2001, Brazil, Bahia state. Local miners were returning home from the plateau through the wild tropical forest. In the cart pulled by mules there was a significant booty - a huge emerald weighing almost three and a half centners.
But, oddly enough, having transported the nugget to Sao Paulo, the men simply threw it in their shed for the time being, not very carefully covering it with rags - the huge stones never sold that well anyway. Perhaps it would have gathered dust for a long time, useless to anyone, if one of the miners had not remembered a familiar businessman from California named Ken Conetto.
The largest emerald
Not so long ago, on January 28, 2012, the largest emerald, measuring almost 58 thousand carats, was sold at an auction in Canada. This giant gem weighs more than 11 kilograms.
The largest emerald was named "Theodora". This unusual and very expensive stone was mined in the depths of Brazil, then it was stolen and it ended up in India, but still it ended up at an auction in British Columbia, Canada.
The owner of this stone was Reagan Rainey, who still indignantly claims that it is not a pure emerald. As he says: “It is certainly an emerald, but the exact amount of this material in the stone is unknown.”
Although of course this is possible, because there is heterogeneity of color in it, which indicates that there is a completely different material inside, this is “beryl”, this is an old form of emerald.
And so this unusual stone was sold to Reagan Rainey for 1,150 thousand dollars, someone will say that this is not such a high price for the largest emerald in the world, but according to “knowledgeable people” it is a good price.
We advise you to read about the most expensive things in the world
.
Criteria for determining quality
To choose the best stone, you need to know how to check its quality. This can be done by specialists with knowledge in this field. The check is performed using professional equipment. But there are basic characteristics that determine the value of an emerald, knowledge of which will help everyone when choosing a stone.
What criteria are considered decisive?
- Color.
- Transparency.
- Origin.
- Cut.
- Weight and size.
Knowledge of all these characteristics will be useful when purchasing products with emeralds.
The most expensive emerald
Today, the most expensive emerald is valued at $150 million. The unique stone was given the name Fura after the place where it was discovered. The rock was mined in the area of Mount Fura, located 80 km north of the Colombian capital Bogota. The weight of the giant is 11,350 carats or 2.27 kg. The owner of the extraordinary find is Colombian industrialist Victor Carranza, who has been mining emeralds for half a century.
Emerald Fura
Realizing the high value of the acquisition, Victor Carranza hid the news from the public for more than 10 years. He is also the proud owner of another large and clear green emerald called Thera. It weighs 2000 carats or 0.4 kg. The owner deliberately does not cut the Fura and Tera emeralds in order to preserve their natural beauty.
Difference between gold and diamond carats
To answer the question of how diamond carats differ from gold carats, it should be understood that these two definitions are used for different purposes:
The system for measuring the weight of gems and the gold content goes back to ancient times and is still used today. In the jewelry industry, carat scales with minimal error are used to determine weight in grams. To calculate carat content, there are many tables with the help of which even a person ignorant in this area can calculate the number of grams.
The most valuable diamonds
In May of this year, the largest rough diamond, The Constellation, was sold. The name translates as "Constellation". An unprecedented price was paid for it - $63.1 million.
Diamond Constellation
The world's largest diamond was found in Botswana. The find was named Lesedi la Rona. In the Tswana language, "Lesedi la Rona" means "Our Light". The weight of the stone is 1109 carats (0.22 kg). It is the size of a tennis ball. The treasure was valued at 50 million pounds, which is more than $70 million.
Approximate prices
Approximate cost of precious stones depending on color:
- Dark green with a bluish tint - 322,200-547,740 rubles per carat.
- Light green - from 22,555 to 24,165 rubles per carat.
Approximate prices for gems depending on their quality are shown in the table.
| Quality | Cost in rubles per carat |
| Excellent | 322200-547740 |
| Very good | 148215-354420 |
| good | 42015-174000 |
| Low | 22555-24165 |
The most expensive sapphires
The huge Millennium sapphire, found in 1995 in Madagascar, is valued at $180 million. This incredible natural wonder is the size of a soccer ball. The stone weighs 61.5 thousand carats or 12.3 kg. The treasure was processed by the Italian artist Alessio Boschi. Dimensions and carvings are the main value of the specimen. Millennium is not particularly bright in color.
Sapphire Millennium
The stone is carved with images of the greatest geniuses of mankind - Ludwig van Beethoven, Michelangelo, William Shakespeare, Albert Einstein and others. It took 2 years to create a unique work of art.
In its raw form, the gem reached a diameter of 28 cm and weighed 90 carats. After carving and polishing, the sapphire lost almost a third of its weight.
