May’s birthstone, emerald, is aptly named the gem of spring. Its vibrant green color evokes a lush garden. In fact, inclusions in emeralds are sometimes called an internal “jardin,” the French word for “garden.” The most desirable emeralds range from bluish green to green with vivid color saturation.

If you’re considering an emerald purchase, GIA’s Emerald Buying Guide puts all the information you need at your fingertips, including what quality factors to look for and an explanation why the most common cut of emerald is, appropriately, the emerald cut. Bookmark and share!

The post Emerald Buying Guide appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Think of every passing year as an opportunity to celebrate with your birthstone. In fact, people have been wearing birthstone jewelry since the 15^th century in Poland, when they were encouraged to own all 12. And while birthstone secrets and lore can be found right here on our blog, today we share what makes YOUR birthstone a powerful statement of your finest qualities.

The post Discover the Powers of Your Birthstone appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” and May’s birthstone – emerald – perfectly symbolizes this renewal of life. It comes as no surprise, then, that emeralds have been such a focal point of auctions this spring.

Christie’s auctioned a stunning emerald and diamond ring on May 15 in Geneva. The platinum ring is set with an exceptionally large cushion-shaped Columbian emerald weighing approximately 23.28 carats, and diamond line shoulders. The estimated value of the piece was $1,300,000 to $1,800,000; however, since a natural emerald from Columbia of this size  is so rare, it could sell for significantly more.

23.28 carat cushion-shaped emerald and diamond ring. Image courtesy of Christie’s Images LTD. 2013

Christie’s New York auctioned a fancy color diamond, emerald and white diamond ring on April 16, ultimately selling for over three times its estimated value. This special ring features a 9.72 carat cushion-cut Fancy Intense yellow diamond surrounded by  pear-shaped emeralds and diamonds, mounted in gold and platinum. The piece, which had an estimated value of $180,000 to $220,000, sold for $699,750.

GIA quality analysis: The diamond weighs 9.72 carats and is Fancy Intense yellow; natural color; VS1 clarity; accompanied by a working diagram indicating that the clarity may be improvable.

Fancy Intense yellow diamond, emerald and diamond ring. Image courtesy of Christie’s Images LTD. 2013

On April 17 in New York, Sotheby’s auctioned a platinum, gold, diamond and emerald necklace circa 1910. The piece is set  with 18 marquise-shaped diamonds and 18 emerald-cut emeralds. It sold for $1,385,000, significantly more than the estimated value of $400,000 to $600,000.

GIA quality analysis: Three of the diamonds in this necklace were graded by GIA. Total carat weight for the diamonds is approximately 47.00 carats and the emeralds add approximately 11.00 carats. .

Platinum, Gold, Diamond and Emerald Necklace, circa 1910. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s.

Emeralds are regal stones with mass appeal. Whether a buyer is looking for something to withstand the tests of time or something elegant and reflective of Spring, auction houses know that emerald pieces are desirable.

Interested in learning more about why emeralds are  treasured? Visit the Emerald page of our Gem Encyclopedia or you can check out one of our articles on May’s birthstone “May Birthstone: The Brilliant Green Emerald”.

The post Spring Auctions Showcase Part 5: Emeralds appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

This stunning green gem gets its name, from the ancient Greek word “smaragdos,” meaning “green stone,” and helps to celebrate those born in May as well as 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries. Its lush green hue has soothed souls and excited imaginations since ancient times, and in 2013 emerald green is the designated “Color of the Year”.

24.72 carat emerald pendant.

Emerald is the bluish green to green variety of beryl, a mineral that also includes aquamarine. Mined for thousands of years, this gemstone has adorned the elite of ancient civilizations and have been credited with magical powers. This gemstone was thought to be a protection against evil spells and a cure for diseases such as cholera and malaria. Wearing an emerald was believed to reveal the truth or falseness of a lover’s oath as well as make one an eloquent speaker.

6.92 carat emerald ring.

