Valuable?
Several factors contribute to making green emeralds the most valuable:
- Color saturation – Emeralds with a rich, intense green color are considered top quality. The more saturated the green, the higher the value.
- Hue – Bluish green hues are generally preferred over yellowish greens. However, the ideal is a pure vibrant green.
- Tone – Tone refers to how light or dark the emerald is. Medium-light to medium-dark tones are most desirable.
- Clarity – Emeralds with high clarity and fewer inclusions are more valuable. However, emeralds are almost always included to some degree.
While color is the most important factor, emeralds with a highly saturated vivid green color combined with good clarity will command the highest prices.
What Causes the Green Color in Emeralds?
The rich green color of emeralds is caused by the presence of chromium and/or vanadium. These trace elements in the mineral beryl are responsible for the characteristic green hue.
The more chromium and/or vanadium present, the more intense the green color. Emeralds from some locations naturally contain higher levels of these chromophore elements and tend to produce stones with superior color saturation.
What Locations Produce the Greenest Emeralds?
The following locations are renowned for yielding emeralds with a vivid green grass color:
- Colombia – Chivor and Muzo mines
- Zambia – Kafubu mines
- Brazil – Belmont mine
- Russia – Ural mountains
- Pakistan – Swat valley
- Afghanistan – Panjshir valley
Colombian emeralds in particular are prized for their bluish-green hue and excellent clarity. Fine Colombian emeralds command extremely high prices at auction.
What Makes Colombian Emeralds So Valuable?
Several factors contribute to the high value of Colombian emeralds:
- Vivid blue-green color -Ideal chromium and vanadium content imparts a rich grass green color.
- Transparency – Colombian emeralds often have excellent clarity and transparency.
- Scarcity – Supply is limited and mining is very challenging.
- Historical significance – Colombia has produced prized emeralds for centuries.
The combination of an intensely saturated green color, good clarity, and scarcity makes fine Colombian emeralds some of the most precious gems in the world.
What is the Most Expensive Emerald?
The most expensive emerald ever sold at auction is the 18.04 carat Rockefeller Emerald, which fetched a total of $5.51 million in 2017. This Colombian emerald was previously owned by John D. Rockefeller and is prized for its rare vivid blue-green color and exceptional clarity.
Other extremely valuable named emeralds include:
- The Mackay Emerald – A Colombian emerald crystal weighing 4715 carats
- The Muzo Mine Emerald – A 5.13 carat emerald ring that sold for $2.2 million
- The Chalk Emerald – A 37.82 carat Colombian emerald that sold for $1.15 million
These exceptional emeralds all feature the coveted grass green color and reached auction prices in the millions due to their outstanding color, clarity, provenance, and scarcity.
How are Emeralds Graded for Color?
Gemological laboratories use grading scales to assess and communicate emerald color. The two most common color grading scales are:
- GIA Scale: Ranges from faint to vivid for lightness and bluish green to slightly yellowish green for hue. Vivid is the highest grade.
- AGL Scale: Ranges from very light to deep for tone and blue green to yellow green in hue. Deep vivid blue green is the highest grade.
Both scales take into account the primary color factors of tone, saturation and hue. Top quality emeralds will rank highly on both grading systems.
How Much do Green Emeralds Cost?
Pricing for natural emeralds varies greatly depending on the 4Cs – Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight. A high quality 1 carat vivid green emerald can cost between $3,000 – $15,000. Here are some approximate price ranges:
| Carat Weight | Price Range |
|---|---|
| 0.5 carats | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| 1 carat | $3,000 – $15,000 |
| 2 carats | $8,000 – $40,000 |
| 3 carats | $15,000 – $80,000 |
Prices rise exponentially for larger vivid green emeralds over 5 carats. Named emeralds with famous pedigrees can also achieve millions at auction.
How Can You Tell if an Emerald is Real?
To determine if an emerald is real, watch for the following signs:
- Color – Natural emeralds are green with some variation in hue and tone. Unnaturally bright or vivid greens may be dyed.
- Clarity – Most emeralds contain inclusions. Be wary if it looks too clean.
- Cut quality – Examine the precision of the cut. Poor cuts indicate a fake.
- Magnification – View under 10x magnification for clues. Natural inclusions will be visible.
- Advanced testing – Ask a gemologist to conduct refractive index and specific gravity tests.
With observation and some advanced testing, trained gemologists can separate natural emeralds from fakes.
Conclusion
Vivid green emeralds with rich color saturation command the highest values in the marketplace. Colombian emeralds are particularly prized for their blue-green hues. While larger carat weights increase price, color is still the most important factor. To ensure you’re getting a high quality natural emerald, have any stone evaluated by a qualified gemologist.
