EMERALD GUIDE
Buying tips, facts & history
Colour
Green
Our Source
Colombia
Mineral class
Beryl
Hardness
7.5 – 8 Mohs Scale
Birthstone month
May
Wedding anniversaries
55th
Emeralds are made from the mineral beryl.Its green colour comes from chromium or vanadium.
It registers 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, similar to hardened steel. However, emeralds contain natural inclusions and can be quite brittle.
The word “emerald” comes from the Greek smaragdus meaning “green”.
We choose to buy our emeralds from Colombia.
Although emeralds are also mined in Zambia, Afghanistan and other countries, Colombia is famed for the high quality and rich green colour of its gems, as well as the expertise of its emerald cutters.
They are also the largest exporter of ethical emeralds and the main mining companies return profits to local communities.
Emerald is the birthstone for May and symbolises love, springtime and new beginnings in life. It is also the traditional gem for celebrating 55th “Emerald” anniversaries.
Emerald jewellery – such as birthstone pendants or eternity rings – are also popular for May engagements and weddings, or to commemorate the birth of a baby.
Our gemmologist evaluates emeralds in a similar way to diamonds – by clarity, colour, cut and carat weight.
Experienced gem dealers like ours, with good industry contacts and robust buying power, get the best emeralds at the best prices.
They know how to look for emeralds with minimal inclusions, intense green colour and an expert cut.
These qualities reveal an emerald’s sought after “inner glint”.
Emerald colour varies from yellowy-green to bluish green. But the primary colour, or hue, is green. The “greenness” of an emerald may vary greatly from light to dark – the key is to look for vividness of colour, rather than a specific tone.
One carat always equals 0.20 grams. However, the bigger the emerald gets, the more its carat price will rise. This is because large emeralds with good clarity and colour are much rarer than small emeralds of the same quality.
Glass-like, entirely clear emeralds are very rare. If one is found, only wealthy collectors can afford them. Very slight natural inclusions are therefore accepted in commercial grade jewellery. To get best value for your money, our gem expert recommends buying emeralds with hardly noticeable natural inclusions.
A skilled emerald cutter knows how to coax a perfect gemstone out of a rough emerald. A superlative cut disguises inclusions and shows off the gem’s desired inner glimmer.
In the last two centuries, emeralds have become an emblem of wealth, style and beauty.
Many iconic women including Queen Elizabeth II, Jackie Onassis, Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor have admitted to falling in love with emerald jewellery.
At the 2009 Oscars, Angelina Jolie-Pitt wore a pair of emerald earrings worth a staggering two million US dollars.
The enormous emerald drops in Queen Elizabeth II’s Vladimir Tiara tell a fascinating story.
It is rumoured that the queen’s great-great-grandmother, Augusta of Hesse-Kassel, won them in a charity lottery!
They originally belonged to an Indian royal. The tiara is reportedly the Queen’s favourite.
Of all gems, the emerald is the most legendary. Cleopatra adorned herself in emerald jewellery, the Romans revered them as symbols of fertility and love.
According to South American lore, the ancient Incas worshipped a giant emerald, claimed to be the size of a man’s head.
Even the Holy Grail is said to be decorated with emeralds and gold.
Item Ref: NID4224-GU
AVAILABILITY: In stock (37 items)
PRODUCT TYPE: Necklaces
VENDOR: The Diamond Store
Uncover the Astra Lab Emerald and Diamond Solitaire Pear Cut Necklace, with a beautiful 2.40ct lab grown emerald amongst 0.08CT of H/SI quality diamonds. The impressive, deep-green emerald hangs delicately from the chain, crafted in the finest sterling silver. The...
Pay in 3 interest-free
Item Ref: NIE7226-GU
AVAILABILITY: In stock (0 items)
PRODUCT TYPE: Rings
VENDOR: The Diamond Store
Uncover the Astra Lab Emerald and Diamond Halo Shoulder Set Octagon Cut Ring, with a 1.50ct emerald set in in 0.25CT of sparkling H/SI lab-grown diamonds. The deep-green emerald glimmers particularly beautifully when offset by the halo of diamonds, further...
