eBay emeralds

[CaseyLouLou]

Hello. I have always thought that I didn’t like emeralds but I’m realizing that some are actually quite nice. I especially like the glowy, bluish green ones.

I’m not ready to buy right now but I was looking at eBay options and I’m curious if it’s possible to determine a decent emerald in the photos. Are these <$1000 options seriously flawed even though they look nice?

Just trying to get some background info. Thanks!

 

[JackTrick]

Emeralds are notoriously difficult to photograph. That said, the examples you listed do generally (to my eyes) look like not top tier quality.

Some are too yellow, some are too included (emeralds are often included, but too many renders them almost opaque), and almost all you linked aren’t particularly richly saturated. They’re green, but not blow my socks off luscious rich green.

Also! Emeralds are often treated with clarity enhancement in the form of oil or resin. That level of enhancement also affects price (the more enhancement, the lower value).

 

[T L]

You don’t have to purchase top gem quality, but those aren’t even gem quality. The colors are pallid to sickly green, and they're translucent instead of transparent. Although it’s fine and very normal for emeralds to be included, you still want Lito see through the stone.

I would avoid eBay for most gems unless you really know how to navigate the world of undisclosed treatments, enhanced photos, synthetics and other pitfalls. There are some reputable dealers on eBay, but many are there to take advantage. I found some of my favorite gems on eBay, but you really need to be careful.

 

[LilAlex]

It's hard to think of a stone less amenable to eBay purchase than emerald. Without a reputable report, you could be getting a heavily included, heavily impregnated (not just oiled) stone. And on top of that, the colors are hard to reproduce under the best of circumstances. At this price-point, a reliable report is probably not cost-effective for a vendor so you would be flying blind.

And as @T L and @JackTrick have pointed out, there is a difference between charming "jardin" and a near-opaque lump. I sometimes think that the concept of "emeralds are always included" gives some folks license to pass off sub-gem-quality rocks as emeralds. Mounting something in gold does not necessarily mean that it is a gem.

The first ring (cabochon) is pretty, imo, and you can buy for looks alone. Plus, that could be an actual period ring. The rest look like "green beryl." And green beryl is a lot easier to find with fewer inclusions -- so near-opaque green beryl is pretty low on the desirability scale, especially when you consider that this is after it has been fracture-filled.

At this price-point, I would def rather have a nice petite peridot or tourmaline.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I echo everything T L, JackTrick, and LilAlex said. But it's awesome you're getting into emeralds, @CaseyLouLou! They're beloved for a reason. Lots of gorgeous green gems out there, though none that rivals the arresting vibrancy of a fine quality emerald. I think once you've acquainted yourself with more and more stones, you'll begin to see the variations in grade (even very subtle ones can mean a world of difference in price, but that goes for most gems). Then you'll figure out which suits your tastes best, and a fair price to pay for it. Have fun!

 

[T L]

If you want a low cost emerald, there are nice stones around a half carat. The nice thing about emeralds is their low specific gravity, so a half carat faces up as large as say, a one carat sapphire. I much rather get a decent small gem than something that could be dyed, impregnated with too much filler, or sickly pale green.

 

[T L]

Here’s a nice small emerald for a decent price.

https://jrcolombianemeralds.com/pro...merald-engagement-ring-emerald-ring-colombian

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Here’s a nice small emerald for a decent price.

https://jrcolombianemeralds.com/pro...merald-engagement-ring-emerald-ring-colombian

Thanks for the link. I seem to be attracted to the lighter, paler, more pastel shades of emeralds. I assume these are less sought after but for some reason I’m more drawn to them. Here are some examples from the site you sent me (thank you). Let me know what you all think. I’m seeing some windows. Would they look pretty in a ring?

 

[whitewave]

Here’s a nice small emerald for a decent price.

https://jrcolombianemeralds.com/pro...merald-engagement-ring-emerald-ring-colombian

Oooh, I love that!!

 

[JackTrick]

These ones are lighter, but with a pretty juicy color. Any thoughts on them?

Tandi Hufnagel on Instagram: "ALL SOLD Glowy Muzo Emeralds! These beauties have great clarity and saturation. It’s notoriously difficult to capture emeralds in photos - these pics get close to real life! You can see the great glow and neon color -

304 likes, 11 comments - desertrose_gems on February 8, 2022: "ALL SOLD Glowy Muzo Emeralds! These beauties have great clarity and saturation. It’s notoriously difficult to capture emeralds in photos - these pics get close to real life! You can see the great glow and neon color - however they...

www.instagram.com

 

[CaseyLouLou]

These ones are lighter, but with a pretty juicy color. Any thoughts on them?

Tandi Hufnagel on Instagram: "ALL SOLD Glowy Muzo Emeralds! These beauties have great clarity and saturation. It’s notoriously difficult to capture emeralds in photos - these pics get close to real life! You can see the great glow and neon color -

304 likes, 11 comments - desertrose_gems on February 8, 2022: "ALL SOLD Glowy Muzo Emeralds! These beauties have great clarity and saturation. It’s notoriously difficult to capture emeralds in photos - these pics get close to real life! You can see the great glow and neon color - however they...

www.instagram.com

Yes that’s very close to what I like and the price is right. I’m not quite ready to pull the trigger but hopefully others will come along and thanks for guiding me in the right direction.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

These ones are lighter, but with a pretty juicy color. Any thoughts on them?

