Emerald Values and Pricing

High-quality Emeralds are expensive and demand a premium due to their rarity. It is not uncommon to see faceted Emeralds selling for $5,000+ per carat. If we are talking sizes ranging from 5 to 25 carats then the cost per carat is between $3.00 to $10.00 per carat.

If you’re looking at Emerald cabochons, you’ll see them priced between $100.00 – $500.00 per carat.

Emerald is the green to bluish-green variety of Beryl. Most of the stones you see in jewelry and at gem shows will be an intense green color but the highest-valued Emeralds have a bluish undertone to them and they’re sourced from Columbia.

Generally speaking, Emeralds have never become popular like Rubies, Sapphires, and Tanzanite but most people know what an Emerald is. My guess as to why they’re not popular is due to the fracturing filling that is quite common and they don’t hold up well in rings.

The main sources of Emeralds are Columbia, Ethiopia, and Morocco to name a few.

 

 

 

Emerald Price Guide

When determining the value of the gemstone you will be using GIA guidelines which means color, clarity, carat weight, and cut.  You’ll want to look at each one of these individually and then circle back when finished to evaluate the stone as a whole.

Color is going to be the most important factor when determining the value of gemstones.  Clarity and carat weight are tied for the second most important factor.

Before you go any further you need to ensure you have identified Emerald correctly.

 

 

 

Color – The more intense the color the more valuable the stone is.  When dealing with warm colors, think of red and orange, you’ll want to determine if there are brown undertones.  If you can’t see brown undertones then the color should be very vibrant.  The more vibrant and saturated the color the more expensive the gemstone.  If the gemstone has a unique “neon-like glow” then it will demand the highest price per carat.

If you want to own the best color then you need to find stones with a slight bluish undertone. These are hard to find and you won’t see quantities of this material. More than likely you’ll deal with a gem dealer specializing in Emeralds.

 

Clarity – Buyers, and collectors prefer stones with no internal inclusions visible to the eye. Emerald crystals can be found with visible inclusions all the way to flawless but flawless is extremely rare.  To determine the clarity ranking you’ll need at a minimum a 10x loop and a higher-powered microscope to confirm internally flawless and flawless designations.

Keep in mind the gem industry accepts the fact Emeralds have more inclusions and some of them have been treated with fracture filling and oil.

If you can visibly see the inclusion while holding the gemstone then the highest designation would be SI1 and if the inclusion detracts from the overall beauty of the stone then the clarity designation would be I1 – I3.

Clarity designations – FL, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, I3

 

 

Carat – Emeralds can be found in sizes ranging from below 1 carat to above 100 carats or more.  Generally speaking, Emerlads can be sourced in most carat weights. The larger crystals with high clarity will bring a higher price per carat due to rarity.

 

Cut – It is sad to say but cut has the least impact on value and cost unless it affects the stone in an extreme way.  For example, when you look at the stone you would be able to see through it which means light is not being reflected back to the eye.  This is called a window in the stone and it would have to be quite large to impact the price.  The other extreme would occur when you look at a stone and see a rough circle or oval shape inside the stone.  This occurs when the stone is very shallow and it’s reflecting the rough girdle inside the stone.  Note: the girdle is the edge/side of the stone where the pavilion and crown meet.

 

 

 

Emerald Price Per Carat

Emeralds weighing 0.25 carat to 1.00 carat = $400.00- $5000.00 price per carat

• Price will vary drastically based on color and clarity
• Fairly easy sizes to source from a jeweler or gem dealer

 

Emeralds weighing 1.00 carat to 5.00 carat = $2,200.00- $15,000.00 price per carat

• Price will vary drastically based on color and clarity
• As you get closer to 5 carats, stones will be harder to come by
• Make sure you buy from a reputable gem dealer

 

Emeralds weighing 5.00 carat to 8.00+ carats = $3,500.00- $25,000.00 price per carat

• Price will vary drastically based on color and clarity
• Top color with a high clarity will bring premiums at these weights
• Hard to source, you will want to find a dealer specializing in Emeralds

 

 

 

Emerald Specimens = $50.00 – $1,000.00

• Price is dependent on size
• Sold by the piece
• Emerald crystals on matrix are rare and will demand a premium

 

 

How Much Are Emeralds Worth?

Emeralds are a crazy market and I am by no means an expert. I do feel confident stating high-quality stones with superb color and clarity will always demand a high price and continue to increase over time. I would focus on faceted material that has no enhancements if possible. Oil is used to fill the fractures to make the stones appear more clear, higher clarity grade but if you put these stones in an ultrasonic cleaner then you can say goodbye to the oil and hello to all of the fractures.

 

Values of Emerald will increase over time

Prices for small to mid-sized stones should maintain their pricing and high-quality stones will continue to increase in value over time. The larger, rarer stones rarely make it to the general population but if you have a chance to buy one then it should be a solid investment.

If you’re not sure how to value a gemstone then you should consider a gemstone appraisal. Individuals acquiring gemstones through inheritance, estate sales, and auctions typically have the gemstone appraised to determine the value and to ensure the gem is what they think it is.