Pay in 3 interest-free
Item Ref: ANID4224-GU
AVAILABILITY: In stock (50 items)
PRODUCT TYPE: Necklaces
VENDOR: The Diamond Store
Uncover the Astra Lab Emerald and Diamond Solitaire Pear Cut Necklace, with a beautiful 2.40ct lab grown emerald amongst 0.08CT of H/SI quality lab diamonds. The impressive, deep-green emerald hangs delicately from the chain, crafted in the finest 18k gold...
Pay in 3 interest-free
Item Ref: ANIE7226-GU
AVAILABILITY: In stock (0 items)
PRODUCT TYPE: Rings
VENDOR: The Diamond Store
Uncover the Astra Lab Emerald and Diamond Halo Shoulder Set Octagon Cut Ring, with a 1.50ct emerald set in in 0.25CT of sparkling H/SI lab grown diamonds. The deep-green emerald glimmers particularly beautifully when offset by the halo of diamonds,...
Pay in 3 interest-free
Item Ref: B3601
AVAILABILITY: In stock (0 items)
PRODUCT TYPE: Earrings
VENDOR: The Diamond Store
This elegant pair of emerald earrings is simplistic in design and showcases the natural beauty of the exquisite emeralds which are securely held in a 4 claw setting and made complete with the 9K white gold finish.
Pay in 3 interest-free
Item Ref: G4945
AVAILABILITY: In stock (0 items)
PRODUCT TYPE: Necklaces
VENDOR: The Diamond Store
Emerald is the birthstone for May and this classically beautiful heart shaped pendant would be a much loved gift for anyone born in this month. The elegant emeralds in this romantic pendant are delicately placed within 0.03CT of sparking Premium...
From £15.11 per month
Item Ref: E5869
AVAILABILITY: In stock (0 items)
PRODUCT TYPE: Rings
VENDOR: The Diamond Store
Discover our Emerald and Diamond Eternity Ring, with 0.56ct of deep green emeralds and 0.16cts of white diamonds, set in the finest 9K white Gold. This half-eternity style of this ring guarantees a comfortable fit on the finger, and the...
From £31.93 per month
Item Ref: A3078.F.0
AVAILABILITY: In stock (0 items)
PRODUCT TYPE: Rings
VENDOR: The Diamond Store
The striking arrangement of the 0.06CT Premium Quality Diamonds and the impressive emerald stone centrepiece of this ring give it a unique and desirable look. As emerald is traditionally the birthstone for May, this 6x4mm emerald cut ring is an...
From £24.19 per month
We want you to feel completely confident when you shop with us. That’s why we offer FREE 30-day returns for refunds and 60-day exchanges across the UK and Northern Ireland.
If you’ve ordered a ring smaller than a size J or larger than a size Q, don’t worry — these are custom sizes, but we’re still happy to offer a free exchange or resizing if the fit isn’t quite right.
Changed your mind? No problem — you can cancel your order anytime before it’s been dispatched.
Just reach out to our friendly team via Live Chat, by email at customerservice@thediamondstore.com, or give us a call on 0345 084 1200 (or +44 345 084 1200 if calling from outside the UK). Please have your order number handy to help us assist you as quickly as possible.
Please note that for rings smaller than size J or larger than size Q, the width may vary slightly (up to 10%) due to the crafting process. If you need any adjustments, we’re happy to help.
If your item arrives damaged or defective, we’ll make it right — fast. We’ll either repair or replace it at no cost to you, or provide a refund once it’s been assessed by our head jeweller.
Our standard returns policy is 30 days to return, and 60 days to exchange.
We stand by the quality of our jewellery. That’s why all our pieces come with a 5-year warranty against defects in materials or craftsmanship. Every item is also fully hallmarked according to UK legislation, confirming its authenticity and origin.
Once we’ve received and inspected your returned jewellery, we’ll process your refund right away and email you to confirm. Depending on your bank or payment provider, it may take 3 to 5 working days to show up on your statement.
We’ll always refund you via the same method you used to make your purchase — whether that was credit or debit card, PayPal, Pay4Later Finance, bank transfer, or another option.
To avoid delays, make sure to include the returns label print-out with your parcel. This helps us identify your return quickly.
We’re proud to say that all our diamonds are conflict-free and fully compliant with United Nations regulations. When you buy from us, you’re choosing ethical beauty.
We’re here whenever you need us.
📧 Email us: customerservice@thediamondstore.com or returns@thediamondstore.co.uk
📞 Call us: 0345 084 1200 (UK) or +44 345 084 1200 (International)
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