How Can You Tell if an Emerald Is Real?

1. Search for inclusions

An interesting fact about the natural emerald is that it contains many flaws, most of which are invisible to the naked eye. These inclusions look like tiny threadlike tendrils and often have tiny gas bubbles surrounding them.

You can verify this by holding your stone at an oblique angle and viewing it through a magnifying glass. If you can’t find any flaws or see a swarm of gas bubbles away from the inclusions, the gem is probably a fake.

2. Look at the hue

The color of the gemstone is often used to indicate its authenticity. Hold your gem up to the light and analyze its color. Real emeralds will showcase a pure green or blue-green hue. Hence, if the stone you are holding displays yellow or brown undertones, it is most likely a fake.

3. Watch out for the fire

To put it simply, the ‘fire’ of a gemstone refers to the flashes of color that appear when the light hits it. It occurs in addition to the stone’s sparkle.

While emeralds do sparkle quite a bit, they possess little to no fire. Therefore, a great way to check the authenticity of your stone is to hold it under bright light, like a lamp, and pay attention to its shine. If the jewel radiates an extremely bright rainbow of colors, then it probably isn’t real.

Is Your Gemstone Real?

4. Check the emerald’s facets for wear and tear

The facet is the flat, polished side of the gemstone. Place your emerald under a microscope and focus on the edges of the facets. If they are worn down and resemble an orange peel, chances are that the stone is not a real one.

5. Consider the price

Due to its incredible hue, rich history, and birthstone status, emerald is one of the more pocket-heavy jewels out there.

With that in mind, if the buyer is quoting a really low price for the emerald jewelry, the gem could be a fake.

6. Get a second opinion

At the end of the day, only a professional will be able to guarantee an emerald’s authenticity. Hence, we highly recommend taking the stone to a trusted jeweler for a second opinion.

Ensure that the seller has a clear return policy that allows you to refund the product if it’s different from the claims.

And by following the tips and tricks mentioned above, you are sure to buy authentic emerald bracelets, pendant necklaces, earrings and rings.