Opinions on this emerald ring please.

[Deathspi]

Hi everyone, I’ll try to keep it short. I’ve been swooning over this ring for ages now, and thought I’d ask for your opinions on it. It’s 2cts of emerald and 1.6cts of diamonds. It’s second hand, so no reports etc, (but they are unheard of for CS here anyway). Looks like a quality ring imo. It’s in 18k, and being offered at £3k. Thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
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[Deathspi]

 

[meely]

I like it, it's been on my favourites list for quite some time now I think they have had some other nice emerald rings in the past. I wonder about how vivid that green is IRL. However If the treatments are minor I think it's a good price I bought a similar ring about 4 years ago for around the same price from a well known eBay bargain dealer which I subsequently returned but the stone was lighter and it was rounder. I prefer this one. Have a look at my old threads if you are interested.

 

[Deathspi]

I like it, it's been on my favourites list for quite some time now I think they have had some other nice emerald rings in the past. I wonder about how vivid that green is IRL. However If the treatments are minor I think it's a good price I bought a similar ring about 4 years ago for around the same price from a well known eBay bargain dealer which I subsequently returned but the stone was lighter and it was rounder. I prefer this one. Have a look at my old threads if you are interested.

Glad you like it! I just looked at your thread and I have to say, I love the ring you bought! Shame you wasn’t in love with it, but if it doesn’t feel right then returning it is definitely the best thing to do.
Looking at their feedback, the photos customers have posted look a bit better than the listing photos, plus they offer easy returns if I don’t want to keep it.
I think the stone will be quite saturated. Uploading them here has dampened the colour somewhat which doesn’t help.

 

[meely]

Have you got a good local jeweller? I showed it to mine and he was going to take it into London to be tested at one of the labs. Think he went in regularly to get pieces he made assayed. So you might find one of yours Weill do something similar if you want to feel more confident about any enhancements that the stone might have had (maybe the one I spoke to was really helpful?! But i have two I use and they are both like that!)

 

[Deathspi]

Have you got a good local jeweller? I showed it to mine and he was going to take it into London to be tested at one of the labs. Think he went in regularly to get pieces he made assayed. So you might find one of yours Weill do something similar if you want to feel more confident about any enhancements that the stone might have had (maybe the one I spoke to was really helpful?! But i have two I use and they are both like that!)

To be honest, I’d probably test it myself, and maybe send it to London if I feel I need another opinion. I don’t mean to be big headed or anything, but I’ve been is tonnes of jewellers, have friends in the business, and even worked in one, and in my experience the vast majority are clueless when it comes to CS. (I like to talk and bore them to death lol).

 

[meely]

I didn't realise you were so knowledgeable or I wouldn't have posted in the first place sure if you mention some of the experts they will chime in @chrono @Tourmaline
I also didn't realise you could test for the level of treatments that emeralds have had so easily I would be interested if you could expand on that as I still feel I have an emerald in my future!

 

[Deathspi]

I’m not sure if you’re being sarcastic or not!!

I am by no means an ‘expert’, but I have studied with GemA, and have the means to test and such. I do have people to talk to and get opinions, but I’m just saying most jewellers I’ve come across don’t know very much. I remember having an argument with my old boss when he bought an emerald ring to sell in the shop. The thing was almost black, almost opaque and the cutting was atrocious, however he thought it was an amazing gem because it was big, -and he was one of the better ones!
And yes, I know my observations can only get me (or anyone) so far without a lab, but I’m okay with that. As long as I’m happy enough. I’m not sure what else I can say. Sorry if I came across as arrogant or anything. On the contrary, I don’t have much confidence at all, and I’m always scared to waffle on about things for fear of either looking arrogant, or getting something wrong and looking stupid...
Anyway, sorry for the ramble! How is your emerald hunt going? Or is that still in the distant future?

 

[chrono]

Nice, big, and clean emerald. I’d definitely err on the side of caution.

 

[Deathspi]

Nice, big, and clean emerald. I’d definitely err on the side of caution.

Thanks @chrono, that’s how I feel about it.

 

[meely]

No not sarcastic at all. Ha I'm not that dry. Sounds like you are pretty well qualified for the task! If I had the finances in place that one would have been of interest but I recently bought a sapphire that I'm having set so emeralds are on the back burner. To be honest I would probably prefer a three stone at this point anyway as I got a halo for my engagement ring and I like some variety. Make sure you post if you do go ahead and buy it!

