Curious about these emeralds

[Rad_Fan]

I think I caught the emerald bug and am trying become more educated. Would appreciate your assistance in advance.

Looking at these 2 offerings, the AGL reports stated similar level of enhancement , but the 9.45 ct is priced 2.5x more.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/9-45-CARAT...LD-CUT-10CT-/173560079840?hash=item2868fca5e0

https://www.ebay.com/itm/7c-AGL-CER...-RING-GREEN-/401606185338?hash=item5d8198117a

Is it simply due to…

Color?

The carat weight/spread?

The popular step cut vs cabochon?

Ivy&Rose seems to like to photography emerald under special light, I wonder what they would be like under “regular” setting.

 

[chrono]

Yes to all.

1. Faceted stone has higher carat weight
2. Faceted stone has better colour
3. Faceted stone has better clarity
4. Faceted stone has higher demand than cabochon

 

[Rad_Fan]

@chrono, thank you!
When you said, faceted, you meant this specific Zambia one, not just all faceted emeralds, correct?

 

[chrono]

Yes, I’m comparing the two stones against each other.

 

[Rad_Fan]

@chrono Thx.

I read that cab or sugar loaf emeralds are often made of more included roughs that are harder to facet, does this rule apply to sapphires too? I’ve not seen many of them in person but often time they look so non-included from pictures or videos...maybe I am confused with star sapphires...

 

[voce]

@chrono Thx.

I read that cab or sugar loaf emeralds are often made of more included roughs that are harder to facet, does this rule apply to sapphires too? I’ve not seen many of them in person but often time they look so non-included from pictures or videos...maybe I am confused with star sapphires...

Generally, non-star sapphire cabs come from more included rough not suitable for faceting.

Most affordable star sapphires will have either too much or too little color saturation to make them ideal color faceted stones, so the cutters preserve the stars and weight by making them cabochons. So it'll depend on whether the faceting would fetch more money or the star would fetch more money.

There's always exceptions to every "rule"! I've seen some excellent star sapphires that are super saturated and probably cost $100k or something...from a vendor based in Hong Kong.

 

[Rad_Fan]

Thanks @voce

Everytime when I stared at your profile picture, the ruby(?) just grabbed my attention...

Is it silly of me to wonder why the 9.45cts emerald seems to be a good price? I was looking at other site and nothing came close to that price range...

 

[Blingalingaling]

Hi, Rad_Fan! I know very little about emeralds but I think that 9.45 ct stone is very beautiful! I'll follow your journey and see where you're going with this! What type of ring/look are you going for?

 

[Rad_Fan]

@Blingalingaling, did you have a good weekend with Big L or Big Pear?

I am just fooling around with the idea of emerald...sounds like a fuzzy kind of gem to fall in love with...but oh that lush color!

I recently saw a big blue sapphire and thought of you. Will try to dig up the picture for you... very .

I just read that the Pink Legacy will stop by NYC from 11/2-11/5, are you planning to go to the city for a "playdate"?

 

[voce]

@Rad_Fan I think a big emerald like that with only oil treatment and such a fantastic color is rare! I'd buy that in a heartbeat if I could afford to without getting in debt. Are you considering buying it? So far you've shown exquisite taste!

Since a PS website maintenance, I've been unsuccessful at changing my avatar picture, so yeah, that picture there...my sphene and demantoid ring disappears into the similar colored background, the sapphire ring looks ok, but the ruby does grab attention, probably because it's red! That avatar pic was taken when I had only 3 CS rings if you don't count a pearl. My ruby e-ring was what started my gemstone hobby/binge. FYI if you want to look at my ruby it appears in the 5 most pretty CS rings thread, post #170. I would recommend the whole thread because there are people who have prettier and more impressive rings than mine.

 

[Rad_Fan]

I guess I should’ve known that PS is an enabling forum…@voce

To me, judging strictly based on these pictures, the color of the Zambia one came sort of close to that of the “investment quality” non-treated Muzo one, which @vik84 is considering.



Just don’t get why it is priced that aggressively? I’ve checked EE and Leibish and nothing came close to it in terms of all things.

That red hue is just INSANE!!! Where can I see the ring on?

 

[prs]

The best way to learn about emeralds, or any other colored stones for that matter, is to go into a few really high end jewelry stores and ask to see their emerald jewelry. With any luck they'll have a selection of pieces with different quality stones, and priced accordingly. Once you see that $50,000+ emerald you will know what the trade believes is the highest quality color and clarity. You'll also get to see how price changes as color quality decreases. Also by visiting different stores you'll see how pricing for similar quality stones can vary significantly between vendors depending upon what they paid for their stones, and the profit margin they are looking for.