Queensland's Black Star Stone has a rich history. The largest stellar black sapphire in the world was discovered in Australia. The weight of the find was 1156 carats. After cutting, the sapphire lost 423 carats of weight. Weighing 733 carats, the cut corundum creates a six-pointed star-shaped sparkle in natural or artificial light. Experts estimate it today at $88 million.
Queensland Black Star Stone
The Rockefeller Sapphire changed hands several times. In 1991, at a Sotheby's auction in New York, the stone was sold for $3.03 million. This is the highest price that has been paid for a blue sapphire. The first mention of the gem dates back to 1934. It was bought by an American multimillionaire from the Indian Maharajah. The treasure is valued for its pure, rich blue color. Initially, the weight of the stone was 66.03 carats. After cutting, the unique sapphire acquired a rectangular shape and weighed 62.02 carats.
Rockefeller Sapphire
GREEN GIANTS OF RUSSIA
Large emeralds are also found in Russia, in the Urals.
Ural competitors are only slightly inferior in quality to Colombians.
Malyshevsky emerald
An example of Ural emeralds is a stone found in 2018 at the Malyshevsky mine near Yekaterinburg. The net weight of the find is 1.6 kg, dimensions are 14x7 cm. In appearance, the stone resembles an almost regular hexagon.
A name was not invented for the mineral, but the value was immediately determined: appraisers named the amount at 4 million rubles. The workers who discovered it in a mine at a depth of 250 meters received 250 thousand rubles each.
Malyshevsky emerald
How much are rare rubies worth?
In 1988, the Niilanjali Ruby was listed by Guinness as the largest ruby with a double asterism effect. A double star with 12 rays appears on the surface on both sides of the stone. Rubies with asterism appearing on both sides of the stone's surface are considered the rarest and most expensive. The weight of the unusual stone is 1370 carats (0.27 kg). It is thanks to the unusual effect of asterism that the Niilanjali Ruby is valued at $100 million.
Ruby Niilanjali
The largest ruby with a complete structure was discovered in northern Greenland in 2005. The stone, with a rich burgundy color, weighed 440 carats. After processing, the stone was named the King of Rubies. Its weight is now 302 carats. The jewel is estimated at 450 thousand dollars.
Upgrading of low quality minerals
The jewelry industry, which provides middle-class people with jewelry, practically does not use high-quality minerals. Gems with numerous defects that have undergone the process of refining and cutting are more often sold.
Cedar oil is traditionally used to fill the voids and cracks that natural large crystals are rich in. It does not change the color of the stone, giving it additional transparency and shine.
Small gems up to 0.49 ct in size are often refined using epoxy resin or artificial polymers, which are matched to the color of the natural stone. Due to its small size, it is impossible to detect such inclusions with the naked eye, and emerald does not differ in appearance from non-refined one.
The higher the degree of refinement, the lower its original quality and the lower the price at which the crystal can be sold in a jewelry store.
Talismans
Amulets made from the green mineral were popular in Ancient Egypt. Then they believed that this was the stone of the goddess Isis, the patroness of women and the hearth. He helped the calm course of pregnancy and easy childbirth.
Emerald talismans also have other properties:
- In a gold frame, the gem will protect against many diseases, love spells and neuroses.
- The dreams of the owner of the amulet often come true.
- Well suited for love talismans, as it is designed to preserve and protect love couples. If betrayed, it can split.
- The emerald can be hung on the head of the bed: it will protect against nightmares.
- To combat epileptic seizures, it is worn around the neck or in rings.
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Only a natural emerald can serve as a talisman: synthesized stones, and especially fake ones, will not bring the desired result.
Kinds
Emeralds are classified according to their deposit:
- Colombian.
- Russian.
- Indian.
- Brazilian.
The best emeralds are those from Colombia. They are characterized by higher color saturation. Asian and Brazilian stones are painted in a light yellow-green tint and are fragile, so they are cheaper than Colombian ones.
Depending on the color, the following types of emeralds are available for sale:
- Dark green.
- Green with a bluish tint.
- Light green.
- Yellow-green.
- Green-gray.
The following types of emeralds are distinguished by quality:
- Low quality.
- In good shape.
- Very good quality.
- Excellent quality.
The stone can be unprocessed or faceted. The latter are more expensive.
You can buy gems in the following places:
- In a specialized company.
- At the pawnshop.
- In the online store.
- Based on an advertisement from a private individual.
"Girls' Best Friends"
You can’t argue with nature: there are rarer gems and, perhaps, more expensive ones. But a cut diamond cannot be compared with anything. The word "diamond" in many European languages means the adjective "delightful".
Previously, diamond was considered an exclusively masculine gemstone that served as decoration:
- rings of rulers;
- ceremonial symbols of royal and royal power;
- crown;
- shoe buckles;
- buttons;
- weapons;
- even horse harness.
