The Eternal Appeal of Emeralds
From being a prized favorite of Cleopatra to Jackie Kennedy’s engagement ring to the breathtaking brooch Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor, emeralds have solidified their place in history as one of the earth’s most precious (and romantic) stones. Their appeal comes from their indulgent green color, natural character, rarity, and symbolism. The stone is often associated with renewal, harmony, faithfulness, and everlasting love, which may explain why it’s a popular choice for engagement rings and anniversary gifts.
Milano's collection includes emerald rings in 14K yellow, white, and rose gold, with selected styles available in sterling silver. Want to complete the look? Browse our gemstone earrings to find the perfect pair of studs, hoops, or drop earrings to go with your ring.
Top Sources of Emeralds and Why It Matters
The top three major emerald-producing countries are Colombia, Zambia, and Brazil. Colombia produces the vast majority of the world’s commercial emerald supply. Their emerald market is often regarded as the most prestigious because of its long history and because they have a warmer hue and high brilliance. However, if you’re looking for a more “eye-clean” emerald, Zambian emeralds are unmatched. They naturally have greater clarity than Colombian emeralds, and because the Zambian market is much younger than either the Colombian or Brazilian markets, their emeralds are more affordably priced. All of Milano’s emeralds are sourced from Zambia.
Emerald Rings vs. Diamond Rings
Besides the obvious difference between the clean white color of a diamond and the verdant green of an emerald, one of the biggest practical differences between the two is their hardness. A Diamond is a ten on the Mohs scale, meaning it is the hardest gemstone. Theoretically, the only stone that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. An emerald, on the other hand, sits at a 7.5 to 8. That, paired with the natural inclusions, or “jardin” on an emerald make it uniquely vulnerable to impacting and scratching.
However, both emerald and diamond rings bring a sparkle and brilliance that make them beautiful on the hand, and easy to wear daily.
Understanding Cut and Clarity for Emeralds
Unsurprisingly, the most popular cut for emeralds is the emerald cut. This rectangular cut was specifically designed to be gentle on emeralds, since the stone is comparatively brittle. Other popular shapes include princess, cushion, or oval cut.
In terms of clarity, it is extremely rare to find an authentic emerald that is truly flawless, meaning that it doesn’t have visual inclusions. As mentioned earlier, jardin is part of the natural and unique character of an emerald, so it’s natural to see a few minor inclusions on even a well-cut emerald.
Popular Settings
While an emerald is eye-catching enough on its own for a solitaire setting, the most popular setting for emeralds these days is the halo setting of smaller diamonds surrounding the center stone. Other popular settings include bezel or flush settings, which protect the emerald, and multi-stone settings, or a three-stone setting where the emerald is flanked by two smaller stones (usually diamonds) on either side.
