Reply With Quotehttps://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...54#post4709754
4). Get yourself on a flight over here, have a South American holiday and probably save a few quid on the stone.Originally Posted by Cooper85
I am intending to buy the wife a birth year stone (Emerald Stone) and get it set in a ring.
But I have limited knowledge about precious stones and especially when it comes to emeralds. When I had to buy an engagement ring and did some research on diamonds there was information readily available on the web and having done my research I understood about the 4 C’s (Cut, Clarity, Carat & Colour) and which aspect was deemed more important than others when buying a diamond.
However, having tried to do some research into emerald stones it is proving a little more difficult to understand what you have to look out for. There were set grading standards for diamonds but it appears emeralds (or other colored gemstones) have no industry accepted standardization and was wondering if there are any members that could give me advice on what makes a good quality emerald Stone.
So far it appears emeralds are rated Natural AAA, Natural AA or Natural A and a darker green colour is better than a light transparent green colour. But this rating system is new and older stones may not be rated to this standard. Also, clarity is not such an issue because emeralds naturally have imperfections and surface fissures.
Then to buying the stone, I’m in no rush to purchase and was thinking of the following options. 1) Just go to a local Jewelers and pick one out but this seems the least fun and less value option. 2) Review auction houses (not eBay) and try and win something. 3). Purchase online through a discount website. I have stumbled across Gemrockauctions.com and was wondering if anyone has had any dealing with this auction site or if it is similar to eBay and a little risky with scam sellers.
Any tips, advice or thoughts welcomed, hopefully someone can steer me in the right direction.
https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...54#post4709754
4). Get yourself on a flight over here, have a South American holiday and probably save a few quid on the stone.
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
I have a friend who makes fine jewellery who is in a relationship with a hatton garden stone setter - I could put you in touch if you are interested.
Got a very good friend who is a dealer and hangs with the big dogs. Can ask him if he has anything in at the moment if you want.
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Mr Curta - I had done a quick search on past threads but that thread didn’t come up and I’m sure I searched “Emerald”, so thanks!
It is a good pointer and was wondering if you managed to purchase an emerald in the end and what option you went for.
Seikopath & 200m - Thanks for the offer and if you could PM their details that would be great.
Id have to ask on your behalf
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
It's still a work in progress, she has looked at a few but not made her mind up. I'll update when a decision has been made (don't hold your breath).
Emeralds are probably the trickiest precious stone to buy blind, aside from perhaps Opals.
A local jewellers might seem the boring option, but I would definitely recommend seeing and handling the stone. You won't find a crystal clear stone as you would with a corundum (Ruby or Sapphire), Emerald is from the Beryl family and as such is almost always flawed, so you need to decide just what you're willing to pay for.
That's not a bad thing at all by the way, those imperfections are natures fingerprints, but some stone dealers try to hide them - a lot of the lower quality emeralds will be oiled or filled to make them look better than they are. Those treatments will go cloudy over a couple of years and you'll be left disappointed.
The best source of Emerald is South America as mentioned above a couple of times. It's well worth buying a Colombian Emerald if you can but only if you were there I reckon, I'd never buy one "sight unseen" hoping for the best, just because they mine a good number of the higher quality stones doesn't mean they don't have shit to shift as well and buying over the phone, you'd probably get a sub-par one.
If you're set on just buying a loose stone I thoroughly recommend R M Weare in York, I have had everything from Diamond to Orange Sapphire from there in the past and they do seem to carry the better quality pieces (no bulk buying - they are very selective).
Better still is go the antique route. Look around your local second hand, antique jewellers (and even pawnbrokers). Some of the better Emeralds I've had have been decades old, and you have the bonus of knowing the stone is (usually!) in its natural state. i.e. it won't discolour any more than it already has or show any nasty surprises after a few years wear. If you can find a good size stone in a second hand ring, you'll save a fortune just buying and remounting that!
I don't have anything suitable to offer up at the moment, all my Emerald pieces are clusters or smaller stones in 9ct at the moment.
Sorry I can't be more help, but I would advise you to all but ignore the "A" rating for an Emerald and view yourself, and also avoid (like the plague!) specialist sites like Gem Rock. Prices look keen but to anyone but a trained gemologist it's a total minefield. You may get a decent deal (they look to be somewhere close to the middle of retail and trade prices) but just as easily you may get your fingers burned.
Thanks Kevkojak a really good insight.
1) Would you always recommend buying an untreated stone new, unless it is antique.
2) I’ve read Colombian are the better quality stones but have seen a number from Afghanistan and Zambia.
(And even pawnbrokers) can help ;)
1) Almost all Emeralds have some sort of enhancement, but yes buy as pure as you can. It'll cost you a bit more but they will keep their lustre and will be much more hard wearing - all those hidden inclusions and striations weaken the stone internally, and if it's heavily treated you won't know until it's too late.
I would be looking for a nice rich pea-green Emerald with tiny veins visible with a 5x loupe. If it looks like a piece of green glass your wife may fall in love with it but it will certainly be treated.
2) Anywhere Emeralds are mined there are good and bad, but for some reason South America seems to get a higher volume of the better gem quality stones. An emerald isn't necessarily good because it's Columbian, so do be a bit careful you don't buy into the hype surrounding that market because there are plenty of shysters trying to cash in on it, especially at cruise destinations where customers aren't likely to return for a refund...
Whoops.Not quite the spirit it was intended Alex, in my head I was visualising the posh Jewellery Quarter places done up like Victorian "Olde English" gaffs where pickings are usually rich for this sort of stuff. No disrespect to the honest working pawnbroker, 'ardest game in the world that is.
Last edited by kevkojak; 19th June 2018 at 22:45.
Indeed it’s ard but we do ok and knowledgeable enough .....
You may want to ask member Jhw
Jason is a gemstone expert.....
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