Emerald Stone Price Guide / (Panna Stone Price Guide)

2017 has been a wonderful year for Emerald gemstone. The 18.04 carat emerald ring purchased by Harry Winston for $5.5 million set a record for the most expensive per carat emerald ever sold. This exclusive emerald sale of the year gives a solid hint about the increasing high prices, the genuine emerald stone are fetching in the global market. It also indicates the excitement involved in the emerald sales on an international level.

Harry Winston’s emerald (18.0 carats)

The green colored Emerald gemstones is one of the most prestigious member of Beryl mineral family. It shares this mineral group with several other gem varieties including aquamarine, heliodor and morganite etc. But with its unique physical attributes and mesmerising aura, emerald have truly earned an unmatchable reputation of the most valuable and highly prized gemstone.

Found world-over, from Colombia and Zambia to Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Zambia, emeralds are ruling the market since last 3000 years. In addition to its physical beauty, Emerald (meaning Panna or Pachu stone in Hindi) is highly revered for its mystical metaphysical and healing properties as well. Vedic astrology recommends this gemstone to gain positive energies from planet Mercury. In western astrology, emerald birthstone is considered lucky for people born in the month of May.

Harry Winston’s emerald (18.0 carats)

Now, whether someone is buying emerald for jewelry or for astrological reasons, it is crucial to know how much an emerald is worth.

Also Read: Emerald Stone Properties and Emerald Stone Benefits

Factors Effecting Emerald Value.

Emerald is a precious gemstone that takes year to get formed under specific temperature, pressure and element requirements. That is why emeralds are extremely rare and remarkably inconsistent in its distribution. Earlier, due to extremely limited availability, this gemstone was only accessible to the nobilities and higher dignitaries of the society. But now, with the discovery of newer mines and improved mining technologies, it is possible to buy emerald gemstone within every budget.

These days, Emerald or Panna price in India ranges from ₹ 800 ($15 per carat) to ₹ 40,000 ($600 per carat) and above. Such a wide price difference is due to certain factors that play a vital role in determining Emerald prices in the market. These factors are –

a. Origin

Emerald mines have been discovered in Colombia, Zambia, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Australian and United States. Premium quality emerald gems from Colombia, Zambia and other well-reputed origins demand a cost for quality and also because of their reputation in gem trade. This is because these origins are sourcing the top-quality emeralds to the gem industry from hundreds of years.

They have earned a brand reputation and now drawing a royalty for the same. Usually, an emerald draws a better price when its origin is clearly mentioned in its gem certificate. On the other hand, emerald value becomes relatively lesser for a similar quality gem with an undefined origin. Continue reading to know how much difference an origin creates on the emerald stone price per carat?

Emeralds mines (Panna mines) present across the globe

Colombian Emerald Value

Due to its perfect color balance and high clarity, Colombian emeralds are considered superior over the other origins. This is the reason why Colombian emerald price in India goes much beyond other origins. It usually cost buyers somewhere ₹ 3200 per carat ($50 per carat) to ₹ 40,000 ($620 per carat) and above.

Gubellin Certified Colombian emerald from GemPundit’s inventory
Product Code - (GP31310)

Zambian Emerald Value

Zambian emerald is a close competitor of Colombian emerald in terms of quality and prices. Being a popular variety, loose Zambian emerald stone price in India can draw ₹ 2,500 per carat ($40 approx.) and reach up to ₹ 40,000 per carat ($620 approx.) and above. Zambian panna price per ratti may be slightly lower than Zambian emerald price per carat. This is because one carat is not equal to one ratti, instead

GRS Certified (No oil) Zambian emerald from GemPundit
Product Code - (GP31309)

Brazilian Emerald Value

Most of emeralds from Brazil are slightly darker in color and usually appear semi-transparent or opaque. For this reason, Brazilian emerald price per carat remains relatively low. These emeralds are quite economical and is a wonderful option for jewelry. As per the current market trend, Brazilian emerald price in India starts from ₹ 800 per carat ($12 approx.) to ₹ 2700 per carat ($40 approx.) plus.

Brazilian Emerald from GemPundit catalogue
Product Code – (GP39508)

Color

Always remember, while shopping emerald, color should be the most important consideration. As per the gemmological experts, colour accounts for nearly 50 to 70 percent of an emerald value. Generally, the more attractive and purer is the color, higher is the Panna Stone price. Brighter and highly intense green emeralds rule over too dark or too light green stones. Buyers! When it comes to judge the emerald color, the rule is simple, the color which looks beautiful is pricier. However, the appreciation or appraisal of color is also subjective upto some extend.

Emeralds from different origin bear distinctive green color. For instance, the warm, vivid green is coveted in Colombian Panna gemstone whereas Zambian Panna gemstone is graced by its cool green hue mixed with secondary hues of blue. So, the judgement on color varies with the origin variety as well. Apart from the shade of green, the depth in color and its overall distribution also creates an influence over the Panna cost. The most prized emeralds bear evenly spread intense green hue with high brilliance (luster). Dull green emeralds with grey or brown overtone usually comes at a cheaper cost.

