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Emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl that derives its beautiful green hue from chromium and vanadium. It is among the precious gemstones that are widely used in making jewelry. However, raw uncut emeralds come in various types, each differing based on factors like color saturation, origin, and natural inclusions. Busting the myth that all emeralds are cut and polished to obtain their typical appearance, here are some types of uncut emeralds.
Rough emerald crystals
Rough emerald crystals are raw, uncut emeralds in their natural gemstone form, that are yet to be faceted or polished. They have a relatively lackluster appearance compared to cut and polished emeralds, which display typical emerald green hues. However, rough emeralds still showcase the emerald's natural beauty and brilliance and can be used as is in jewelry designs to obtain a raw, organic look.
Raw emerald crystals
Like rough emeralds, raw emerald crystals are uncut stones in their natural state. However, they often undergo minimal processing, like cleaning or minor breaking, to make them more accessible for use in making jewelry. Moreover, they can be as small as raw emerald crystal chips or as large as raw emerald crystal stones weighing several carats.
Hydrothermal emeralds
Hydrothermal emeralds are a type of emerald that is grown in a laboratory using a process that mimics the natural conditions under which emeralds form in the earth's crust. Although they are created in a lab, hydrothermal emeralds have the same chemical and physical properties as natural emeralds. This makes them an environmentally friendly alternative to mined emeralds. Uncut hydrothermal emeralds look similar to natural emerald rough stones, which may be appealing to people who want to purchase sustainable jewelry without the high cost of a natural emerald.
Trapiche emeralds
Trapiche emeralds are a rare type of emerald that exhibit a distinct, spoke-like, flower-patterned crystal structure. This unique formation consists of six symmetrical spokes or 'branches' of darker mineral inclusions, such as black schist or graphite, radiating from a central green crystal. This gives the stone an eye-catching and captivating appearance. The word "trapiche" comes from a particular type of sugar cane milling tool used in the highland regions of Colombia, where these emeralds were first found. Many people believe trapiche emeralds possess magical properties like healing powers and bringing good fortune to the owner. However, their rarity and distinctive appearance make them ideal for emerald collectors and jewelry enthusiasts who prefer unique and high-quality gemstones.
Emeralds have been a popular precious stone throughout history, with demand only increasing in recent years. Buyers are particularly fond of natural emeralds that are a more sustainable conflict-free alternative to mined diamonds. Raw uncut emeralds, which represent the rough look of emeralds before they are cut and polished, can be used in various ways. Here are several common uses for them.
Jewelry making
Emeralds are widely used in the creation of both high-end and artisan jewelry. Jewelry designers often use raw emeralds to create unique pieces that showcase the natural beauty and organic allure of the stones. For instance, uncut emerald rings and necklaces, including raw emerald pendant necklaces, that highlight the stones are popular because they have a bohemian and understated luxury appearance. One of the reasons emeralds are so popular is their vibrant green color, which symbolizes rebirth, renewal, and love. This makes emeralds a typical gift for special occasions like weddings and anniversaries.
Decorative items
Emeralds are also used in creating various decorative items for homes. While many buyers are after polished emeralds, there’s a growing market for rough emeralds that spotlight their natural beauty and imperfections as they create a more natural, organic aesthetic look to any space. Some of the popular decorative items that feature emeralds include emerald rough stone bookends, coasters, and paperweights.
Spiritual and healing practices
Raw emeralds are believed to have various metaphysical properties, leading to their use in spiritual and healing practices. People believe that placing emeralds on the body promotes emotional healing, intuition, and balance. They also believe that emeralds can aid physical healing by improving vision and boosting the body’s immune system. Furthermore, the close connection between emeralds and the heart chakra has made them a typical tool for meditations aimed at promoting love, compassion, and harmony.
Industrial applications
Uncut emerald stones have industrial applications as well due to their hardness. They are sometimes used as abrasives in cutting, grinding, or polishing metals and other materials. Emeralds are also used in electronics to make devices that can withstand high temperatures because of their ability to resist heat. Lastly, because of their chemical composition, raw uncut emeralds are also used in scientific research to study gem-quality beryl formation and mining processes.
Emeralds are renowned not only for their unmatched beauty, but also for the numerous benefits they offer. While many of these benefits are practical, some are also psychological, resulting from beliefs held over the years about the properties of emeralds. Here are several benefits of raw uncut emeralds.
Aesthetic appeal
The stunning green color of emeralds is one of their most popular and widely acknowledged appealing qualities. This natural green color ranges from light to deep shades and can be clear to opaque or look like they are filled with inclusions. Emeralds exhibit a beautiful and vibrant color that adds elegance and sophistication to any outfit or space they are used in. People often display cut emeralds in fine jewelry, but uncut emeralds are also increasingly used for their natural beauty and organic charm.
