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Beryl

Emerald

Vivid green to bluish green

Green
Optical properties

Optical characteristics

Ref. index
1.565 – 1.602
Birefringence
0.005 – 0.009
Luster
Vitreous
Pleochroism
Moderate Moderate: bluish green / yellowish green.
Fluorescence
Usually inert; Colombian stones may show weak red.
Origins

Source localities

Colombia Colombia: Muzo / Coscuez / Chivor
Legendary ★ Top Source

The benchmark emerald origin; Muzo, Coscuez and Chivor are classic high-prestige sources.

22% est. supply
Zambia Zambia: Kafubu / Kagem
Premium ★ Top Source

Major modern emerald source; often darker bluish green material.

30% est. supply
Brazil Brazil: Minas Gerais / Paraíba / Bahia
Major

Major source for beryl, tourmaline, quartz, topaz, chrysoberyl and rare minerals.

18% est. supply
Afghanistan Afghanistan: Panjshir / Nuristan / Badakhshan
Premium ★ Top Source

Known for emerald, tourmaline, kunzite, lapis lazuli and rare minerals.

10% est. supply
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe: Sandawana
Legendary ★ Top Source

Classic small but fine emerald source.

8% est. supply
Ethiopia Ethiopia: Wollo / Shakiso / emerald fields
Major

Major modern source for opal and emerald.

12% est. supply
Treatments

Enhancement & treatment

Clarity Enhancement Oil Filling, Emerald Oiling is common in emerald and improves apparent clarity. Degree of filling matters: minor,… Clarity Enhancement Resin Filling, Emerald Resin filling is a clarity enhancement similar in purpose to oil but often more… Assembled Assembled Stones, Doublets and Triplets Assembled stones combine separate materials to imitate a single gem or enhance appearance. They…
Inclusions

Inclusions & features

Synthetic Chevron and Nail-Head Inclusions, Synthetic Emerald Under 10x or higher: V-shaped or chevron patterned structures, plus small rod-like inclusions with… Zoning Color Zoning Under 10x loupe in immersion: bands or patches of deeper or lighter color arranged… Crystals Crystal Inclusions Under 10x loupe: solid, well-formed mineral crystals trapped inside the host gem. They may… Synthetic Curved Growth Striae, Synthetic ID Under 10x loupe in immersion: curved parallel lines flowing through the stone in sweeping… Fractures Feathers and Fractures Under 10x loupe: irregular internal surfaces that catch light and appear bright, wing-like, or… Fractures Fingerprint Inclusions Under 10x loupe: curved or wavy lines of tiny dots forming patterns that look… Needles Growth Tubes, Rain Inclusions Under 10x loupe: long thin hollow channels running parallel to each other and to… Multiphase Jardin, Three-Phase Inclusions Under 10x loupe: tiny irregular cavities that contain three things at once: a tiny… Clouds Pinpoint Clouds Under 10x loupe: concentrations of extremely tiny bright dots that individually are too small… Multiphase Two-Phase Inclusions Under 10x loupe: a transparent irregular cavity containing both a liquid phase and a…
Identification

Instruments used

Chelsea Filter Quick chromium test, key for emeralds and rubies Dichroscope Reveals pleochroism, instantly eliminates singly-refractive stones Immersion Microscope See every internal detail clearly, the professional standard 10x Loupe Your most-used instrument, start every examination here Polariscope Determines single vs. double refraction, quick and conclusive Refractometer Measures refractive index, the backbone of gem identification Spectroscope Reads characteristic absorption lines, confirms chromium, iron, copper UV Lamp, Long Wave and Short Wave Fluorescence exposes treatments, synthetics, and origin