How to Avoid Being Ripped Off When Buying Emeralds

The gemstone market is a challenge to navigate for those who don’t know what to look for and what to consider when searching out a quality stone. 

That is one reason that learning about emeralds and the various factors that increase or decrease value is important before you start looking at stones and discussing price with a merchant.

Emeralds are a beautiful stone and can be worth the price, but for those who don’t know about potential factors like treatments or color value it is far too easy to spend too much on a stone that is not worth that price tag. 

Below are details on the factors that weigh into the purchase of a valuable emerald and avoiding overpayment due to inexperience with the market. 

Consider the Color

The darker the color, the better quality the stone. This is important in the search for emeralds, as people tend to look at other qualities when this quality is a big determination in quality and a correlating factor in the cost of the stone. 




Looking at a stone can give you an idea, but keep in mind that dying stones is common. It is important to know the signs of dying an emerald to avoid paying too much for a treated or an imitation stone.

Look Into Whether They Have Been Treated

Emeralds are not readily available in the market, at least in comparison to other gems. This is a big reason when gems with a lesser value are treated. They can be dyed or fractured to give them the appearance of a more valuable gem. 

However, the treatment actually makes the gems less valuable. When searching for an emerald, it is important to ask about treatments and look for signs so you aren’t paying higher prices for gems that have been treated and are not worth that price tag.

Consider Imitation if Cost is an Issue

Imitation emeralds can look great, and they can be a worthwhile investment if the market is currently running too high for your budget. The important thing is to know that they are imitation and not be expecting a natural stone for that price. 

Learn the Grading System

The best gemstones are in the AAA bracket. This typically covers 10% of the gemstones. These stones have a high brilliance and a deep, rich color. They also are moderately to slightly included.

Meanwhile, the next level down is AA, which is roughly 20-30% of the stones on the market. They are medium green and moderately included, usually with a mid-level brilliance.

The largest portion of available emeralds on the market fall into the A bracket. These gems are considered good, are a dark green and are opaque. They are moderately included and usually are available through mall jewelers.

In order to avoid being ripped off when buying emeralds, it is important to know the market and have your expectations in order when you are hunting for the right gem. Knowledge is a helpful asset to have in any search, and the search of the emerald market is no exception.