Since the 19th century. A diamond becomes a valuable gift specifically for women. A significant role in this was played by the House of Rothschild, who owned the diamond business, as well as an advertising campaign according to which a diamond was one of the main external symbols of the status of a person of high birth.
However, the phrase itself: “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” appeared several decades later. And it belongs to the legendary actress of the twentieth century. Marilyn Monroe.
In the film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” Marilyn sings that these stones can not only improve a girl’s mood, but also light a fire of happiness in her eyes
A little later, another Queen of Hollywood, Elizabeth Taylor, continued the tradition. She became the owner of a rare and beautiful pear-shaped diamond, named after the famous actor couple - “Taylor-Barton”. The stone is a gift from her husband Richard Burton, purchased at an auction at the Cartier jewelry house for $1.1 million (71.8 million rubles). Jewelry with this stone has gone down in the world history of jewelry, and the actress herself is captured with it in many photos.
Elizabeth Taylor with the 69.42-carat Taylor-Barton Diamond
Over time, fashion trends change, but the popularity of precious jewelry is unshakable.
Who is it suitable for?
The widespread occurrence of the mineral is a sign of its favor towards humans. Before purchasing or wearing it, it is still recommended to check with an astrologer or just listen very closely: if warmth emanates from the gem, the union has taken place.
Zodiac sign
Emerald is qualitatively the best choice for Gemini: the gem helps them with endurance and wisdom. It helps them and other signs to become more reasonable, improves memory and attention.
Compatibility with other signs will increase for Cancers: there will be a general decrease in aggressive qualities, the energy of creation and self-confidence will come to life.
But according to the horoscope, the mineral is considered the greatest patron for Taurus and Libra: it will give them efficiency, sociability and determination.
It is suitable for Sagittarius and Aries in terms of helping against impotence - all types of emeralds relieve anxiety and anxiety. By protecting against unscrupulous people, emerald with its properties helps to bypass stress and create favorable situations.
Precious jewelry will help Aquarius make their behavior more stable and restrained.
For Pisces, self-confidence will be added, and the ability to make decisions will also increase. A similar effect is taking place in Lviv, but with a hint of consolidation of forces for the required goals.
The emerald mineral is strictly contraindicated only for Scorpio and Capricorn - their strengths are significant, so they often come into conflict with the stone. A symbol of success for others, the stone is capable of creating obstacles in life for these signs.
By name
Owning an emerald is recommended for bearers of the following names:
- Isabella - evil energies will be driven away, personal affairs and family will receive real protection;
- Elena - will bring wisdom and balance in communication and thinking;
- Julia - misfortunes and problems will be rebuffed at the energy level, and luck, on the contrary, will be attracted.
Men are recommended to own an emerald if their name is:
- Klim - life will become calmer, and failures will remain aside;
- Peter - will protect you from unpleasant thoughts and set you up for positive thinking;
- Herman will add inner wisdom and provide hope.
Important: green emerald is considered more of a talisman than a guardian, so it will suit many.
Synthetic stones for the jewelry industry
Natural stones are expensive, which is why there are many artificial emeralds on the market. A synthetic gem is in no way inferior in appearance to a real one, has a larger size, but costs much less. Read more in the article “What are hydrothermal emeralds: types of synthetic stones.”
Unscrupulous sellers often take advantage of this and sell artificial emeralds under the guise of natural ones.
In a jewelry workshop, it is not difficult to detect falsification. It is enough to direct a concentrated beam of light from a halogen lamp and examine the stone through a special filter. Natural emerald glows pink or reddish, while the fake one remains green.
Another way to check quality is to immerse the jewelry in a container filled with washing powder or dishwashing liquid. The oil and other fillers will dissolve and the emerald will take on its natural color.
Properties ?
The stone has a distinct pleochroism: green, blue, bluish-green to yellowish-green.
Colombian emeralds
Fluorescence is usually absent.
Physics and chemistry of “green ice”?
Expert opinion
Semenishcheva Polina
Specialist in mineralogy. Graduated from St. Petersburg Mining University.
Emeralds often contain cracks, tiny gas bubbles, and inclusions of other elements. Therefore, the stone, despite its considerable hardness, is fragile. However, Pliny wrote “The hardness of Scythian and Egyptian emeralds is such that they cannot be damaged...”.
- Does not like squeezing or heating.
- Resistant to chemicals (acids).
- Small, insignificant inclusions (gas bubbles, “cloud” formations) are quite acceptable. They indicate the natural origin of the stone.
Advice from lithotherapists?
People with sore eyes have long been advised to admire emeralds.
