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The emerald is one of the most beloved jewels. Emerald have been known since ancient Egypt. Nowadays, the beautiful green gemstone can be found in Colombia, Brazil, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Madagascar, South Africa, Australia, Russia, and North Carolina.
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The beautiful gemstone is ranked 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness (diamond is the strongest at 10), but the emerald is somewhat brittle because of the natural inclusions. Emerald jewelry are immersed in oil and dipped in resin to minimize the appearance of the natural fissures. Inclusions are typical of this jewel and, unlike diamonds; do not devalue the emeralds as much. Emeralds that have deep fissures, but has a deep green color can cost more than an inclusion-free pale one. Perfect emerald rings are expensive and extremely rare. Color is the most important aspect when buying emeralds. Emeralds that are not too dark or too light with a deep, vivid green are the most expensive. However, every shade of emeralds is popular. Emerald is May's birthstone and it's recommended for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries. When buying emerald rings and emerald jewelry, look for an emerald with fewer fissures. Compare the color and cut. Since emeralds are very brittle, they should be in a protective setting, so it will be protected from exposure.
Check to see if the emerald have been oiled. The oils fill out fissures that can make them even more brittle.
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An emerald is sometimes dyed to add color to the fissures and coated to protect the fissures from growing bigger. Some questions to ask when purchasing an emerald are: Has the emerald been treated?
Is the emerald natural or synthetic? Are there any noticeable scratches, chips or inclusions in the emerald? Is the color even throughout the emerald?
How good is the emerald's color? As with all jewelry purchases, comparison-shop and see how much different retailers are selling the same quality of emeralds. Research information on emeralds to make sure you get the best value for your purchase.
Clean your emerald with a soft, damp wash cloth, warm water and a soft brush and never use a mechanical cleaner. Avoid heat and chemicals that may dissolve the oils of the emerald. In order to keep the fissures filled, re-oil your emeralds every few years. Since emeralds are so brittle, avoid impacts. Keep emeralds in a fabric-lined box and to keep them from scratching each other. With these tips, your emerald rings pieces should last you for many years.
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