Emerald has many special qualities, they are most of all about color. Subtle variations in color make significant differences in value. Another important factor in determining an emerald’s value is the location from which it is mined. Countries like Colombia, Brazil, Zimbabwe and Zambia supply the majority of the world’s emeralds.

Emeralds typically contain inclusions that are visible to the unaided eye. Because of this, trade professionals and some consumers understand and accept the presence of inclusions in emeralds. Emerald inclusions are often described as looking mossy or garden-like, and are sometimes called “jardin,” which is French for garden.

Van Cleef & Arpels “Fruit Salad” bracelet with emerald beads, sapphire and ruby leaves with marquise diamonds.

Emerald is a durable gem with a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, making it great for everyday wear. Although ultrasonic cleaning and steam cleaning are not safe options for emerald jewelry, you can clean them with room temperature soapy water. In order to preserve these unique green gems, we recommend cleaning gently, avoiding any vigorous scrubbing. Use a toothbrush to gently remove dust that has collected behind the stone. Emeralds with inclusions should be treated with proper care and be protected from blows.

16-strand emerald necklace.

For all the emerald lovers out there, share your favorite emerald looks!

The post Emerald Birthstones: The secret power of a green gemstone appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Dazzling gemstones lit the red carpet at this year’s 85th Academy Awards on Sunday, February 24^th. Striking gowns enhanced by colored gems topped our list of favorite styles. Bold shades of blue, like those worn by Robin Roberts and Lilly Collins, were flawlessly paired with brilliant blue sapphire jewelry. Here are some interesting facts about sapphires and other blue gems provided by our GIA experts that every colored gemstone lover should know.

Actress Lily Collins wearing an array of beautiful diamond and sapphire jewelry.

Fun fact: The name “sapphire” can apply to corundum of any color (and there are many besides blue, including yellow and pink), as long as it’s not red, which would then likely be qualified as ruby, another corundum variety.

Sapphire

When the trace elements of the mineral species corundum are iron and titanium, the corundum is blue sapphire. It can be a pure blue, but ranges from greenish blue to violet blue.  Only a few hundredths of a percent of iron and titanium can affect the color, and the more iron the corundum contains, the darker the blue.

Russell Shor, GIA’s senior industry analyst, says that blue gems are a constantly evolving trend: “While sapphire will always be popular, high-quality blue sapphire is scarce in the market right now, so tanzanite has regained much of its past popularity for consumers tapping into the trend of vibrant blue gems. In addition, favorably-priced stones such as blue topaz have become in vogue.”

Tanzanite

Fun Fact: Tanzanite is mined commercially only in one area of the world: the Merelani Hills of Tanzania, where it gets its name.

Another magnificent blue gemstone option boasting bold shades of blue is Tanzanite. This gemstone is the blue to violet-purple variety of the mineral zoisite. Its appearance is influenced greatly by its pleochroism, which is the ability of a gemstone to show different colors when viewed in different crystal directions. Tanzanite can be violet blue—similar to a sapphire color—or much more purple. Often, both the violet blue and purplish colors are readily visible in a fashioned stone when it is gently rocked and tilted.

Blue Topaz

Fun fact: Since the 1970s, treatments have brought blue topaz to a broad market.

Blue topaz is an additional blue gemstone alternative. In nature, topaz is most commonly colorless, and naturally strong blue gems are extremely rare. In the marketplace, however, strong blue shades are plentiful because they have been treated with a combination of radiation and heat to produce blue hues in topaz.

Opals and Emeralds

While blue jewels complemented the Oscars’ stunning couture, several A -listers donning blue gowns opted for other spectacular colored gemstone choices. Jenna Deway-Tatum and Jennifer Hudson wore blue gowns completed by white and black opals, which exhibited a magical blue iridescence. Black opals are rare and considered the most valuable opal variation. Learn more about opals.

Isla Fisher in David Webb carved emeralds and diamond drop earrings.

Isla Fisher was stunning in Emerald earrings, which created a striking contract with her deep blue gown. For more information about Emeralds, check out our post ‘How to Wear and Identify Emeralds’.

