Natural Zambian Emerald: 7X5 MM Oval Shape Natural Faceted Loose Gemstone Calibrated AAA Quality
 
Highlights
 
Materials: Gem type: Emerald Carat
weight: .70 Size = 7x5 MM
Shape = Oval
Stone = Emerald
Cut = Faceted
Qty = You will receive 1 of the gemstones pictured here per order
Treatment = NONE (UNTREATED/UNHEATED)
 
The gem is 100% natural and untreated in any way. It has inclusions that are visible with the unaided eye. 
 
Overview
Emerald is one of the most well-known and desired colored gems known to mankind. There is evidence of emeralds being mined and used in jewelry going back to over 3,500 years before present. It is a variety of the gem beryl, colored green by minute traces of chromium, vanadium or both. While emerald has a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, it is typically very included, which limits its toughness. To increase the clarity and durability of the gems, nearly all emeralds are filled with either clear resins or oils. This means that special care should be taken when cleaning emeralds.
 
Named Species/Varieties
There are no named varieties or species of Emerald.

Emerald is found in a number of localities in the world. However, the largest deposits mined today are in Colombia and Zambia. Colombian emeralds are widely regarded as the finest in the world due to their high chromium content and relatively high clarity for emerald. In the United States, there are minor deposits of emerald in North Carolina. In recent years, there has been several finds of fine emeralds in Ethiopia, as well as some finds of lighter green emeralds in Nigeria. Untreated emerald is extremely rare and valuable. Because emeralds are almost always filled with cracks and fissures when they come out of the ground, they are typically filled with resins or oils to improve the clarity and stability of the stones.
 
These resins should be colorless, but occasionally colored resins are used to falsely enhance the color of the gems. While oils like cedar oil were commonly used in the past, in recent decades this has largely been replaced by specialized resins that are more durable, and closely match the refractive index of the emerald, giving the gem a better overall appearance. Even though treatment is common in emerald, it should always be disclosed to the buyer.
 
Very few jewels are as popular in jewelry as emerald. While relatively hard, the internal fissures reduce the toughness of the gem. As a result, it should be treated with care, particularly when cleaning it. That said, it's hard enough to be used in any type of jewelry, and is particularly popular in rings.