Understanding your Colombian emerald certificate

As we mentioned before, one of the fundamental rules when buying emeralds and making sure you buy a natural gem is to have a laboratory certificate. However, even if you have the certificate in your hands, deciphering what is written there can be a challenge if you don't understand treatment levels or types of transparency or color in the emerald.

Therefore, we want you to be able to understand the main items you will find in a laboratory certificate of a Colombian emerald and we have gathered the most important features in this article.

Important items in a Colombian emerald certificate

1. Color:
   • Colombian emeralds are known for their beautiful green color, which can vary in shades and nuances. The color of an emerald is mainly due to the presence of chrome and vanadium in its chemical composition. Here are some color variations that can be found in Colombian emeralds:
   • Intense Green: Most Colombian emeralds exhibit an intense and deep green. This color is highly valued and is associated with the superior quality.
   • Blue Green: Some emeralds may have shades of blue in their green, creating a cooler and unique hue.
   • Yellow green: Other emeralds may have a yellowish nuance in their green, which gives them a warmer hue.
   • Green Claro: Although less common, some Colombian emeralds may have a lighter tone of green, sometimes described as green.
   • Bicolor and Tricolor: Some emeralds may show different colors in different areas of the gem. Bicolor and tricolor varieties are less common but can be especially attractive.
2. Origin:
   • Usually in a Colombian emerald the item of Origin will always say Colombia, however in some cases when it is necessary to be more specific some laboratories may even write the name of the mine.
3. Treatments:
   • In this section you can find two options, the certificate can say:
   • Indications of beautification of clarity (stone has treatments)
   • -No indication of beautification of clarity (Emergera has not been treated)
4. Quantity:
   • Some emeralds may undergo treatments to improve their appearance. If the gem has been treated in any way, the certificate should mention it.
   • Emeralds may have varying degrees (quantity) of treatment, classified as:
   • Grade 1 F1 minor: minimum
   • Grade 2 - F2 moderate: moderate
   • Grade 3 - Significant F3: higher degree of treatment

General items in the certificate

• Quantity of gems: here is specified the number of stones certified in the document
• Weight: In this part the weight of the emerald is put in carats (ct)
• Dimensions: here are the measurements of the stone divided into long, wide and cone of the emerald, in the case of round stones it is specified only cone and wide.
• Court: Here we can find two types of cut in the certificate, facet or raw, are the two presentations in which you can find an emerald
• In Forma: this part is the cut of the emerald, among the best known are: Emerald, round, oval, square, baguette, canoe, cabley, heart, Cushion. etc.

Paula A. Bonilla 

Social communicator and journalist from Sergio Arboleda University in Colombia. She is also a jeweler and is passionate about constantly learning about precious gems and national high jewelry.

Currently, she is working for one of Bogotá's most important jewelry stores, Emerald by Love. This jewelry store has over 40 years of experience and has 2 physical branches in the capital city of Colombia, located in the city center.