Clarity in emeralds speaks about what the gem looks like on the inside and this is what makes an emerald a different gem than any other. Most emeralds present inclusions that are small bits of other minerals, gas, liquid, and crystals that the emeralds take on in the crystallization process. About 99% of all natural emeralds will present inclusions.
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| Natural emerald inclusions |
Inclusions in emeralds are sometimes easy to see without a loupe or microscope. (A loupe is the one-eyed 10X magnifier that a jeweler wears on a string around his neck to make him look important.) What in other gems may be considered “flaws” or “imperfections”, in emeralds is totally natural and is one of the things we try to find every time we seem them under a loupe. That is why gemologists, appraisers and experts don't use the same criteria to judge clarity that they use for other gems like diamonds and topazes.
The Gemological Institute of America, GIA, categorizes three clarity types for colored gems:
Type I gemstones, often virtually inclusion-free, such as aquamarine, citrine, topaz and green tourmaline.
Type II gemstones, usually included, such as ruby, sapphire, garnet, peridot, amethyst and spinel.
Type III gemstones, almost always included, such as emerald and red tourmaline.
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| Natural emerald inclusions |
So...please don't be afraid when you see an inclusion in an emerald. It is a natural part of this gem.
Inclusions in Colombian emeralds most of the time present elongated and thin shapes with peaked ends. They are also called “jardin” or gardens because they look like branches and plant roots. They are like finger prints. Every single individual presents its own internal “garden” or layout for its inclusions. Be careful that they don't look like bubbles, they don't look arranged in a specific order, and they don't have a specific spot in the gem. When you are considering the purchase of an emerald, look at the gem through the jeweler’s loupe to find the inclusions. Some of them can rule out your purchase and some can be quite beautiful.
When does clarity affect the price in an emerald? When it presents too many inclusions, when the gem does not look like a crystal because it is excessively included, and when it is too difficult to see facets on the pavilion, the back part of the emerald.
Inclusions can compromise the durability of a stone and lessen the value when they are close to the surfaces of the gem. Some inclusions can create fractures in the emerald. If any of these inclusions are at the surfaces the stone can be broken easily through that part.
In general, the fewer the inclusions, the higher the value of the gem. Of course, clarity is an important factor in evaluating an emerald but it is not the most relevant. Inclusions in emeralds are very special. Expect to find them. Actually, any emerald without them is immediately suspected as synthetic or an imitation.
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| Lab-created emerald inclusions |
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