Emerald

An Emerald’s value can be dictated by either its depth of colour or lack of inclusions. Emeralds with small flaws are highly regarded, as this proves their authenticity. Emerald is the green to bluish green variety of beryl, a mineral species that also includes aquamarine as well as beryls in other colours.

Gem experts differ on the degree of green that makes one stone an emerald and another stone a less-expensive green beryl. Some people in the trade tend to give the name emerald to any green beryl coloured by chromium. But to most gemologists, gemological laboratories, and coloured stone dealers, it is more correct to call a stone green beryl when its colour is ”too light” for it to be classified as emerald. Even among that group, however, there’s a difference of opinion about what’s considered ”too light.”