? Emerald Questions You've Been Dying to Ask ?
Where Are Emeralds Found?
Emeralds are mined in several destinations throughout the world. They are most commonly mined in Columbia, but can also be found in Brazil, Africa, Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
How Do I Care for my Emeralds?
Avoid exposure to heat, changes in air pressure and harsh chemicals. Never put an emerald in an ultrasonic cleaner, the vibrations and heat can cause any filler to sweat out. Filled emeralds can also be damaged by exposure to extremely hot water. The safest way to clean emeralds is to gently scrub them with a soft brush and warm, soapy water.
What Treatments Are Common in Emeralds?
The Most Common treatment for Emeralds is Fracture Filling: Oils, waxes, and artificial resins are often used to fill surface-reaching fractures in emeralds. The goal is to reduce the visibility of the fractures and improve the apparent clarity. The volume of filler material present can range from minor to significant; the different substances have varying degrees of stability.
Do Synthetics & Imitation Emeralds Exist?
A synthetic gem material is one that is made in a laboratory, but which shares virtually all chemical, optical, and physical characteristics of its natural mineral counterpart. Emerald is no exception, lab grown synthetics are very common in the jewelry industry especially in mass produced jewelry.
An imitation gem is a stone which looks similar in color and clarity but has a different chemical makeup, and optical or physical characteristics. Emerald has imitations which look similar but are not exactly the same.
What are the Technical Properties of an Emerald?
- Mineral: Beryl
- Chemistry: Be3Al2Si6O18
- Color: Vibrant green
- Refractive Index: 1.577 to 1.583
- Birefringence: 0.005 to 0.009
- Specific Gravity: 2.72
- Mohs Hardness: 7.5 to 8
How Big is the Largest Emerald Ever Found?
The Bahia Emerald is one of the largest emeralds in the world and contains the largest single shard ever found. The stone weighs approximately 752 pounds, is approximately 1,700,000 carats, originated from Bahia Brazil. The Bahia Emerald has been valued at approximately $400 million, but the true value is unclear.
The largest cut emerald is a 57,500 carat stone, which is the size of a watermelon. The gem is named Teodora and was found in Brazil. The emerald was cut in India, but there are doubts over whether it is in fact a true emerald.