velouriaL
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2004
- Messages
- 1,178
So, out of the "big three" (ruby, sapphire, emerald) of traditional "fine" colored gems, emerald seems to be, well, least-likely-to-win Miss. Congenialty...
Why? I think, it''s because a world educated on the "4 Cs" of diamonds doesn''t really go for the included, cloudy emerald. For example, I once showed this $12,000 Fay Cullen beauty to a friend, who herself was shopping for a traditional diamond engagement ring:
The friend''s response?
"Eh... just doesn''t look like a very high quality emerald... so dirty!"
Plus, because of their signature inclusions, emeralds tend to be somewhat brittle and many fear to wear them in rings. Plus emeralds don''t really sparkle...
So why are they so expensive? I don''t know... I sure like ''em... Emerald-lovers, of course, know that it''s called a "jardin," and that inclusions are part of the emerald''s charm... and that color trumps sparkle and what not... then again, what astronomical sums a clear emeralds will fetch!
Regardless, lots of people want an affordable vibrant, unincluded, sturdy green stone. So they turn to Tsavorite garnets, which are a lot cheaper, studier, cleaner, sparklier, bigger, and a deep, vibrant green. See:
Personally, I think their green is a little TOO yellow-y... I prefer a slightly bluer, milky emerald tone.
Lately, I''ve been thinking that Chrome Tourmaline might be an even better substitute. It''s comes in that just slightly blue-r color, from what I can tell... but, from what I''ve heard, it''s less bright than a Tsavorite and more likely to be included. As Ana (Valeria) pointed out (although her pick for emerald subsitute are tsavorites), "Tourmaline is sensibly dull-er than garnet. And more often included. It''s "drawbacks" might indeed make it a closer emerald look-alike."
See:
So, anyway, I''d like to open up a thread to discuss all of this... Are emeralds worth it? Why? What do you think of their inclusions? Have you ever had a negative experience with someone turning their nose up at your included emerald? (Not that is matters...) What is your favorite emerald substitute? Do you ever get sick of having to correct people who assume that your tsavorite is an emerald? Do you ever get sick of people thinking you''re crazy for "spending so much on a "garnet"? (Again, not that it matters...) What is your favorite green stone? What are your experiences, opinions, and daydreams about green gemstones?
Why? I think, it''s because a world educated on the "4 Cs" of diamonds doesn''t really go for the included, cloudy emerald. For example, I once showed this $12,000 Fay Cullen beauty to a friend, who herself was shopping for a traditional diamond engagement ring:
![c.jpg](http://www.faycullen.com/_pics/800/b624r9ed/c.jpg)
The friend''s response?
"Eh... just doesn''t look like a very high quality emerald... so dirty!"
Plus, because of their signature inclusions, emeralds tend to be somewhat brittle and many fear to wear them in rings. Plus emeralds don''t really sparkle...
So why are they so expensive? I don''t know... I sure like ''em... Emerald-lovers, of course, know that it''s called a "jardin," and that inclusions are part of the emerald''s charm... and that color trumps sparkle and what not... then again, what astronomical sums a clear emeralds will fetch!
Regardless, lots of people want an affordable vibrant, unincluded, sturdy green stone. So they turn to Tsavorite garnets, which are a lot cheaper, studier, cleaner, sparklier, bigger, and a deep, vibrant green. See:
![b_ygg258aa.jpg](http://www.multicolour.com/picture/b_ygg258aa.jpg)
Lately, I''ve been thinking that Chrome Tourmaline might be an even better substitute. It''s comes in that just slightly blue-r color, from what I can tell... but, from what I''ve heard, it''s less bright than a Tsavorite and more likely to be included. As Ana (Valeria) pointed out (although her pick for emerald subsitute are tsavorites), "Tourmaline is sensibly dull-er than garnet. And more often included. It''s "drawbacks" might indeed make it a closer emerald look-alike."
See:
![T-3704B.jpg](http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/catalog/T-3704B.jpg)
So, anyway, I''d like to open up a thread to discuss all of this... Are emeralds worth it? Why? What do you think of their inclusions? Have you ever had a negative experience with someone turning their nose up at your included emerald? (Not that is matters...) What is your favorite emerald substitute? Do you ever get sick of having to correct people who assume that your tsavorite is an emerald? Do you ever get sick of people thinking you''re crazy for "spending so much on a "garnet"? (Again, not that it matters...) What is your favorite green stone? What are your experiences, opinions, and daydreams about green gemstones?