Emeralds: Discover all their secrets!

Like diamond, sapphire and ruby, emerald sits majestically among the great precious stones. This May gemstone, a symbol of renewal, love and wisdom, fascinates with its enigmatic beauty. Often associated with the iconic Cleopatra, emerald evokes a story of opulence and power. Some historians even claim that the Egyptian queen did not hesitate to take over mines belonging to the Greeks in Upper Egypt in order to adorn her jewellery.

An elegant cut

Bearing the same name, the emerald cut, rectangular in shape with bevelled corners, enhances the stone with timeless elegance. This cut reveals the emerald’s vibrant green colour while allowing its natural brilliance to shine. Each facet becomes a tribute to the unique beauty of this mineral.

The emerald garden

Belonging to the beryl family, emerald is distinguished by its fragility. With a rating of 7.5 on the Mohs* scale (compared with 10/10 for diamond), it is the least hard of the major precious stones, making it delicate to work with. Setters, often nervous about working with this gem, must proceed carefully to avoid breaking it and causing it to lose its brilliance. Some jewellers even refuse to carry out repairs on emerald-set jewellery for fear of damaging the stones. More sensitive to impact, emeralds are particularly prone to inclusions, which are simply “imperfections” formed inside the crystal (air bubbles, cracks or crystals of other minerals). These form during the stone’s crystallization process as a result of other minerals, fluids or gases present in the environment in which the emerald develops. Inclusions, often perceived as flaws, are in fact witnesses to the stone’s journey and can be particularly appreciated and sought after for their aesthetics and value. These “emerald gardens” — patterns reminiscent of bucolic landscapes — add a unique touch to each stone, turning every jewel into a singular work of art.

*Mohs scale: a scale used to measure the hardness of minerals.

When cultivation comes into play

At AGUAdeORO, beauty goes hand in hand with conscience. By choosing cultured emeralds, stones created in the laboratory, you opt for dazzling aesthetics while respecting ethical values. Although often purer and more evenly coloured than their mined counterparts, cultured emeralds also have their own gardens. Their inclusions depend on the characteristics of the production method, such as delicate spherical bubbles.

The mining of gemstones can lead to outbreaks of violence between different actors and disastrous consequences for local communities (forced labour, theft, murder, involuntary displacement, etc.). This is notably the case in Colombia, Brazil and Zambia. In addition, products used during extraction and deforestation damage ecosystems that are already fragile.

By choosing a laboratory-grown emerald, you are opting for conscious luxury, a gesture for society and the planet. Each piece, each sparkle of this precious stone tells a story — one of commitment to a more transparent and fair world. At AGUAdeORO, beauty is not only visual; it is part of a movement. Let yourself be seduced by this timeless stone and choose luxury with meaning.

How to care for your emerald jewellery

We recommend keeping your emerald jewellery separate from your other stones to prevent knocks and scratches. For care, use a clean, soft cloth to gently clean it. Our Maison offers a lifetime maintenance service and personalized advice so your jewel remains as radiant as the day you first wore it.

La Belle Orgueilleuse, a platinum 950 ring set with a central emerald and two diamonds at its sides.

Banner: The Flowing Green Leaves – 18-carat white-gold earrings featuring two large emeralds in sparkling diamond “chandeliers”.

AGUAdeORO is a jewellery house founded in 2009, with locations in Geneva and Zurich. It offers clients the opportunity to acquire ethical jewellery made in Switzerland. We are committed to offering jewellery that combines sustainable development and elegance.