Should Emeralds Be Clear?

While green is no doubt the most commonly referenced color of emeralds, desired emeralds sometimes emit a slightly blue color. For an emerald to truly hold value, it needs to be clear and nearly transparent. The transparency of an emerald depends on its inclusions, or flaws.

How can you tell if an emerald is good quality?

The most desirable emerald colors are bluish green to pure green, with vivid color saturation and tone that's not too dark. The most-prized emeralds are highly transparent. Their color is evenly distributed, with no eye-visible color zoning.

Are cloudy emeralds valuable?

Clear Emeralds are often used for the many fine pieces of jewelry. However, if your Emerald has many inclusions, you will notice that your Emerald may appear opaque. While opaque Emeralds are not usually viewed as very valuable in the market, they are still used in less valuable jewelry and still appreciated.