 

[Tourmaline]

Thanks for calling me an expert, meely. I enjoy learning everything I can about stones.

OP, I am concerned about the color. It doesn't seem blue enough, or vivid enough, for emerald. I think it's more on the side of green beryl. Some of the prongs are just for show, not holding the stone. If it's natural, it's not totally unreasonable in price, but it's not a steal, either.

 

[Deathspi]

Thanks for calling me an expert, meely. I enjoy learning everything I can about stones.

OP, I am concerned about the color. It doesn't seem blue enough, or vivid enough, for emerald. I think it's more on the side of green beryl. Some of the prongs are just for show, not holding the stone. If it's natural, it's not totally unreasonable in price, but it's not a steal, either.

Thanks for your input. I agree that the colour isn’t the best, but I think I’m honestly being swayed because it’s so clean and a good size. Also, most of the other rings I like have emeralds with huge windows which would get on my nerves I think.

I’m actually finding it super hard to find a really nice ring. I’ve been looking for a couple of years now and nothing really speaks to me. I think this ring would be a ‘head’ purchase, rather than a ‘heart’ one, if that makes any sense.

This below, is the only ring that I’ve really fallen in love with, but I was too slow and it got snapped up. I’ll try to post it and hopefully the formatting won’t go squiffy...

 

[Deathspi]

No not sarcastic at all. Ha I'm not that dry. Sounds like you are pretty well qualified for the task! If I had the finances in place that one would have been of interest but I recently bought a sapphire that I'm having set so emeralds are on the back burner. To be honest I would probably prefer a three stone at this point anyway as I got a halo for my engagement ring and I like some variety. Make sure you post if you do go ahead and buy it!

Sounds good, and I’m glad you weren’t being mean lol!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

It's a beautiful ring. I don't own any emeralds but have seen quite a few and this stone looks more green garnet to me. But I am not an expert.

 

[Bluegemz]

Maybe it has a touch more blue in person? I have noticed that.emeralds are hard to capture accurately in pictures. When I have photographed mine on an iPhone camera, the images show washed out, distorted color ( specifically looking less saturated and the blue hue in the green is missing, making it look more like a tsavorite than it does in life.)
I think it’s beautiful personally, but as always, buyer beware.

 

[Miki Moto]

This looks more like a green tsavorite to me. Do you see the gray hues?
Also, it’s too clean to be an emerald unless it was heavily treated. But you probably already know this as you have studied gemstones.

The other ring I like... a light green Colombian is what it looks like to me.

Maybe get a loose stone. I looked for years too and finally found a loose Colombian, so I am sure you will too.

Good luck!

 

[Miki Moto]

By the way....my two cents on windows in an emerald. Emeralds are all about gettting that perfect color. To me, it is less about the cut like it is with diamonds which are all about the cut for brilliance, not color.

I myself find I do not like precision cut colored gemstones as they are too harsh and “perfect”, almost like a CZ. I prefer native cuts which sometimes do have a window, but the cutter use the right angles to get that beautiful green.

Something to think about... with emeralds... one has to prioritize the most important qualities. For me... first, I like big...only Colombian...then color, then clarity, then cut. If you want the top quality in all of these, you are looking at $10K per carat or higher. But if you can compromise, I think you can get a beautiful Colombian for $2K per carat.

So maybe look at it that way and prioritize your preferences and it might help you find that perfect stone.

Good luck!

 

[Deathspi]

By the way....my two cents on windows in an emerald. Emeralds are all about gettting that perfect color. To me, it is less about the cut like it is with diamonds which are all about the cut for brilliance, not color.

I myself find I do not like precision cut colored gemstones as they are too harsh and “perfect”, almost like a CZ. I prefer native cuts which sometimes do have a window, but the cutter use the right angles to get that beautiful green.

Something to think about... with emeralds... one has to prioritize the most important qualities. For me... first, I like big...only Colombian...then color, then clarity, then cut. If you want the top quality in all of these, you are looking at $10K per carat or higher. But if you can compromise, I think you can get a beautiful Colombian for $2K per carat.

So maybe look at it that way and prioritize your preferences and it might help you find that perfect stone.