Which one of these Oscar gemstone looks was your favorite? Please join us tomorrow for the next segment of our two-part series on Oscar jewels!

The post Colored Gems at the Oscars: Part 1 appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Emeralds, the birthstone for May, have been beloved throughout human history, evoking rebirth, renewal and spring. The word “emerald” comes from the Greek word “smaragdos,” which means “green stone.” Variations of this rich green color suggest soothing, lush gardens. The Roman emperor Nero is said to have viewed gladiator fights through glasses made from slices of this gemstone, possibly because it is thought that sight is refreshed and restored by this valued gem.

Emeralds are among the most valuable of gemstones.

The first known emerald mines were in ancient Egypt. Egyptian mummies are sometimes discovered adorned with this green gemstone, a symbol of eternal youth in ancient Egypt. In modern day, Colombian emerald mines are legendary and continue to produce the finest specimens available. Treasured by rulers such as Cleopatra, Shah Jahan and the Spanish monarchy, emeralds have been used as international currency for thousands of years.

The ring contains a 3.20-carat Capoeirana emerald center stone and the necklace is set with Bahia emeralds; the pear shapes weigh ~0.40-carat each.

Another of the many virtues attributed to this gemstone, Emeralds are said to quicken the intelligence as well as the heart. Maybe this is why May’s birthstone is known for inspiring joy.

Check out emeralds in the GIA Celebrates Birthstones exhibit at the GIA Carlsbad campus. Schedule a free tour 24 hours in advance by contacting guestservices@gia.edu; calling 800-421-7250, ext. 4116 or 760-603-4116; or visiting www.gia.edu.

The post GIA Celebrates Birthstones – Emerald, May’s Birthstone, Inspires Joy appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Pantone, who annually releases the year’s hottest hue, has coined Emerald “The Color of the Year 2013″.

This spectacular 472-carat emerald crystal, “El Itoco,” was recovered at La Pita Min in Colombia. It’s shown next to an 11-carat crystal which is a more typical size for this area.

‘Like’ if you love emeralds!

The post Happy New Year Gemstone Lovers! appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

May’s birthstone is the brilliant, green emerald. Legends gave the emerald the power to make its wearer more intelligent and quick-witted and its the gemstone for 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries. It was once believed to cure diseases like cholera and malaria, and its color reflects new spring growth, which makes it a perfect choice of a birthstone for the month of May.

The first known emerald mines were in Egypt, dating from at least 330 BC. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emerald, and her mines were one of the oldest sources of emeralds. Emeralds are now found in Colombia, Zambia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Pakistan, Russia and Zimbabwe. Emeralds from Colombia tend to be pure green in color, while African emeralds tend to be a darker bluish-green color.

Emeralds are rare and valuable, and fine colored stones will cost more than a comparable ruby or sapphire in sizes of less than five carats. Emeralds without inclusions are rare, so some inclusions are expected in emerald gemstones and do not detract from their value like in diamond grading. Emeralds are more popularly cut in a rectangular, step cut known as the Emerald cut, however smaller stones are commonly found in round, oval, pear shape and marquise cuts.

While the GIA is renowned for its diamond grading expertise, GIA also receives a substantial array of colored gemstones for identification such as May’s birthstone, the emerald. Over the decades, we’ve created a database of information on more than 100,000 various types of colored gemstones. Using this database and sophisticated analytical tools, GIA graders and researchers can pinpoint a gem’s identity and, depending on the gemstone, its geographic origin. When buying a colored gemstone such as an emerald, it’s important to have a colored gemstone grading report from the GIA to ensure your emerald is authentic and of the appropriate quality.

Find out more about Colored Gemstone Identification on GIA4Cs.GIA.edu, read more about emeralds on GIA.edu, and learn how to buy a gemstone and read all about grading of emeralds in our easy and convenient, online Gemstone Buying Guide(in seven easy steps!). Also, don’t forget to clean your emerald, use warm soapy water and avoid harsh detergents and vigorous scrubbing!

The post May Birthstone: The Brilliant Green Emerald appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.