Once you know what "highest" quallity looks like, you'll be better able to judge stones of lower quality. Highest quality emeralds are a dark but vivid green, and very uniform in that color across the stone. In the opinion of many they may be a shade too dark, so if you find you prefer a lighter shade of green you can save some money.

 

[voce]

I guess I should’ve known that PS is an enabling forum…@voce

To me, judging strictly based on these pictures, the color of the Zambia one came sort of close to that of the “investment quality” non-treated Muzo one, which @vik84 is considering.



Just don’t get why it is priced that aggressively? I’ve checked EE and Leibish and nothing came close to it in terms of all things.

That red hue is just INSANE!!! Where can I see the ring on?

TBH I think I'm much less of an enabler than some other folks around here .

I do prefer the color and size of the Zambian emerald you found over the untreated Muzo one, although the Muzo is more rare. In any case, I do not have the $$$ for either.

My ruby is only so insanely red in the Californian sun. I may have to move to Canada eventually, because that's where my fiance lives. There's less light there, so it doesn't look as super-saturated red. FWIW, my avatar pic and the pics in https://www.pricescope.com/communit...ad-talk-or-better-yet-show-us.118956/page-203 post #6064 were taken in Toronto. My ruby's not perfect and has inclusions, but you can't see them unless you get within 6 inches or use a loupe.

 

[Rad_Fan]

...go into a few really high end jewelry stores and ask to see their emerald jewelry...Once you see that $50,000+ emerald you will know what the trade believes is the highest quality color and clarity...

Would love to do that but I am afraid that I might not look like someone with that kind of $ to those high end sales ppl to qualify even touching those jewels...

I saw that you have mentioned Land Gems but the website isn't great... I did enjoy looking at your wife's new pendant!!

 

[peacechick]

I guess I should’ve known that PS is an enabling forum…@voce

To me, judging strictly based on these pictures, the color of the Zambia one came sort of close to that of the “investment quality” non-treated Muzo one, which @vik84 is considering.



Just don’t get why it is priced that aggressively? I’ve checked EE and Leibish and nothing came close to it in terms of all things.

That red hue is just INSANE!!! Where can I see the ring on?

The Muzo one is so clean it almost looks like glass (not up close but on the finger) and is untreated whereas the Zambian has been oiled to improve its appearance like most emeralds on the market. Because it is exponentially rarer, the dealer can charge what he likes. Colombians will also be priced higher than Zambian due to prestige.

For what it’s worth, I like the glowy included emeralds and the lighter color. Good for my pocket!

 

[Rad_Fan]

@voce

 

[Rad_Fan]

Make sense, @peacechick. It's almost like buying a "signed" piece of jewelry vs "unsigned" one in a way...

Do you have examples of the type of emeralds you prefer for reference?

 

[voce]

Maybe like this? https://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=11305
Maybe this, too. https://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=11532
You can't accuse me of being an enabler since you specifically asked for some examples.

 

[peacechick]

Make sense, @peacechick. It's almost like buying a "signed" piece of jewelry vs "unsigned" one in a way...

Do you have examples of the type of emeralds you prefer for reference?

Dream ring? This one:
https://etsy.me/2Qi2OYv

But for my <$1000 budget, I’m happy with my little emeralds:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/birthday-emerald-ring.243012/

 

[Rad_Fan]

@peacechick, I adore your ring! Thanks for posting multiple pictures of your lovely Ms. Clover. Curious what the green look like in low night or evening. Were these taken with natural light setting?

 

[Rad_Fan]

@voce,

Thanks for introducing the vendor. I think that I like the more "old school" green hues, they are a bit light.

I spotted this lust one
https://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=10000


but have no idea what it means by...
"Treatment: None guaranteed 100% natural! No evidence of oiling or other treatments"

I think it has no lab report?

@peacechick, love love the size of this entire ring! I think the vendor took pictures of it inside a light box? Wish they would show us how it looks with natural light. It's almost like neon green or something.

 

[peacechick]

@voce,

Thanks for introducing the vendor. I think that I like the more "old school" green hues, they are a bit light.

I spotted this lust one
https://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=10000


but have no idea what it means by...
"Treatment: None guaranteed 100% natural! No evidence of oiling or other treatments"

I think it has no lab report?

@peacechick, love love the size of this entire ring! I think the vendor took pictures of it inside a light box? Wish they would show us how it looks with natural light. It's almost like neon green or something.

Sure, I will take photos tonight.

For the untreated litnon stone, they may have arrived at this conclusion because the stone has no surface reaching cracks. Meaning it cannot be oiled because there is nowhere for the oil to penetrate in. But you have to ask them if that is why.