Good luck!

Thanks for your opinion. I see where your coming from RE cutting. I usually don’t mind a small window, but a fine stone with poor light return is such a waste imo. If I’m buying a nice stone I don’t want it to just look like a green ‘lump’! I also agree with you and @Bluegemz in that it looks a bit like a Tsav, but at least if it is, it’ll be easily distinguishable if I have it in hand.

 

[Arcadian]

Very pretty. Likely not colombian though. But could be worth seeing in person.

 

[Bron357]

I really like the ring, very pretty, the mount is great quality and the diamonds nice too. If the seller has a good return policy then you can always scope it when you get it to look for indications of treatment other than oil! I agree though with the colour, wrong tone to me for Columbian (says she from her armchair looking a photo!) though I think you need to see it in person, obviously. Colour too is subjective, this is the colour tone I prefer.

 

[Miki Moto]

I like a light green too! Here is my new baby... Colombian, and the perfect green for me.

 

[Miki Moto]

By the way, as color examples, here is a photo of other Colombians I was looking at. The darker stones are supposedly the “reference” color, but I prefer the lighter green and color is really subjective. You can see the blue secondary hue in all the stones.

 

[Wombats]

By the way, as color examples, here is a photo of other Colombians I was looking at. The darker stones are supposedly the “reference” color, but I prefer the lighter green and color is really subjective. You can see the blue secondary hue in all the stones.

That emerald is gorgeous @Mikimoto, where did you find such a gem?

 

[Miki Moto]

That emerald is gorgeous @Mikimoto, where did you find such a gem?

Hi! Thank you. I got it at the Tucson Gem Show this past February. It was from an emerald dealer who sells Colombians, mostly from Muzo but a few from Chivor. The ones above are all his stones and they are from Muzo.

 

[Anne111]

The nice settings aside, color-wise most of these remind me of tsavorite or good tourmaline or green beryl bordering to emerald.

 

[Deathspi]

I really like the ring, very pretty, the mount is great quality and the diamonds nice too. If the seller has a good return policy then you can always scope it when you get it to look for indications of treatment other than oil! I agree though with the colour, wrong tone to me for Columbian (says she from her armchair looking a photo!) though I think you need to see it in person, obviously. Colour too is subjective, this is the colour tone I prefer.

Do you own that ring? It’s beautiful!
The funny thing is, I too prefer the more vibrant green with ideal colour, but my head tells me this ring (the one I posted) is ‘better’ because it’s got the other boxes ticked. I’m really torn with what to go for, (first world problems lol), but to be honest I think it’s partly because I’m running out of patience. I’d really like to just find ‘the one’, buy it, and be happy that I have an awesome ring.

The search continues I guess!

 

[Bron357]

Do you own that ring? It’s beautiful!
The funny thing is, I too prefer the more vibrant green with ideal colour, but my head tells me this ring (the one I posted) is ‘better’ because it’s got the other boxes ticked. I’m really torn with what to go for, (first world problems lol), but to be honest I think it’s partly because I’m running out of patience. I’d really like to just find ‘the one’, buy it, and be happy that I have an awesome ring.

The search continues I guess!

Yes, it’s mine. I love it. Though I had a preschooler ask me “why do you have a jellybean on your finger”?
Too cute.

 

[MissyBeaucoup]

For comparison, at the bottom is my emerald, which was sold to me as from Muzo. I love the more saturated perfect greens like Mike Moto’s, but also this more bluish green. I got this one because the glowy color delights me. I don’t know much about emeralds so I was going largely on personal preference. (I don’t know if I did well by PS standards or not, and I haven’t sent it off for papers.) Mine is definitely not as clear as the stone you’re considering, Deathspi. Now I am pondering how to set it, and am thinking about going to DK.

 

[Miki Moto]

@MissyBeaucoup the emerald is beautiful and great color!

And emerald to me is all about the color, just like what you chose.

I was going to have my stone set into a JB Star mounting that I love, but everyone keeps referencing DK, and now you too so I think I need to do more research on him.

@Deathspi I think you have seen some emerald colors to help you decide. You can see in all these photos, it is not about clarity or the perfect cut, the color is the higher priority for many of us (of course you can’t get a very included stone).

Good luck and please keep us posted!