Are Emeralds Worth More than Diamonds?

When it comes to precious gemstones, diamonds are often widely considered the most valuable. It may then come as a surprise to some, that certain emeralds can be worth substantially more than diamonds. If you reflect that within the jewellery trade, diamonds make up approximately half of the precious gems market, whereas gem-quality emeralds account for a much smaller portion, and this market scarcity drives up the price of certain emeralds - this scarcity is due to the difficulty to mine and facet and makes them far more difficult to come by and rarer than diamonds.

^{A Victorian yellow gold, diamond, and emerald bangle}

^{Sold for £19,000}

As the most popular variety of beryl, the green colour of emerald is caused by trace amounts of chromium or vanadium. The exact colouring and saturation are particularly important in value, a highly saturated emerald will outprice larger emeralds with less appealing colours consistently, and bluish green is typically the most desirable and ideal colour.

When it comes to clarity, the less included a diamond is, the greater the value. Whereas emerald is an extremely brittle stone and as such almost always features inclusions. These imperfections within an emerald are not as strictly regarded as faults as they would be in a diamond, which is sometimes poetically referred to as ‘un petit jardin’ (French for little garden). However, when the inclusions have a great effect on durability, they also dramatically reduce value. Because of such natural physical properties, the vast majority of all cut emeralds are sold with some sort of enhancement for clarity, hence untreated big emeralds are rare and often command premium in the market.

^{A late 19th / early 20th century yellow gold, diamond, and emerald ring}

^{Sold for £21,000}

Additionally, the source of the emerald can play a role. Emeralds from the Muzo area of Colombia, are highly prized and often command higher prices. Flawless, deeply saturated emeralds with no inclusions are exceptionally rare and will be worth more per carat than the most perfect diamonds. The only exception to these guidelines is Fancy Coloured diamonds, which make up less than 0.1% of all diamonds; their rarity and desirability will always outperform against other gemstones. For collectors and connoisseurs, these prized green gems can be worth significantly more than an equivalent diamond.

Read more

How Do I Know If My Jewellery Is Valuable?

How Do I Sell Unwanted Jewellery?

Is It A Good Time To Sell Diamonds?

Are you looking to sell any emerald jewellery?

With a global audience of over 10 million known bidders, Dawsons can secure the highest prices.

Get in touch with an expert Valuer for confidential sales advice, we would be delighted to help you:

0207 431 9445 / info@dawsonsauctions.co.uk