Clarity

The price of emeralds is also assessed based on the clarity or the number of flaws present within the crystal. Though most of the emerald contain eye-visible inclusions (three-phase inclusions, specks, tubes, tiny fractures, cleavages, growth lines (Jardins) and fissures). Inclusions are considered as the basic nature of the emerald gemstone and are acceptable in a controlled quantity. Usually, the smaller, fewer and less conspicuous are the inclusions, higher is the green emerald price.

Generally, if the color is fine and not seriously affected, the presence of minor flaws and inclusions will not detract the emerald gemstone price as significantly as in other colored gemstone. But conversely, a flawless, eye clean emerald may bring a disproportionate higher value because of its rarity. Good clarity creates a positive impact on emerald cost only when the stone is less fine in terms of color.

Eye clean Emerald

Emerald with Fissures

Emerald with Specks (Inclusions)

Cut

Emerald hardness ranges around 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. It means emerald is relatively hard to get faceted in different styles. However, due to its slight brittleness, it demands a little extra time and attention of the gem cutter. The way an emerald is cut can create a huge difference on the appearance of color, visibility of inclusions as well as the durability of the gemstone. Thereby, a good cut can increase the emerald or Pachu stone price in the market.

Considering the risk of fractures, an emerald cut – square or rectangular was exclusively introduced and named after this gem to increase its durability and minimise the risk of damage. Emeralds are also available in other fancy cuts like cushion cut, oval cut, round cut and pear cut. Panna ratna price usually increases for highly faceted emerald gems like a trillion cut, princess cut etc. On the other hand, a dome shaped, well-polished and non-faceted emerald (cabochon) is comparatively cheaper as it retains maximum weight.

Rectangular Octagonal Cut Emerald

Pear Shaped Emerald

Oval Cut Emerald

Carat weight

Emeralds are rarely found in large sizes; therefore, its carat weight can have a huge impact on its worth. The prices of emerald do not rise linearly with the size and quality. Instead, the price emerald stone has an exponential relationship with the carat weight. For example, if one carat emerald worth Rs. 20k that doesn’t mean that a two-carat emerald would cost Rs 40k. In fact, a two carat emerald stone would cost significantly more than the sum of two individual one carat stones. However, a linear rise in Panna price can be expected if the quality is not up to the mark.

Cut

Emerald hardness ranges around 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. It means emerald is relatively hard to get faceted in different styles. However, due to its slight brittleness, it demands a little extra time and attention of the gem cutter. The way an emerald is cut can create a huge difference on the appearance of color, visibility of inclusions as well as the durability of the gemstone. Thereby, a good cut can increase the emerald or Pachu stone price in the market.

Considering the risk of fractures, an emerald cut – square or rectangular was exclusively introduced and named after this gem to increase its durability and minimise the risk of damage. Emeralds are also available in other fancy cuts like cushion cut, oval cut, round cut and pear cut. Panna ratna price usually increases for highly faceted emerald gems like a trillion cut, princess cut etc. On the other hand, a dome shaped, well-polished and non-faceted emerald (cabochon) is comparatively cheaper as it retains maximum weight.

Trapiche Emerald

Cat’s eye Emerald

Buyers Beware: Gemstone weights in India are often expressed in Ratti. This system can be used to dupe customers who are not knowledgeable on how the conversion works. Read our guide on Understanding Gemstone Weights: Carats Vs. Rattis, and Don’t get fooled by Gemstone Prices in Rattis, instead of Carats!

Treatment

Minor oiling using safe colourless oil is a centuries old method to mask inclusions, enhance color and protect emerald from drying out. However, emeralds with significant fissures are treated with hard epoxy-like resins or polymers to improve the clarity and durability. The use of colored oils, resins and polymers on a major scale is not acceptable. In emeralds, the extend of treatment affects its value.

Typically, an emerald gem with good natural color and decent clarity is more valuable than a similar quality emerald which is artificially enhanced. A treated emerald or Pachu stone is not considered good for astrological use as well. Therefore, a Pachu stone price in India remains substantially low for treated stone.

It is always seller’s moral duty to disclose the treatments before making the sale. Always remember, wherever you buy emerald, online or from local jewellers always ask for a gem report. Please find some lab certificate samples below -

GIA Certified Burma Ruby

GRS Certified Emerald

GIA Certified Emerald

GRS Certified Mozambique Ruby

Lastly, it is advisable to purchase with only trusted gem dealer of the industry. The fraudulent jewellers often use deceitful tricks, mislead the customers and sell lower quality emeralds at higher prices. At GemPundit, we believe in earning trust of our customers through our knowledge, reliability and willingness to educate about the best quality gems. Our inventory has a huge collection of loose emerald gemstone online for sale from different origins, shades and carat weights. The emerald pricing is carried out by our expert gemmologist after a comprehensive market research.