Tandi Hufnagel on Instagram: "ALL SOLD Glowy Muzo Emeralds! These beauties have great clarity and saturation. It’s notoriously difficult to capture emeralds in photos - these pics get close to real life! You can see the great glow and neon color -

304 likes, 11 comments - desertrose_gems on February 8, 2022: "ALL SOLD Glowy Muzo Emeralds! These beauties have great clarity and saturation. It’s notoriously difficult to capture emeralds in photos - these pics get close to real life! You can see the great glow and neon color - however they...

www.instagram.com

Because I’m crazy and obsessed with collecting gems these days I purchased one of these! I was so surprised when the one I liked the most in the photos was still available. I just hope it’s as pretty in person.

Mine is “G” in the link above. Here are some snapshots and it’s the one on the bottom left. Do you think it will really glow like that and be that color in person? It’s .58ct

 

[demantoidz]

With emeralds that lean into this light green, would a very clean one still have that glowiness to it, or is that the result of jardin?

 

[T L]

With emeralds that lean into this light green, would a very clean one still have that glowiness to it, or is that the result of jardin?

I find that pale green emerald (Russian emerald are a good example of this) tend to be glowy. They remind me of green paraiba.

 

[demantoidz]

I find that pale green emerald (Russian emerald are a good example of this) tend to be glowy. They remind me of green paraiba.

And do they need to be included or even clean crystal glows? Thats what I'm unsure of. The Tandi ones appear glowy but not sure they would be if they were near flawless.

 

[T L]

And do they need to be included or even clean crystal glows? Thats what I'm unsure of. The Tandi ones appear glowy but not sure they would be if they were near flawless.

No, it’s the lack of gray that makes the pastel slightly bluish green, glow. If an emerald is pale, but too gray, it won’t glow. Inclusions reflect light back, but if a stone is grayish, it won’t glow, clean or included.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

And do they need to be included or even clean crystal glows? Thats what I'm unsure of. The Tandi ones appear glowy but not sure they would be if they were near flawless.

She describes these as being ‘great clarity’ but that’s relative, of course and I know they aren’t flawless. I have no idea how that affects glowiness.

 

[demantoidz]

Since I brought up very clean lighter emeralds I came across this, thought I'd share

Instagram

www.instagram.com

I believe this is the same stone

No Oil Colombian Emerald Ring Gem 2.14 Carat Loupe Clean Loose Gemstone at 1stDibs | colombian emeralds, emerald for sale, emeralds for sale

View this item and discover similar for sale at 1stDibs - Rare and exceptional, untreated - “no oil”, 2.14 carat Colombian Emerald gem. Superior in clarity and cut, this “loupe clean”, square octagon gem, is offered

www.1stdibs.com

 

[T L]

Since I brought up very clean lighter emeralds I came across this, thought I'd share

Instagram

www.instagram.com

I believe this is the same stone

No Oil Colombian Emerald Ring Gem 2.14 Carat Loupe Clean Loose Gemstone at 1stDibs | colombian emeralds, emerald for sale, emeralds for sale

View this item and discover similar for sale at 1stDibs - Rare and exceptional, untreated - “no oil”, 2.14 carat Colombian Emerald gem. Superior in clarity and cut, this “loupe clean”, square octagon gem, is offered

www.1stdibs.com

That looks exactly like a Russian emerald, which are commonly untreated because many are pale in color. It’s the higher chromium content that causes the deep rich green color, with the caveat of more fractures. Chromium rich emeralds do not grow as stable as vanadium rich emerald or those with much less chromium content.

 

[Neptune]

That looks exactly like a Russian emerald, which are commonly untreated because many are pale in color. It’s the higher chromium content that causes the deep rich green color, with the caveat of more fractures. Chromium rich emeralds do not grow as stable as vanadium rich emerald or those with much less chromium content.

Agl report said it’s a Colombian.

 

[T L]

Agl report said it’s a Colombian.

Yes, I know, but I would not pay a Columbian premium for that color. JMO

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Since I brought up very clean lighter emeralds I came across this, thought I'd share

Instagram

www.instagram.com

I believe this is the same stone

No Oil Colombian Emerald Ring Gem 2.14 Carat Loupe Clean Loose Gemstone at 1stDibs | colombian emeralds, emerald for sale, emeralds for sale

View this item and discover similar for sale at 1stDibs - Rare and exceptional, untreated - “no oil”, 2.14 carat Colombian Emerald gem. Superior in clarity and cut, this “loupe clean”, square octagon gem, is offered

www.1stdibs.com

Do you think it glows? I’m thinking not as much.

 

[demantoidz]

Do you think it glows? I’m thinking not as much.

As TL pointed out, inclusions reflect light back, so it makes sense for there to be less glow in this one. There is some glow imo though. I think Tandi's emeralds might be photographed in a way to best show off the glow, while the flawless one I linked is under more neutral lighting. Just speculation though.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

As TL pointed out, inclusions reflect light back, so it makes sense for there to be less glow in this one. There is some glow imo though. I think Tandi's emeralds might be photographed in a way to best show off the glow, while the flawless one I linked is under more neutral lighting. Just speculation though.

I think you’re probably right. I hope I’m not disappointed when my stone arrives in a couple of days.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

My emerald from Tandy is here. It’s extremely similar to the photos she posted and it really does glow. There’s a window I didn’t see in her photos but hopefully when set it won’t be an issue.

I’m not a green fan but this color is a bluish-green so I do like it. It’s the least sparkly gem I own at this point because it glows instead.

The glow shows up in most lighting, evening indoor and natural bright or shady. It’s impressive.

I’m still not sure I love emeralds but at least now I have one to study!

 

[demantoidz]

Wow, I'm glad its so glowy in person

 

[minousbijoux]

I love it and think its practically the definition of glow!