Thinking about an emerald engagement ring? Here are five essential tips you need to know before choosing an emerald.
1. Unmatched Color
If vibrant color is your top priority, look no further than emeralds. Unlike sapphires, emeralds boast a unparalleled, intense green hue, reminiscent of royalty and luxury. When it comes to color, emeralds truly stand out from the crowd.
2. Prioritize Clarity
When selecting an emerald for your engagement ring, the most important factor after color, is clarity. An emerald with good clarity will have fewer inclusions than most other emeralds on the market, which are heavily included. Finding an emerald with minimal inclusions can be tricky as they are rare, and therefore pricey. Choosing an emerald with fewer inclusions will ensure a beautiful overall appearance and lustre, as well offering more durability compared to an emerald with more intrusive inclusions, making it a timeless heirloom piece to be passed down for generations.
3. Emeralds Require Extra Love & Care
While emeralds are undeniably beautiful, they do require a bit of extra care when compared to a diamond or sapphire. A bit of tender, love and care goes a long way to keeping your emerald looking its absolute best, so don’t forget to clean and maintain it! If you simply can’t pass up the luxurious green color of an emerald, be prepared for a bit of TLC.
4. Bigger Size for Less
One of the perks of choosing an emerald engagement ring is that emeralds tend to appear larger in size compared to sapphires and diamonds of the same carat weight. This means your budget allows for a bigger stone, or even one with better color or clarity than you had originally thought!
5. Be Aware of Opacity
When searching for the perfect emerald be aware of stones with high opacity, especially those graded as A or AA. While these stones are more affordable, they can lack the transparency and brilliance that make emeralds truly mesmerizing. Always look for an emerald with AAA Grade clarity and opacity, meaning they allow enough light to pass through the gem (and isn’t heavily clouded by inclusions), so that the emerald shines like no other.
By keeping these five top tips in mind, you'll be well-equipped to find the perfect emerald engagement ring that reflects your style, personality, and love story. Happy ring shopping!