CARING FOR YOUR EMERALD

Emeralds are very soft, ranking between 7.5 and 8 on Moh’s hardness scale (Sapphire rated 9 and Diamond is 10). They are sensitive to heat, harsh solvents, and breakage. Take care to maintain the beauty of your emeralds. Do not use hot water, steam, or ultrasonic cleaner on your emeralds; they crack easily when exposed to heat.

Use baby oil to oil your emeralds once a year. Instead of immersing them, soak cotton in baby oil and place them on your emeralds. Leave for a few hours, remove and store. If set in jewellery, use a ear-bud to dab oil gently, but do so a few days before you plan to wear them. Do not re-set your emeralds as it increases the chances of chipping especially with facetted stones.

Emeralds in rings are best for occasional wear. If you plan to wear more casually, it’s advisable to set them so the edges are encased in gold.

Never wear your emeralds while showering, swimming or sleeping as emeralds are easily scratched; also store them away from other jewellery. Responsible mining: The Gemfields emerald mines at Kagem are available, the most common are fracture filling by colourless oil or resin; resin fillings may make the emerald more durable, but it tends to reduce the value of the stone.

Certification

A good certificate goes a long way towards preserving and improving the value of your investment. While the Gubelin certificate is valued for coloured stones in general, Swiss Gemmological Institute is preferred for emeralds.

Colombian or Zambian

Choosing between an intense green like a Colombian or a bluish-green like a Zambian may seem impossible, but it depends on personal preference. Zambian emeralds complement Indian skin tone better and you can buy a larger emerald in the same price as compared with a Colombian. The latter were the main source since the 16th century, which is why most museums and antique collections tend to hoard them.