Unique properties
Each uncut emerald is naturally different from the next, as it has not been shaped or polished by a craftsman. While this may make it hard for jewelers to showcase the emeralds in jewelry, it also benefits buyers as they get a stone with its unique natural imperfections and characteristics. On the other hand, cut and polished emeralds are typically similar to each other, especially when they are mass-produced. The unique nature of raw emeralds makes them more attractive to gem collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate the stone’s inherent values.
Connection to nature
Emeralds have been mined for centuries in some of the oldest mines in the world, such as the Egyptian and Colombian mines. Because of this, they have a rich history that adds to their allure. Many people are enamored with the natural, historical qualities of emeralds and opt to use emeralds in their jewelry or display them in their homes to connect with nature. Furthermore, raw emeralds have a natural, unrefined beauty that evokes a deeper connection to the earth's geological processes compared to cut and polished stones. This natural quality contributes to a more organic feel when it’s used in jewelry.
Affordability
Cut and polished emeralds tend to be quite pricey, especially if they are of high quality. They are often classified as precious stones, alongside sapphires and rubies. The high demand and rarity of emeralds only contributes to their high prices. Fortunately, uncut emeralds are more affordable and accessible to a wider market. Buyers who can’t purchase cut emeralds because of their high prices can now afford raw emeralds and use them to make unique, high-quality custom jewelry.
Storing raw emeralds correctly ensures they maintain their appealing aesthetic while also increasing their longevity. In addition to storing them well, buyers should also be aware that uncut emeralds require less maintenance compared to their cut and polished counterparts. This is largely because uncut emeralds have not been sculpted to showcase their inherent beauty, so they retain a natural, rough exterior free of artificial alterations. Nonetheless, their organic surface may be more susceptible to dirt and fingerprints, which could diminish their shine if not properly cared for. Here are some key ways buyers can store uncut emeralds to help jewelers who sell them online keep them in mint condition for as long as possible.
Use protective pouches or wraps
Emeralds are relatively hard stones on the Mohs scale, which makes them resistant to scratching. However, their uncut raw form can make them more prone to chipping if they are handled roughly or come into contact with other hard objects. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, store the emeralds in protective pouches or wraps, such as soft cloth bags or bubble wrap, to minimize the chances of them knocking against each other or other hard surfaces. Use breathable materials like cotton or linen to avoid moisture trapping, which could cause potential tarnishing on metal jewelry.
Keep in a sturdy box
Avoid exposing emeralds to extreme temperatures or humidity levels, as they can cause the starting to react with metals in the emerald’s surroundings. Instead, keep the emeralds in a cool, dry place, as emeralds are best stored at room temperature in a low-humidity environment. A sturdy jewelry box or container will protect the stones from dust and environmental exposure while preventing physical damage.
Avoid contact with chemicals
Avoid exposing raw emeralds to any type of chemical substance, such as household cleaning agents, cosmetics, or even certain types of jewelry cleaners. Although emeralds are relatively hard stones, they can be etched or damaged by harsh chemicals. Additionally, these substances can leave residue or cause tarnishing on surrounding metal settings in jewelry.
Separate storage for different stones
If storing multiple raw emeralds together, make sure to separate them to prevent any potential chipping or scratching. Use individual compartments in a jewelry organizer, or store each stone in its own small container to avoid contact between them. This also makes it easier to manage and locate each piece when needed, particularly useful if dealing with a large collection.
Yes, raw emeralds are valuable and can be quite pricey by the market, especially when they are of high quality and mined from renowned regions like Colombia. However, their prices are generally lower than cut stones, which are often more expensive because cutting an emerald is a time-consuming and skillful process. Moreover, the stone’s quality, including its carat weight, color, and clarity, as well as the stone’s origin, also plays a huge role in determining its price. For instance, Colombian emeralds are more valuable than their Zambian counterparts because they have historical significance and are commonly used by renowned jewelers.
The easiest way to tell whether an emerald is natural or synthetic is by examining its inclusions. Natural emeralds tend to have what are popularly known as garden inclusions. These are distinct flaws that are visible to the naked eye or through a jeweler’s loupe. They consist of other minerals that are embedded within the stone. On the other hand, synthetic emeralds typically lack these inclusions or have what are known as fingerprint inclusions. These are bubbles or glass-like inclusions that are more commonly found in synthetic emeralds.
Like most other precious and semi-precious stones, emeralds generally increase in value with time. Nonetheless, several factors, including market demand, economic conditions, and the quality of the stone, can determine whether the stone appreciates or depreciates in value. For instance, emeralds of higher quality and more famous mines have historically increased in value over time because they are in more demand by investors and collectors alike. Moreover, as time goes by, fewer emeralds of emerald stone quality enter the market, increasing the value of existing stones by the natural rule of scarcity.