 

[peacechick]

Taken in dim warm light.

Under my LED living room lamp:

 

[Rad_Fan]

@peacechick, magical!

The color doesn't seem to change much during day and night, that is very nice.

 

[prs]

Would love to do that but I am afraid that I might not look like someone with that kind of $ to those high end sales ppl to qualify even touching those jewels...

I saw that you have mentioned Land Gems but the website isn't great... I did enjoy looking at your wife's new pendant!!

These days people dress so casually it doesn't matter how you look, shopkeepers just can't tell how wealthy you are. I find that as soon as they realize you know something about gems they go out of their way to help you, even going to the safe to pull out their real treasures to show them off. Just go in and ask to see their Muzo emeralds....you'll be off and running!!!

Like many businesses in the LA Jewelry District, Land Gems are mostly wholesale so they don't bother to maintain a retail website. They are on an upper floor so don't get much retail trade, but they do have a display window and welcome walk ins. Thanks for the complement on DW's pendant, we couldn't believe how much the emerald improved when they put it thru their re-oiling process!

 

[Rad_Fan]

@prs True, sometimes it depends on whom we are dealing with. Some sales are friendly while others are snobbish. Thanks again for the tips.

Would you DW be getting an emerald ring to build a suite with her pendant and earrings?

Just love the entire look of this Cartier ring.

 

[prs]

Would your DW be getting an emerald ring to build a suite with her pendant and earrings?

Funny you should mention that! We just happened to be at a small auction on Sunday, and this 4.1ct emerald ring just seemed to jump out at me. Here are the auctioneers photos:


The setting is a mixture of 18K white and yellow gold and reflections from the yellow are really impacting the photos! As you can see the setting is gorgeous but the emerald seems very dark. Why would anbody put such a lousy emerald in such an intricate setting? However on closer inspection I could see streaks of lovely, vivid green in the stone, and found the pavilion to be almost completely enclosed and blocking any light from entering that way. DW really liked the setting so we decided to take a chance if the price was right, and ended up being able to buy the ring for less than $3K. Here are a couple more photos from home:




Our next stop will be at Land Gems to see if this stone will respond as well as the pendant to a re-oiling. And while the stone is out, we'll see if DKJ can open up the back of the setting to let a lot more light into the stone. Fun times ahead!

 

[Rad_Fan]

luck you!!!

Your pictures shows the emerald much better than those of the white background!

Yes, I too am curious why the "gold cup". I know FCD also set with cup to enhance color, but on emerald?

Would you be sending the emerald to AGL too? Make sure to start a new thread and update us with your new project. Also we want to see her ENTIRE suite ON when it's done.

 

[Seaglow]

Funny you should mention that! We just happened to be at a small auction on Sunday, and this 4.1ct emerald ring just seemed to jump out at me. Here are the auctioneers photos:


The setting is a mixture of 18K white and yellow gold and reflections from the yellow are really impacting the photos! As you can see the setting is gorgeous but the emerald seems very dark. Why would anbody put such a lousy emerald in such an intricate setting? However on closer inspection I could see streaks of lovely, vivid green in the stone, and found the pavilion to be almost completely enclosed and blocking any light from entering that way. DW really liked the setting so we decided to take a chance if the price was right, and ended up being able to buy the ring for less than $3K. Here are a couple more photos from home:




Our next stop will be at Land Gems to see if this stone will respond as well as the pendant to a re-oiling. And while the stone is out, we'll see if DKJ can open up the back of the setting to let a lot more light into the stone. Fun times ahead!

Many darker coloured emeralds are difficult to photograph and turn out better color IRL.

 

[peacechick]

Funny you should mention that! We just happened to be at a small auction on Sunday, and this 4.1ct emerald ring just seemed to jump out at me. Here are the auctioneers photos:


The setting is a mixture of 18K white and yellow gold and reflections from the yellow are really impacting the photos! As you can see the setting is gorgeous but the emerald seems very dark. Why would anbody put such a lousy emerald in such an intricate setting? However on closer inspection I could see streaks of lovely, vivid green in the stone, and found the pavilion to be almost completely enclosed and blocking any light from entering that way. DW really liked the setting so we decided to take a chance if the price was right, and ended up being able to buy the ring for less than $3K. Here are a couple more photos from home:




Our next stop will be at Land Gems to see if this stone will respond as well as the pendant to a re-oiling. And while the stone is out, we'll see if DKJ can open up the back of the setting to let a lot more light into the stone. Fun times ahead!

I’m going to call you the Emerald Whisperer! Love how you and DW are rescuing sad dark emeralds and restoring them to their former glory.