When it comes to engagement rings, diamond is always the popular choice for the center gemstone. But today, in modern times, colored gemstone engagement rings are becoming more and more popular among brides-to-be. Many women find them more attractive due to their vibrant colors and as well as their unique flair. Among the many-colored stones for engagement rings, one of the most beautiful is emerald.
An emerald has a deep-green hue that makes it eye-catching. Also, like diamonds, there are lots of options when it comes to settings, cuts, and styles for emeralds. Their hues range from bright green to bluish-green. They also pair well with various types of metals, stones, and settings. However, if you are considering an emerald engagement ring, you might also wonder how much it would cost.
Whether your tastes are daring and statement-making or simple and subtle, emerald engagement rings come in many styles to suit all aesthetics and budget. In this post, we are going to give you more ideas on what it costs to add emeralds to an engagement ring.
What is an Emerald?
Emerald is a rich-green gemstone that belongs to the beryl family of minerals. These are rare and beautiful gemstones and also the birthstone for the month of May.
If you opt for an emerald solitaire or center stone, you need to note that they are softer compared to other stones. This means that emeralds are more fragile to cut. A diamond rates 10 on the Mosh scale of mineral hardness, while a green emerald rates 7.5-8 on the scale. Even though they are softer than diamonds, they can still be cut and polished into various shapes by expert cutters.
Emeralds that are of high quality are harder to find than diamonds. Therefore, they also tend to come at a higher price. But since emeralds have a lower density, a one-carat emerald can appear larger compared to a one-carat diamond. Emeralds are beautiful, bright, and very versatile. They look really stunning when used as center or side stones for engagement rings.
How Much Will it Cost to Add Emeralds to an Engagement Ring?
Emerald engagement rings have a wider price range compared to emerald wedding bands. This is due to the fact that the main stone can be as big as you like and can afford. When you buy an engagement ring, the question is not whether or not you can afford it but rather how much you are willing to spend.
The price of an engagement ring with emeralds is affected by several factors. It can range from $1,200 up to $180,000 or even more. If you need an emerald price calculator, here are some of the factors that affect the price of emeralds for engagement rings.
- 4Cs
The price of an engagement ring mainly depends on its center stone, which in this case is an emerald. The price of an emerald gemstone is based on the 4Cs of color, clarity, cut, and carat. The first three Cs determine the quality of the stone, while the final C determines its overall rarity.
Color is among the most important factor to consider when it comes to emeralds. The consistency of the coloring, the tone, and the saturation of the green are all factors that help determine the quality as well as the price of the gemstone.
Also, as the carat weight increases, you pay exponentially for the same quality. It means that you pay for what you see. Fine emeralds are rare in any size, and larger ones can become very expensive. Fortunately, they are less dense than diamonds, making them larger for the same carat weight. The pricing of emerald per carat jumps at one, two, three, five, eight, and ten carats.
- Additional Costs
When it comes to gemstones, there are also other costs that you need to consider, including international shipping, political conflicts between some countries, and possible treatments. Most emeralds come from Colombia, and over 99% of them are treated for their clarity. Also, origin plays a vital role. There are also chances that you can find untreated emeralds. However, those can be two to three times more expensive due to rarity.
- Setting Costs
In the jewelry industry, there is a rule of thumb that the price of setting gems should not exceed the cost of the gems themselves. Smaller gems almost never have intricate settings, just because of the price of labor. On the other hand, if large and expensive gemstones are being set, the price of labor is nothing in comparison.
Also, the more gems set into the ring, the more complicated the design is and the more expensive the labor becomes. As much as 90% of costs outside of the emerald gemstone is labor, with the cost of materials making up the rest.
Things to Look for in an Emerald Engagement Ring
To be able to find a high-quality emerald gemstone for an engagement ring, here are some of the important factors that you need to consider:
- Color of the Emerald
To be able to determine the quality of the emerald, one of the best things to look into is its color. In fact, this is the most important factor when choosing green emeralds. The color, tone, and saturation of the gemstone are all essential factors to consider. If you are buying an emerald, you need to ensure that you find a green that you like.
When it comes to emeralds, people usually expect a deep, dark green. However, most of the time, the stone that most people choose is much lighter. When gems are lighter, they reflect more life, which makes them appear livelier. But there are also those who prefer emeralds that are darker green with less brilliance.
- Clarity of the Emerald
Emeralds that are most natural have inclusions or small imperfections, as well as fractures or fissures that present as tiny lines within the gemstone. These lines do not actually detract from the look of the emerald and can even add to its overall attractiveness. But an emerald can be cut strategically to make sure that the fissures do not come up to the surface or corners of the gemstone.
- Enhancements
Almost all emeralds have received oil enhancement to fill surface-reaching cracks. This method is widespread, and it is an accepted treatment that makes the emerald look more beautiful. Heat treatment is another type of enhancement that can improve the color of the gemstone permanently, but emeralds receive this rarely as it might break in the process.
You should also ask about dyes, as some dealers use dyed oil to fill cracks in emeralds. This can also improve the color of the gemstone, but only temporarily. Since the oil comes out of the stone over time, the dye will also come out with it. In the end, you will have an emerald that has a different color than when you purchased it. Therefore, before you buy an emerald, ensure that you ask for a lab report that can tell whether the stone has any dye.
How to Save on an Emerald Engagement Ring Stone
If budget is an issue for you, but you really want an emerald engagement ring, there are a few ways to save some money for it:
- Cabochon Emerald
Instead of choosing a faceted stone, you can opt for a cabochon emerald. This does not have the sparkle that lots of jewelry enthusiasts look for, but it still has a beautiful color. Gem cutters create these when the rough stone has too many clarity imperfections to properly facet. This means that they are cheaper compared to faceted emerald stones of the same weight.
- Synthetic Emerald
If you don’t mind lab-made stones, then these can offer you huge savings while getting better color and clarity compared to most natural emeralds. You also have to note that lab-made emeralds are real emeralds. They contain the same chemical composition and crystal structure. In fact, only a trained eye with a good microscope will be able to spot the difference between a lab-made emerald and a mined stone.
Conclusion
Emeralds are indeed very beautiful gemstones that are perfect for engagement rings. However, since they are rare and quite challenging to find, it is understandable that they come at higher prices. But exploring other options that can make it less expensive might also work if you really want to have an emerald engagement ring. We hope this article helped you learn more about what it costs to add emeralds to an engagement ring.