Emerald
The green variety of beryl. Panna in Hindi, the stone of Mercury, and almost always full of internal inclusions.
Emeralds are graded on colour first and clarity a distant second, because virtually every emerald contains inclusions.
Those inclusions are called the jardin, French for garden, and a clean emerald is so rare that its absence suggests a synthetic.
Nearly all emeralds are oiled or resin filled to reduce the visibility of surface-reaching fractures. This is standard and disclosed, but it does need re-treating over the years.
What you will hear
“A flawless emerald is the best emerald.”
In fact: An eye-clean emerald at an ordinary price is almost certainly synthetic or glass. Inclusions are the norm, and colour matters far more than clarity.
When you are buying
Never put an emerald in an ultrasonic cleaner. It drives out the oil and the fractures reappear. Treat it with the same caution as a pearl.
Pearls with emeralds
34 pieces in the collection right now, from ₹1,600.
Attractive Hook Jhumkas Featuring White Seed Pearls & SP Emeralds
Elegant SP Emerald Studs With White Oval Pearl Drops
Dainty 18Inch Black Beads Necklace With White Pearl & SP Emerald Beads
Flawless SP Emerald Studs With White Oval Pearl Drops
Exquisite CZ & SP Emerald Studs With White Oval Pearl Drops
Opulent Paisley Studded White Seed Pearl Jhumkas Featuring Emeralds & Rubies
Elegant Semi-Round White Pearls Necklace With Lakshmi Kaasu & SP Emerald Beads
Pretty Pearl Set in Emerald Green Coloured Stone Pendant
Ruby
Red corundum, the second hardest gem after diamond. Manik in Hindi, and the stone of the Sun in Vedic astrology.
Blue Sapphire
Blue corundum. Neelam in Hindi, the stone of Saturn, and the most cautiously prescribed gem in Vedic astrology.
Navratna
A setting of nine gemstones, one for each of the nine planets in Vedic astrology, arranged in a fixed order.
Gemstone
Any mineral or organic material cut for jewellery. Traditionally split into precious (diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald) and semi-precious.
Pearl Care
Pearls are soft and porous. They need to go on last, come off first, and be stored apart from everything else.